The Premier League title race is wide open, but Arsenal face a significant hurdle according to Opta analysts.

Their data, compiled by Ali Tweedale for The Guardian, suggests Arsenal have the toughest run-in of the title contenders, with tricky matches against both Manchester clubs and North London rivals looming.

While Arsenal currently lead the Premier League on goal difference, data analysts Opta have some sobering news: they predict Arsenal face the toughest run-in of the title contenders.

Why the caution?

Opta‘s power rankings assign a score to each team, reflecting their overall strength. Using this system, they calculated the average ranking of Arsenal‘s remaining opponents. The higher the average ranking, the tougher the run-in.

A look at the challengers:

Arsenal: Tough trips to Manchester City, Tottenham, and Manchester United loom, along with potential banana skins at home and away.

Manchester City: While not a cakewalk, City’s schedule appears slightly easier than Arsenal‘s, with a home game against the Gunners and a trip to Spurs as their biggest hurdles.

Liverpool: Their biggest challenges include hosting Tottenham and a trip to Aston Villa on the final day.

Despite the title race being wide open, Opta‘s supercomputer, like everybody, still favours City. However, all this analysis highlights is the difficulty of Arsenal‘s remaining fixtures. The Gunners will need to maintain their recent stellar form to stay ahead and, if they do, they are in with a chance.

While the top three battle it out, the race for the coveted fourth Champions League spot is also heating up. Aston Villa currently holds that position, but with the second-most difficult run-in of all teams, they’ll need to avoid slip-ups with Spurs on their heels.

The relegation battle is almost settled, with Sheffield United and Burnley likely doomed. The remaining spot, however, is wide open with Luton, Nottingham Forest, Everton, and Brentford all in the mix. Opta predicts Luton face a particularly tough run-in, while Everton, Brentford, and Forest have a much easier path.