There is a realistic scenario where Manchester City and Arsenal don’t just meet repeatedly, but do so in what is effectively a near-consecutive block of fixtures, with barely any time to reset. Across league, domestic cups and Europe, City could face Arsenal five times, with only two league matches against other opponents interrupting the rhythm.
It would feel less like a normal run-in and more like football played on a loop.
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How the Run Could Unfold
1. 22 March – Carabao Cup Final
Arsenal v City
This is the fixed starting point. Wembley, silverware on the day, and an immediate psychological marker laid down. Whatever the result, there is no time to move on, because the same opponent could be waiting again almost immediately.
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2. 4 April – FA Cup Sixth Round (potential)
Arsenal v City
This requires a very specific chain of events. Both clubs must progress through the fifth round and then be drawn together in the sixth. If it happens, it becomes the second meeting in quick succession, another straight knockout with no safety net.
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3. 7th / 8th April – Champions League Quarter-Final, First Leg (50% chance)
City v Arsenal
Europe adds a different pressure entirely, but this tie is far from guaranteed. Progression is uncertain, and even if both clubs advance, the draw has to align. If it does, this would likely be the only fixture in the sequence played outside London.
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4. 11 April – Premier League Interruption
Chelsea v City
Arsenal v Bournemouth
This is the rare pause in the sequence. City head to Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal host Bournemouth in London. On paper, it looks like an opportunity to manage minutes. In reality, it introduces imbalance.
Arsenal’s home fixture could allow controlled rotation without breaking rhythm. City’s away trip carries risk, especially with European and Arsenal fixtures already dominating planning.
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5. 15th / 16th April – Champions League Quarter-Final, Second Leg (50% chance)
Arsenal v City
Back in London, with everything magnified. Suspensions, accumulated fatigue and small injuries suddenly outweigh form. A yellow card in the first leg could remove a key player here.
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6. 18 April – Premier League
City v Arsenal
Barely any recovery time. Possibly decisive in the title race. Played not in isolation, but as the fifth meeting with the same opponent in a matter of weeks.
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There is also an alternative FA Cup date:
25 April – FA Cup Semi-Final, potentially at Wembley, which would maintin the sequence if they miss each other in the FA Cup 6th Round.
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When the Draws Happen and What Has to Go Right
This run depends on precision, not inevitability.
FA Cup
Fifth Round Draw: 6 February
City and Arsenal must both progress and avoid each other.
City face Salford City and Arsenal face Wigan, both formalities. They would then each need to come through a fifth-round tie.
Sixth Round Draw: 9 March
Both clubs must again progress, but this time must be drawn together to set up the April meeting.
Miss either condition, and the domestic cup element collapses.
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Champions League
Quarter-Final Draw: 27 February 2026
The structure matters as much as the result.
If City and Arsenal are drawn in opposite halves, they cannot meet until the final.
If they are drawn in the same half, they can only meet in the quarter-final.
Even then, progression is far from guaranteed.
To reach the quarter-finals:
City must beat either
Inter v Bodø/Glimt or Real Madrid v Benfica
Arsenal must beat either
Leverkusen v Olympiacos or Dortmund v Atalanta
There are no easy paths here. Reputation offers no protection. Progression is genuinely uncertain.
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Consecutive in Everything but Name
What makes this run so unusual is not just the number of meetings, but how tightly they could be packed. Aside from Chelsea and Bournemouth, preparation would revolve almost entirely around the same opponent.
Tactical work becomes repetitive. Emotional peaks stack without release. Every decision is made with the next Arsenal game already in mind.
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Fan Fatigue and Rising Tension
For supporters, early fixtures bring excitement. Later ones bring strain. There is no time to enjoy wins or process losses. Every refereeing decision feels cumulative. Every injury update is read with three fixtures in mind.
Big games lose novelty. What remains is tension.
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Squad Depth, Discipline and Survival
This is where City’s depth stops being a talking point and becomes a necessity. Rotation is unavoidable, but every change has knock-on effects across competitions. A suspension in Europe hurts domestically. A minor injury can rule a player out of half the run.
For Arsenal, the margins are sharper. Their strongest XI can compete with anyone, but repetition exposes thin edges. One absence becomes a structural problem when recovery windows disappear.
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London, Logistics and the Importance of Base
Geography quietly underpins everything. All but two of these fixtures could take place in London, or just outside it: Wembley, the Emirates, Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal’s London base could prove pivotal. Routine remains intact. Travel is minimal. Recovery cycles stay familiar.
For City, displacement becomes a factor. That is why their Hertfordshire base matters. When tactical gaps are minimal, logistics decide margins.
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A Run That Tests Identity
If this sequence happens, it may not feel glamorous. It may feel relentless, claustrophobic and draining.
Five meetings, two interruptions, and a season compressed into weeks.
By the end of it, there would be no ambiguity left. Not about depth. Not about mentality. And not about who can survive football played almost entirely against the same opponent.