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Arsenal’s gritty victory over West Ham has effectively put the Premier League title race to bed, leaving Manchester City staring at a near impossible mission to claw back control.
The Gunners now sit clear at the top of the table. City do have a game in hand, but that only matters if they can win it. The pressure has fully shifted.
Mikel Arteta’s men faced their toughest remaining test in May and passed it. Overcoming the Irons away from home was the final major hurdle in a season built on resilience.
City’s remaining path shows why the Premier League title race is slipping away fast
Pep Guardiola’s side must now navigate three fixtures flawlessly while praying Arsenal drop points. The margin for error simply does not exist anymore.
First up is a home clash against Crystal Palace at the Etihad. The Eagles are Conference League finalists but have nothing left to fight for domestically. They are only playing for pride now.
Then comes the real danger. City travel to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium six days later. That fixture stands out as the toughest remaining challenge for either title contender.
Andoni Iraola’s Cherries have lost just once in the league throughout 2026. That defeat came against Arsenal back in January. They are still scrapping for a European spot.
The campaign closes with Aston Villa visiting Manchester on May 25. Villa will have just played a Europa League final five days earlier. City have final day history against them though, snatching the trophy from Liverpool’s grasp with that dramatic 3-2 comeback in 2022.
Arsenal’s smooth runway makes the Premier League title race look settled
Arsenal only have two matches left. First, already relegated Burnley come to the Emirates. Michael Jackson’s Clarets have nothing to offer except damage limitation.
After that, it is a London derby against Crystal Palace on the final day. Palace will have their minds fixed on the Conference League final happening just three days later.
The Gunners cleared their biggest obstacle at West Ham. They hold the points advantage and face the smoother finish. Everything now points to the trophy heading to North London.
