Arsenal vs Man City's TV schedules compared as title rivals forced to respond

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The Premier League title race resumes this weekend with Manchester City enjoying the momentum, but Arsenal boasting a cushion that currently stands at nine points.

The Gunners are seeking to claim a first league success since 2004 and have sat top for the majority of the season. Pep Guardiola has never gone two years in succession without being champion - so something has to give.

Viewer demand to watch the title race play out means that both City and Arsenal have been scheduled for regular TV slots, which leaves one side playing before the other. Plenty will cite a psychological advantage for the team that plays first on any given weekend.

The pressure that comes with having to respond is notable and this weekend that unwanted slot falls to City, who head to Chelsea on Sunday for a 4.30pm kick-off. By that point they could be 12 points behind Arsenal, who play Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime.

Over the coming month there's no doubt that the TV slots have relieved some of the pressure on the north Londoners - who only play after City on one occasion from this weekend - matchweek 32 - up until matchweek 36.

Next weekend is the game that could go someway to deciding the title as City host Arsenal at the Etihad. The Gunners haven't won on the blue side of Manchester since Guardiola took charge and only last month City made a statement by downing their rivals in the Carabao Cup final.

The following weekend City are in FA Cup action as they face Southampton , the team who shocked Arsenal, in the semi-finals at Wembley. It means their game with Burnley has been bought forward to the Wednesday and by the end of the day both sides will have played the same amount of games.

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The possibility exists that, if Arsenal lose this weekend and get beaten by City, Guardiola's side can draw level on points at the top with a win over Burnley. Days later when the Manchester outfit are at Wembley the Gunners play Newcastle on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Arsenal play Fulham on Saturday evening the week after, allowing them to take to the pitch before City. It will be some 48 hours before Guardiola's side play as they're in action on the Monday night, making their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Everton .

As things stand that is as far as the TV fixtures go. It leaves just two matchweeks - the last of which has every team kicking off at the same time.

Saturday April 11 - Arsenal v Bournemouth (12.30pm TNT Sports)

Sunday April 12 - Chelsea vs Man City (4.30pm Sky Sports )

Sunday April 19 - Man City vs Arsenal (4.30pm Sky Sports)

Wednesday April 22 - Burnley vs Man City (8pm Sky Sports)

Saturday April 25 - Arsenal vs Newcastle (5.30pm Sky Sports)

Saturday May 2 - Arsenal vs Fulham (5.30pm Sky Sports)

Monday May 4 - Everton vs Man City (8pm Sky Sports)

Saturday May 9 - Man City vs Brentford (5.30pm Sky Sports)

Sunday May 10 - West Ham vs Arsenal (4.30pm Sky Sports)