Tottenham vs Arsenal – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Mikel Arteta is without key men Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard for North London Derby

It may seem early in the season for talk of defining periods but the standards set by Manchester City are so punishingly high that Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures have that look.

Lose their impending trips to Tottenham and City, live on Sky Sports on Sunday September 15 and Sunday September 22 respectively, and, having already been held to a draw by Brighton, Arsenal could find themselves eight points off the pace of the champions.It is a worst-case scenario which hardly bears thinking about for the club’s fans. But there is also the small matter of a Champions League opener away to Atalanta on Thursday which leaves a turnaround of under 72 hours to the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

It is far from ideal, especially given City open their Champions League campaign a day earlier, at home to Inter Milan, following a Premier League home game against Brentford, eliminating the need for travel and giving them an extra day to prepare.

As if the run of three huge away games in seven days was not already difficult enough for Arsenal, they are now contending with a crisis of personnel in midfield too.