Arsenal know their next eight games will define their season - Arsene Wenger's side must seize the initiative

Gunners have the chance to strike a psychological blow on Leicester City and put themselves in thick of the title race

Mesut Ozil celebrates into the camera after scoring against Bournemouth (Getty)

As winter turns to spring, we are approaching the time of the year Arsenal fans have come to dread. A time when even the sturdiest title challenge is unhinged by unfathomable defeats and endless injuries, cup finals are lost and Arsene Wenger is left to rue another promising season that disintegrated into dust.

Arsenal’s annual title collapse has become a staple of the English football season. Four times – in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2014 – Arsenal’s league season has imploded during the spring. It has become so predictable that even with their club third in the table, as they currently are, their fans hardly dare believe.

And yet should Arsenal triumph over Leicester City at the Emirates next Sunday they will close to within two points of the summit with 12 games to go. With Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all in decline, Arsenal will never have a better chance to end their long wait for the Premier League trophy.

The 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday was welcome relief after a run of four Premier League games without a win that raised fears their late-season jitters were about to return.

Wenger, in an effort to keep the pressure off his side, is eager to paint Leicester as favourites when the two teams meet his weekend. “Leicester were running away and us playing them next week makes the game very interesting,” said the manager in something of an understatement. “In one week Leicester have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City, so that means that they suddenly become the favourite to win the Premier League.”

On form, Leicester might be favourites, but this is a game Arsenal simply must win. Wenger will not need telling how pivotal this weekend is for Arsenal, with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur also playing on what – for once – promises to be a super Sunday in the Premier League title race.

Win, and Arsenal will deliver a serious psychological blow to Claudio Ranieri’s inspired side, and then be able to watch as City or Spurs, or both, drop points later in the day.

The Gunners can hardly call themselves underdogs at the Emirates, either. They are, after all, one of only two sides to have beaten Leicester this season, 5-2 in September.

After months of flirting with the title-race, they must now seize the moment, knowing the next month is likely to define their season. Their injury problems are easing. There is no excuse.

After Leicester, Wenger’s side have a very winnable FA Cup tie against Hull City and then face Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League last-16.

Five days later they play Manchester United in the league, followed by a home game against Swansea and a trip to Tottenham Hotspur, before the return against Barcelona.

It is a difficult run and a true test of their resolve but Wenger will know that if they emerge from it unscathed their run-in looks the best of any of the top five sides.

The Gunners face Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Norwich and Aston Villa inside the final month of the season. Only a visit to Manchester City on the penultimate weekend of the season is potentially a game to fear.

Wenger has insisted his side have the character to win the league this year. The next eight games will tell us if that faith is justified.