Premier League Title Race: Arsenal bottling it and Man City on the march?

Arsenal drifted to 8/131.61 to win the Premier League after they lost 2-1 to Bournemouth and rivals Man City beat Chelsea 3-0 on a big weekend in the title race.

The next one is likely to be even bigger with the Gunners going to City for a crucial showdown at the Etihad next Sunday (19 April).

Pep Guardiola's men shortened to 6/52.20 to do what they have done in four of the last five Premier League seasons - finish the campaign top - following their confident display at Stamford Bridge.

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS	xGF	xGA	xGD	EXP	FCST
1 Arsenal	38	26	7	5	71	27	85	0	0	0
2 Man City	38	23	9	6	77	35	78	0	0	0
3 Man Utd	38	20	11	7	69	50	71	0	0	0
4 Villa	38	19	8	11	56	49	65	0	0	0
5 Liverpool	38	17	9	12	63	53	60	0	0	0
6 Bournemouth	38	13	18	7	58	54	57	0	0	0
7 Sunderland	38	14	12	12	42	48	54	0	0	0
8 Brighton	38	14	11	13	52	46	53	0	0	0
9 Brentford	38	14	11	13	55	52	53	0	0	0
10 Chelsea	38	14	10	14	58	52	52	0	0	0
11 Fulham	38	15	7	16	47	51	52	0	0	0
12 Newcastle	38	14	7	17	53	55	49	0	0	0
13 Everton	38	13	10	15	47	50	49	0	0	0
14 Leeds	38	11	14	13	49	56	47	0	0	0
15 Palace	38	11	12	15	41	51	45	0	0	0
16 Forest	38	11	11	16	48	51	44	0	0	0
17 Spurs	38	10	11	17	48	57	41	0	0	0
18 West Ham	38	10	9	19	46	65	39	0	0	0
19 Burnley	38	4	10	24	38	75	22	0	0	0
20 Wolves	38	3	11	24	27	68	20	0	0	0

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Are Arsenal bottling it in the title race?

Arsenal have finished second in the Premier League for the last three seasons. So far, they have been the best and most consistent team in 2025/26.

Their defeat to Bournemouth at the Emirates on Saturday, however, combined with their losses to Man City in the EFL Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, raises the question - are Arsenal bottling it?

Not necessarily, they pulled off an impressive 1-0 win at Sporting Lisbon last week in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and, ahead of this week's second leg, are 9/25.50 to finish the season as Premier League and Champions League double winners.

There is a sense that, in their domestic performances at least, they have lost confidence at the worst possible moment.

They are six points clear of City, with six games to play, but Pep Guardiola's team have a game in hand.

If City win their game in hand and beat Arsenal on Sunday that would wipe out the Gunners' lead.

Arsenal have the superior goal difference but only by three and, with City firing, that could soon be overturned. 

All of that said, this is Arsenal's best chance to win the Premier League for many years. They have the advantage heading into the home straight and their destiny is in their hands. 

Will Man City reel in Arsenal in the title race?

But City's form looks ominous for Mikel Arteta and the Spaniard, who previously worked under Guardiola at the Etihad, knows that his old boss loves football in the spring. That's the time of the year when City sweep aside opponents and closing in on silverware. 

City have a psychological advantage for two reasons.

Firstly, they have done this several times before under Guardiola and know what it takes to win the Premier League. Secondly, they beat Arsenal in the EFL Cup final, as mentioned, and that appears to have dented the north Londoners' self-belief.

On the other hand, City have not been the model of consistency this season. Before yesterday's win at Chelsea, Guardiola's team drew 1-1 at West Ham in their previous Premier League fixture.  

What is certain is that Guardiola has the knowhow to keep his team performing all the way to the finish line. Does Arteta? It remains to be seen and the next month or so will be the biggest test that the Arsenal manager has faced so far.

Man City v Arsenal - Early prices on Sunday's title showdown

When the teams met at the Emirates in the reverse fixture in September, it finished 1-1. Last season's Etihad showdown ended 2-2.

There is not a lot between the pair these days, although you have to go all the way back to January 2015 for the last time Arsenal won away to City in the league.

On the Betfair Sportsbook City are 4/51.80 favourites to win Sunday's match, with the draw 11/43.75 and Arsenal 16/54.20. 

Arteta would be pleased with a draw and, suffice to say, delighted win a victory that would all but confirm that the title was heading to north London for the first time since 2004. 

The race is close and what happens this week will be crucial. As ever, we will have an in-depth match preview, Alan Shearer's match prediction and insight from the Football...Only Bettor podcast in the build-up. 

Arsenal remaining Premier League fixtures

Man City (A)

Newcastle (H)

Fulham (H)

West Ham (A)

Burnley (H)

Crystal Palace (A)

Man City remaining Premier League fixtures

Arsenal (H)

Burnley (A)

Everton (A)

Brentford (H)

Bournemouth (A)

Crystal Palace (H)

Aston Villa (H)

Read our preview of tonight's Man United v Leeds match in the Premier League