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Arsenal vs Manchester City: Premier League title race - what the ...
Welcome back to The Athletic’s title-race tracker, where our data and tactics writers analyse the key trends behind the two-horse race for the Premier League crown.There was a dramatic twist last weekend, as Arsenal fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth, opening the door for Manchester City to close the gap. Pep Guardiola’s men took full advantage, meaning only six points now separate the two sides ahead of Sunday’s colossal meeting between them.With the help of Opta’s supercomputer, The Athletic looks to answer the big question: who will make it over the line in first place?What has changed since the last gameweek?In short, the title is now (technically) back in both sides’ hands.Arsenal’s loss to Bournemouth keeps them on 70 points with 32 games played, while City’s victory over Chelsea places them on 64 points with 31 games played. Should City beat Arsenal and win their game in hand against Crystal Palace (scheduled for May 22), then both teams are locked on the same points, with only goal difference separating them.Of course, that assumes that the pair also win their other remaining games between now and the end of the season. With so many teams scrapping to achieve their own goals, a perfect finish is clearly not guaranteed for either side.If you did want to flick back through recent history, then City can be more optimistic as spring turns to summer.City have lost just one of their last 40 Premier League games in April and May, winning the last 19 in a row at home. The last team to take points from Guardiola’s side at the Etihad in April and May was a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in April 2022 — a result that was not enough to influence the title race as City won the league by a single point.Arsenal have been less convincing in April and May across recent seasons, drawing seven and losing 11 of their last 39 games since 2021-22. History does not always predict the future, but the narratives that have been bubbling away are starting to come to the surface.It cannot be overstated how crucial this weekend’s clash is in shifting the momentum of the title race.Pep Guardiola generally enjoys this stage of a football season (Kate McShane/Getty Images)Who is looking stronger?City have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea since the March international break, scoring nine and conceding none. As mentioned above, the business end of the season is when they tend to click into their most ominous gear.Their 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge last weekend was built on a fero...
Man City vs. Arsenal: What to watch for in Premier League title ...
Rob Dawson and James OlleyApr 17, 2026, 03:00 PMWe still have a month to go in the 2025-26 season of the Premier League, but it feels like Arsenal's visit to Manchester City on Sunday will be the match that decides the destination of the title.Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have been top of the table since September as they bid to become champions of England for the first time since 2004, but City boss Pep Guardiola has pipped the team coached by his former assistant to the title twice in the last three years and his team remains close behind as we enter the home stretch this term.Who will prevail at the Etihad Stadium? And how will the result affect the title race? ESPN's Rob Dawson and James Olley run through the key points ahead of this crucial showdown.- Ranked: Who are the top 50 players in the Premier League right now? - Is it happening again? Arsenal title-race stumble follows familiar pattern - Pep up your wardrobe with Man City's Guardiola-branded clothing rangeWhat's at stake in this game in terms of the title race?Sunday's meeting is the closest thing you can get to title decider in mid-April. City have the momentum, Arsenal have the points on the board. City have the pedigree from winning six of the last eight league titles, Arsenal have the relentless hunger of trying to end a 22-year drought. The irresistible force of City's attack -- featuring Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jérémy Doku -- meets the immovable object of the best defence in the league, with Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba among the best centre-back pairings the Premier League has seen. Something has to give.Victory for City will move them within three points, and three days later they play their game in hand against relegation-battling Burnley. They could be top by then. That would leave Arsenal with a firm sense the trophy is slipping from their grasp. Conversely, a win for the Gunners would be transformative: nine points clear, City's pride severely damaged and the title solely in their hands with just five games to play. A draw would leave Arsenal in the box seat but City still with an outside chance.Matches are often victims of excessive hyperbole. This one isn't. -- James OlleyWhat happened in their previous meetings this season?City and Arsenal have met twice already this season, registering one draw and one City win. September's 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the League was notable for an apparent change in Guardiola's usual tactics. Not one for being overly defensive, it lo...
Premier League title race will be 'over' if Man City loses to Arsenal ...
3 hours ago ... Mikel Arteta's team has lost three of its last five matches, though just one of those games were in the league — a 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday ...
When is Manchester City-Arsenal? How to watch Premier League title decider
Manchester City will host Arsenal in Matchweek 33 of the 2025-26 Premier League season. Here's how to watch the key title race fixture.
