Arsenal and Man City could meet four times in season-defining month
Arsenal and Manchester City face the prospect of playing each other four times in just 28 days following the upcoming Champions League draw.
A potentially chaotic calendar
The two Premier League title rivals are on course for a congested run of fixtures across March and April which could determine the outcome of their respective seasons.
They will discover their European fate at 11:00 GMT on Friday when the quarter-final pairings are decided.
Should the two sides be drawn together, it would create a sequence of four matches that effectively serves as a series to decide the destination of major silverware.
The intense period is scheduled to begin with the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on 22 March.
The dates for the diary
The Wembley showpiece kicks off the battle between Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola, with the winner likely to take significant momentum into the season’s run-in.
If the English giants are paired in Europe, the quarter-final first leg would take place on 7 or 8 April.
The return leg would follow a week later, with the Gunners guaranteed to play the second fixture at home as a reward for topping the Champions League league phase.
Sandwiched between these potential European nights is a critical Premier League encounter.
The league fixture at Etihad Stadium is currently pencilled in for 18 April, though it is expected to be moved for television coverage.
European pathways
Both clubs sit in the same half of the draw, meaning a quarter-final meeting remains a distinct possibility if they navigate the last 16.
Beyond a potential domestic clash, the north London side’s route to glory could involve tough tests against the likes of Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta.
Alternatively, a more favourable path might pit Arteta’s men against Bayer Leverkusen or Sporting Lisbon.
The congested schedule is already causing logistical issues, with Arsenal’s home game against Everton facing a potential reschedule.
That fixture, currently set for 15 March, may be brought forward by 24 hours depending on how the balls fall during Friday’s draw.