Arsenal will need to rewrite Premier League history and destroy pitfalls in title run-in

The maths is clear for Mikel Arteta’s title chasing stars.

Win their next eight games – which includes a trip to direct rivals Manchester City – and they will be champions. Or if they want to take a more dramatic route to the last game – assuming City put in a perfect finish – they can lose one and draw one, and still end up top.

They face four of the top seven, but also four relegation contenders. So what does history tell us about Arsenal’s quest for glory? The percentages are against it being a perfect run in… but then again this is a new fearless Arsenal who appear unburdened by the past, ripping up the rule book.

Based on the all-time Premier League record, there seems only a slim chance Arsenal will beat Liverpool at Anfield in the second game back after the international break. Only a one in five chance of an away win – and Liverpool were 4-0 victors last term.

Southampton, Leeds and Nottingham Forest are all as near certain three pointers – based on the past form book – as you’ll get.

But there’s a tricky period ahead, at the end of April and beginning of May. Last season Man City beat Arsenal 5-0 at the Etihad, and historically there’s only a 44 percent chance of an away win… and that dates back well before the club’s Abu Dhabi takeover turned them into serial winners.

They lost to Chelsea 2-0 at home last season and have only won 14 out of 30 games against the Blues. Then next up is Newcastle – when they also lost 2-0 last season – with only 12 wins in 27 league games at St James’ Park.

High flying Brighton have only been beaten twice in five games by Arsenal – a home win rate of 40 percent – and it was a defeat 1-2 last season at the Emirates.

History indicates there are more thrills and spills to come. But it’s unlikely Bukayo Saka and co will be daunted by what has gone before. They are on the brink of writing a fresh chapter in Arsenal glory days.

Arsenal’s 10 remaining matches and their all-time Premier League record against those teams – with win percentages either home or away

Saturday April 1 Leeds (h)

P 14 W 10 D 1 L 3

Home win 71%

Corresponding result last season: Arsenal 2-1 Leeds

Sunday April 9 Liverpool (a)

P 30 W 6 D 8 L 16

Away win 20%

Corresponding result last season: Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal

Sunday April 16 West Ham (a)

P 26 W 14 D 9 L 3

Away win 54%

Corresponding result last season: West Ham 1-2 Arsenal

Friday April 21 Southampton (h)

P 23 W 16 D 7 L 0

Home win 70%

Corresponding result last season: Arsenal 3-0 Southampton

Wednesday April 26 Man City (a)

P 25 W 11 D 3 L 11

Away win 44%

Corresponding result last season: Manchester City 5-0 Arsenal

Saturday April 29 Chelsea (H)

P 30 W 14 D 9 L 7

Home win 47%

Corresponding result last season: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Saturday May 6 Newcastle (a)

P 27 W 12 D 8 L 7

Away win 44%

Corresponding result last season: Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal

May 13 Brighton (h)

P 5 W 2 D 1 L 2

Home win 40%

Corresponding result last season: Arsenal 1-2 Brighton

May 20 Nottingham Forest (a)

P 5 W 3 D 1 L 1

Away win 60%

Corresponding result last season: N/A

May 28 Wolves (h)