Wednesday night was a major turning point in the 2025/26 Premier League title race. However, Arsenal’s position has since shifted after their 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, allowing Manchester City to close the gap and reapply pressure at the top.
Bukayo Saka opened and closed the scoring on Wednesday in what was a far from routine night at the office – but all that mattered was picking up three points and travelling back to the north of the capital.
Manchester City remain firmly in the title race, with Arsenal’s recent defeat to Bournemouth reopening the door and tightening what once looked like a comfortable lead.
Arsenal – as things stand – are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League
Arne Slot’s Liverpool managed to do so with four matches to spare last time out – but, again, when is the earliest that Arteta can become the first Arsenal manager since the legendary Arsene Wenger to win the Premier League title?
Now, a quick look at the current standings shows Arsenal remain in a strong position; however, the margin for error has significantly reduced following recent results.
Arteta’s side – who have now won three straight matches in the Premier League – are nine points clear at the top of the table but City, who have plenty of experiencing of winning the English top flight, do have a game in hand.
For now, though, Arsenal still sit at the top of the table, but their defeat to Bournemouth has ensured the title race is far from over.
Of course, following the recent results, City are reliant on Arsenal dropping points between now and the end of the campaign.
When can Arsenal win the 2025/26 Premier League title?
In what would be an impressive feat, in the event that Arsenal win all of their remaining Premier League fixtures – including their top-of-the-table clash against City at the Etihad on April 19 – they can be crowned champions on May 9 with a win over West Ham.
That would remain the case even if Guardiola’s men also dropped zero points between now and then; that’s because they’d remain 10 points behind the Gunners.
Manchester City have already dropped further points in the title race after drawing with West Ham, with former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos scoring the equaliser for the Hammers. Should the Citizens continue to slip up in upcoming fixtures while Arsenal maintain their winning run, the title could be decided even earlier than initially projected.
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City’s share of the spoils with Forest and West Ham means they are no longer in control of their destiny and Arsenal will earn the status of champions if they win all of their matches.
If Arsenal were to win against City on away soil, it would take a further 15 points – equating to five wins – in their other seven matches to reign victorious as the winners of England’s top tier.
| Date | Opponent (H/A) | Result of reverse fixture |
| 14/03 | Arsenal 2-0 Everton | Everton 0-1 Arsenal |
| 11/04 | Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth | Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal |
| 19/04 | Manchester City (A) | Arsenal 1-1 Man City |
| 25/04 | Newcastle United (H) | Newcastle Utd 1-2 Arsenal |
| 02/05 | Fulham (H) | Fulham 0-1 Arsenal |
| 09/05 | West Ham United (A) | Arsenal 2-0 West Ham |
| 17/05 | Burnley (H) | Burnley 0-2 Arsenal |
| 24/05 | Crystal Palace (A) | Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace |
The trip to Manchester City now looms as the defining moment in the title race, with Arsenal likely needing a result at the Ethiad to maintain control of their own destiny.
With Manchester City continuing to chase from behind, the remaining fixtures will determine exactly when the Gunners can mathematically secure the title.
Arsenal now require 16 points from a possible 18 to guarantee the Premier League title, meaning five wins and a draw from their remaining matches.
Following the defeat to Bournemouth, the margin for error has effectively disappeared, with any further slip-ups likely to hand the advantage back to Manchester City.
Arteta will be looking to write his name in the history books
It’s been a season in the making for 22 years now: Arsenal lasted tasted league success, under Wenger, in the 2003/04 campaign and Arteta, who replaced Unai Emery in late 2019, will be looking to join the likes of Wenger, George Graham and Herbert Chapman in the pantheon of great Arsenal managers.
The data-driven folk at Opta have now given the Gunners a 93.6% chance of running away with the title with their Supercomputer offering only Man City (outside of Arsenal) any sort of hope.
Guardiola’s men have been given odds of 6.4% chance of winning the title come May – but it is currently in the firm grasp of Arteta and Co. The pressure is now firmly on Mikel Arteta’s side, with every remaining fixture carrying added significance as Manchester City continue to chase from behind.
Although many, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler included, have qualms over the current Arsenal side and their ways, what cannot be frowned upon is the fact they are still competing on all four fronts. Should Arteta pick up a trophy or two, they would be no doubting his influence.
