The final week of the 2025-26 season has arrived, and the battle for the Premier League title between Arsenal and Manchester City has reached a critical moment.
Both teams have two games remaining. Arsenal play on Monday and City on Tuesday, with both teams facing the final day of the season next Sunday, May 24th.
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So what does each club need to do to win the title with two rounds left?
How is the Premier League winner decided?
The team with the most points at the end of the season wins the title.
However, if each club finishes with the same points, the winner will be determined by goal difference.
If both teams have the same goal difference, the award goes to the team that scores the most goals, then the most points in head-to-head games, then the team that scores the most away goals in head-to-head games.
Arsenal’s pursuit
They are two points behind Man City at the top of the league, and if the Gunners win their remaining two games they will lift the Premier League trophy for the first time in 22 years.
However, Man City currently have a one-goal lead on goal difference and could still snatch the title even if Mikel Arteta’s side lose their form. City also has the advantage in points, 75-68 after the last two games.
City also beat Arsenal 2-1 at home in April and drew 1-1 at the Emirates in September, making them better than any other side in the league this season.
On paper, it looks easier for Arsenal to catch up than City. The Gunners will play relegated Burnley at home, then play away to 15th-placed Crystal Palace, who have avoided relegation, before setting their sights on the Europa Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on May 27.
May 18: Arsenal vs. Burnley May 24: Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal
Man City run-in
City will probably need to win both of their final games and hope Arsenal fail. They will also be looking to further increase their goal difference in case the teams are tied on points.
If Arsenal win on Monday and City fail on Tuesday, the Gunners will win the title.
Josep Guardiola’s side look set to face a tougher challenge in their trip to Bournemouth as they aim to qualify for the Champions League.
Next up, they host Aston Villa, a formidable side who have already qualified for next season’s Champions League and could be tired and in demo mode after playing in the Europa League final against Freiburg on Wednesday, May 20.
May 19: Bournemouth vs. Man City May 24: Man City vs. Aston Villa
What did Arteta say?
The Arsenal manager said he wants to play against Burnley in order to increase the Gunners’ goal difference.
“First of all, we have to earn the right to win games. To make a difference with more goals, even better,” Arteta told reporters on Thursday.
“It was a really tough game against West Ham[last weekend]and it felt great to somehow get the win. But ideally we know that scoring goals will be important.”
He added: “The team is really present. They’re living in the moment. Emotionally they’re in a really good place. The energy level is right.”
What did Guardiola say?
The City manager said all his team could do was “survive” and hope Arsenal fail.
“If they win two games, there’s nothing to do or say,” Guardiola told the BBC earlier this week. “All we can do is be there just in case. The last two games will be tough.”
Guardiola will be hoping City’s FA Cup final victory over Chelsea on Saturday can propel his side to an unexpected title win.
The 1-0 victory was a double domestic cup for the team, who defeated the Gunners 2-0 in the League Cup final in March.
When asked how he would celebrate winning the FA Cup, the City manager replied: “At home. I can’t even have a pint.”
“We were planning to celebrate with a parade in Manchester next Monday after Aston Villa with the women’s team (who won the league), but we don’t have time right now.”
How many league titles has Arsenal won?
Arsenal have won 13 times in English football’s top flight, either as the former First Division or the Premier League, which was launched in 1992. The Gunners last lifted the trophy in 2004 under manager Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal league wins: 1930-31, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1937-38, 1947-48, 1952-53, 1970-71, 1988-89, 1990-91, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-2004.
How many league titles has City won?
City have won 10 league titles, the majority of them since 2012, six of them with Guardiola as manager.
City’s league wins: 1936-37, 1967-68, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24.
