Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta now claims that the game against Manchester City at the Etihad stadium on Wednesday night will not decide where the Premier League title.
Arsenal can pull away eight points clear if they beat City at the Etihad but a loss will mean that their lead will be cut to two points and dent their title hopes.
A draw will however be a favorable result for the gunners but City will still have two games in hand which if they win will go one point ahead of Arsenal.
“We knew we had to go to Etihad, it will be difficult, but will it decide the season? No,” Arteta said.
Granit Xhaka, who missed the Southampton game with illness, is a doubt for the City fixture, while centre-back William Saliba has shown “no real improvement from the injury he picked in a Europa league fixture.
Arsenal also need to host Chelsea and Brighton at the Emirates and travel to play third place Newcastle .
City manager Pep Guardiola also thinks the number of games remaining will also paly a big role on where the title goes.
“It is really important, but not decisive because there are many games to play for both sides.” He added.
Arsenal, who last won the Premier League in 2004, drew 3-3 against bottom-placed Southampton on Friday, after squandering two-goal leads against both West Ham and Liverpool.