The Premier League title race has taken a dramatic turn over the past two rounds. Several of Arsenal’s closest challengers have dropped points in succession, allowing the league leaders to extend their advantage without even taking to the pitch.
Is this season’s championship truly heading toward a scenario where the Gunners stand alone at the summit?
Two Rounds of “Gifts” as Arsenal Reap the Rewards
In Matchweek 20, several teams in the top six stumbled. Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United all failed to win, allowing Arsenal to maintain their firm grip on first place.
As the league moved into Matchweek 21, the trend continued rather than reversed. Second-placed Manchester City were held to a 1–1 home draw by Brighton, dropping points once again.
Chelsea and Manchester United also failed to claim all three points. Even Aston Villa, who had just climbed to third place, were held to a goalless draw away to Crystal Palace.
Gap Widens as the Title Race Tilts
With a game in hand, Arsenal sit top of the table on 48 points, holding a five-point lead over both Manchester City and Aston Villa, who are level on 43. Fourth-placed Liverpool trails the leaders by as many as 14 points, and from a realistic perspective, no longer poses a direct threat to Arsenal’s title ambitions.
That said, Liverpool remains the defending champions and still possesses considerable pedigree. This round sees Arsenal face Liverpool head-on.
Failure to secure all three points would mean squandering the opportunity created by their rivals’ dropped points. However, a victory would extend Arsenal’s lead to eight points and hand them complete control of the title race.
Three Straight Draws for Manchester City as Guardiola Shows Rare Pessimism
While Arsenal continue to enjoy smooth sailing, Manchester City have stalled. The team has gone three league matches without a win, and their form has clearly dipped.
Head coach Pep Guardiola admitted after the match that City are now in an extremely unfavorable position in the title race.
Against Brighton, City took the lead in the first half through a penalty from Erling Haaland, but were pegged back in the 60th minute by Japanese international Kaoru Mitoma, settling for another draw.
Haaland Ends Goal Drought
On a personal note, Haaland ended his three-match goal drought with that strike. He has now scored 150 goals in 173 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City, becoming the seventh player in the club’s history to reach that milestone.
As their rivals continue to drop points, Arsenal have quietly pulled further clear at the top. With the title race increasingly swinging in their favor, if the Gunners can maintain consistency and make the most of their opportunities, the destination of this season’s Premier League trophy may soon become clear.
