How the Premier League title race is shaping up with four games left: here’s how the run-in looks for Arsenal and Man City

Arsenal have been in this situation before on several occasions - the Premier League title is within touching distance but will it slip from their grasp once again?

It’s been 22 years since the Gunners were last crowned league champions and there have been five near misses since then. Arsène Wenger’s side let an eight-point lead go to waste in 2002/3, and in 2013-14, just like this season, Arsenal topped the table for most of the campaign - only to implode in March, the team ravaged by a succession of injuries.

Arsenal throw it all away

It was a similar tale in 2022-23, Mikel Arteta’s fourth season in charge. His team were cruising in pole position right up until it mattered most. Three consecutive draws at the start of April, away at Liverpool and West Ham and at home to struggling Southampton nibbled away at their lead. The team would win just three of the last six games - a 4-1 defeat to City proved to be a psychological blow from which they couldn’t recover.

The 2023-24 campaign was also incredibly close. And the Christmas fixtures proved to be decisive. A 1-1 draw at Anfield was followed by defeats to West Ham and Fulham. Arteta’s men dropped just four points in the entire second half of the campaign - a draw against City and defeat to Villa from the New Year to May. The damage had already been done - the title went back to Manchester again, the difference, just two points.

Waiting for City to slip

Arsenal now find themselves in the same situation - needing City to drop at least one point between now and the final day of the season on May 24 while making sure they win all of their own remaining games.

As it stands, the Gunners top the table on 73 points. City are right behind on 70 points but have a game in hand - the rescheduled Week 31 fixture against Crystal Palace, at home. On top of that, Arsenal will have less time to rest and prepare for the final sprint as they will also be battling Atlético Madrid for a place in the Champions League final.

Arsenal play out the season in their own back yard

Arteta’s side will not leave London for the rest of the campaign. Whatever happens, the Premier League title will be decided in the English capital, in front of their own supporters.

That could be seen as an advantage. Fans will be able to easily travel across town to Arsenal’s only remaining away games - against West Ham in Week 36 and Crystal Palace on the final day.

Domestic treble

City’s run-in doesn’t look particularly complicated on paper. The only potential banana skins which Guardiola’s troops could slip on are Everton away this weekend and Villa at home on the last day. That said, three of their rivals: Brentford, Bournemouth and Villa are eyeing up the European berths so it’s not as though they have nothing to play for themselves.

City lost to Villa earlier in the season but Unai Emery’s team look as though they could be running out of steam - and like Arsenal, they’re still involved in European competition, which understandably will be their priority.

City also have other commitments. They have the chance to achieve a league and cup treble - they defeated Arsenal to lift the EFL Carabao Cup back in March and they will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 16.

Guardiola’s team have endured just a few blips in 2026 - the only defeat came to United in the Manchester derby and the other points dropped were all from draws (Sunderland, Chelsea, Brighton, Spurs, Forest and West Ham).

What’s clear is that from this point on, neither Arsenal or City can afford the slightest reverse - every single game has to be won.

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