LONDON — If Arsenal loses to Manchester United on Saturday the Gunners can forget about winning the Premier League.

Defeat at Emirates Stadium would be Arsenal's fourth in 12 matches, and in recent years the teams crowned English champions have lost a maximum of five games. It would be difficult going on impossible for the Gunners to remain undefeated in their remaining 26 league games, not least because they have seven further matches against United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

The glass half full view is that Arsenal is one win away from qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages, it is still in the League Cup with the F.A. Cup to come.