The Premier League title race for the 2025-26 season switched gears again as league leaders Arsenal put themselves in pole position to claim the honour after beating Brighton at Amex Stadium in their 30th game. The victory puts them seven points clear at the top of the table after challengers Manchester City dropped points in the 2-2 draw against relegation battlers Nottingham Forest on the same evening. Pep Guardiola’s side will be kicking themselves for not picking up full points in the game they led twice through Antoniyo Semenyo and Rodri, snapping their four-game winning streak in the competition. With that result, the eight-time Premier League winners are left with a mountain to climb, but they have a game in hand.
The 1-0 victory for the Gunners, coming from the ninth-minute deflected strike from Bukayo Saka on his landmark appearance, was by no means straightforward either. Mikel Arteta’s side had to fend off a spirited comeback attempt from the Seagulls, with the opposition manager criticising the time-wasting tactics of the visitors. Regardless, this was a third win on the spin in the league and extended a six-game unbeaten run for the North Londoners with just eight games remaining from destiny. Many believe this victory makes Arsenal the likely champions, given their more favourable schedule compared to title rivals City. However, both remain in the hunt for all available trophies this season, including facing each other in the Carabao Cup final and later in the league, with a possible meeting in the FA Cup as well, so everything remains in balance.
Premier League table after Gameweek 29
Teams | Pld | Win | Draw | Lost | GD | Pts |
Arsenal | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | +37 | 67 |
Man City | 29 | 18 | 6 | 5 | +32 | 60 |
Here we compare both clubs’ remaining schedule and see who has a better chance to win the Premier League 2025-26 season:
Arsenal schedule
Arteta’s men are not only seeking their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season but also looking forward to completing a historic quadruple. They remain alive in all other competitions, qualifying for the Round of 16 of the Champions League and the FA Cup and reaching the Carabao Cup final, where they will face the challengers City. The showpiece on 22 March 2026 and the FA Cup quarterfinal, should the Gunners get there, are between the two-legged Champions League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen. Hence, despite playing just one more league game this month, the schedule will be packed for the Gunners.
They have the title-deciding game against Manchester City on 19th April 2026 after the Champions League quarterfinal stage and before the FA Cup semifinal, provided they make it that far in those competitions. However, Guardiola’s side is the only top-five team remaining to face in their schedule, as all other opposition are ranked below seventh in the table. They also faced two relegation battlers, West Ham and Burnley, in the final three games of the league season, wrapping up against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 24 May 2026. Even though the Gunners have struggled against low blocks, the suitable league fixture with the seven-point lead helps them focus on other competitions amid a congested schedule.
7 March 2026
Mansfield (A) - FA Cup Round 5
11 March 2026
Bayer Leverkusen (A) - Champions League Round of 16 First Leg
14 March 2026
Everton (H)
18 March 2026
Bayer Leverkusen (H) - Champions League Round of 16 First Leg
22 March 2026
Manchester City - Carabao Cup Final
4 April 2026
FA Cup Quarterfinal
7 or 8 April 2026
Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg
11 April 2026
Bournemouth (H)
14 or 15 April 2026
Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg
19 April 2026
Manchester City (A)
25 April 2026
FA Cup Semifinal
25 April 2026 (Will be shifted if Arsenal reaches the FA Cup Semifinal)
Newcastle United (H)
28 or 29 April 2026
Champions League Semifinal First Leg
2 May 2026
Fulham (H)
5 or 6 May 2026
Champions League Semifinal Second Leg
9 May 2026
West Ham (A)
16 May 2026
FA Cup Final
17 May 2026 (Will be shifted if Arsenal reaches the FA Cup final)
Burnley (H)
24 May 2026
Crystal Palace (A)
Manchester City schedule
The draw against Nottingham Forest was a setback for Manchester City, as they have much to do to catch up to Arsenal. The schedule is gruelling compared to the league leaders, as they still have to face them twice, in the Carabao Cup final and in the title-deciding fixture, in addition to facing Chelsea and also ending their league season against Aston Villa at home, similar to the 2021-22 campaign, both being in the race for the Champions League spots. However, it is just the Premier League, as City will face a crunching schedule in balancing other competitions, especially in Europe, where they are in a tougher bracket than the Gunners.
Guardiola’s side will face familiar foes, Real Madrid, in the Round of 16 of the Champions League and should they progress, Vincent Kompany’s ruthless Bayern Munich, led by none other than nemesis Harry Kane, will be their opponents in the quarterfinals. Even if they make it to the last four, they are guaranteed to face fellow Premier League side Liverpool or the competition holders, PSG. Compared to Arsenal, the only team to significantly worry about in their pathway is Barcelona. That is not taking into account the kind of opponents they will match up with in the FA Cup. City has successfully claimed titles before against the odds, but the unforgiving schedule and their point deficit look too much for them to pull it off this time.
8 March 2026
Newcastle United (A) - FA Cup Fifth Round
12 March 2026
Real Madrid (A) - Champions League Round of 16 First Leg
15 March 2026
West Ham (A)
18 March 2026
Real Madrid (H) - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg
21 March 2026 (Fixture will be shifted due to Carabao Cup Final)
Crystal Palace (H)
22 March 2026
Arsenal - Carabao Cup Final
4 April 2026
FA Cup Quarterfinal
7 or 8 April 2026
Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg
12 April 2026
Chelsea (A)
14 or 15 April 2026
Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg
19 April 2026
Arsenal (H)
25 April 2026
FA Cup Semifinal
26 April 2026 (Will be shifted if City reach the FA Cup semifinal)
Burnley (A)
28 or 29 April 2026
Champions League Semifinal First Leg
2 May 2026
Everton (A)
5 or 6 May 2026
Champions League Semifinal Second Leg
9 May 2026
Brentford (H)
16 May 2026
FA Cup Final
17 May 2026 (Will be shifted if City reach the FA Cup Final)
Bournemouth (A)
24 May 2026
Aston Villa (H)
