The narrative of the entire 2025-26 Premier League season was Arsenal finally defeating the demons of failing to get over the line and clinching their first Premier League honor in 22 years but Manchester City once again seemed to ruin their dream by turning the tide around. The Gunners kept a nine point lead at one point but a miserable last few months for the side saw them drift off with Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over them on 19 April 2026 giving them a psychological hammer blow and opening up the title race completely. It slashed the lead at the top to three points which Pep Guardiola's side then overcame by beating Burnley in the midweek. The result now puts City on top of the table despite having the same points and same goal difference as Arsenal, who have dropped to second, courtesy of scoring more goals.
The reversal of the eight time Premier League in a stunning way begs the question whether the Citizens are doing another of their trademark comeback, they have made it almost regular under their star manager, to lift the title again. After a miserable season last time out, Guardiola's men looked to be another difficult period when they fell behind in the title race and also suffered early elimination from the Champions League. However, with the Carabao Cup victory over title rivals Arsenal in March, they found rejuvenation and reminded everyone that it is foolish to count them out so easily. City's late season heroics have put them back on top of the table and have history backing them now as they have never failed to clinch the title when they have made a comeback in this style.
In this article, we look at all the previous instances that Manchester City have made a comeback from the most unexpected situation to lift the Premier League title under Pep Guardiola:
The Centurions' Survival (2018-19)
The first major instance of a Guardiola comeback with City occurred during the 2018-19 campaign when they were bidding to defend their first title under the Spaniard which came a season ago. It was not any other title victory but a record breaking one as the City reached a century of points which was never achieved before in the Premier League era. However, they had a challenger in another dogged force of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, whom they will have a lot of close run-in for the prize, who threatened to derail their supremacy. By late December in that season, City trailed the Reds by seven points almost giving in but just like they did to Arsenal now, they picked up a huge 2-1 win against Klopp's side at the Etihad in January 2019. That became a huge turning point to their season as it followed a flawless run of 14 consecutive victories to finish the relentless season. City eventually won by a single point with 98 collected this time compared to the opposition's 97. It proved that even a near-perfect Liverpool who didn't collapse like Arsenal could be overhauled by a City side that refuses to give up.
From Mid-Table to Mastery (2020-21)
Another title comeback with a strong showing in the second half of the campaign was orchestrated by Manchester City in the 2020-21 season. The side had to give up their crown to Liverpool the previous campaign and was not looking good again as they sat as low as 8th in the table in December 2020 with the pandemic situation in large. They trailed city rivals Manchester United this time with seven points and it seemed all hopes are gone. Yet, Guardiola's men proved everyone wrong again as with a revolutionary tweak in their system City became the beast again everyone associated with. Converting to a false nine, the side string together a 15-game winning streak that turned the deficit into a runaway 12-point title victory over Manchester United. It was perhaps the underrated comeback title win in Premier League history and among the City ones talked about but it once again showed just how relentless the side could be when they are faced with a situation that counts them out in the first place.
The Original Arsenal Heartbreak (2022-23)
This season serves as the clearest blueprint for the current 2025-26 race. Arsenal refound themselves under Guardiola's former assistant Mikel Arteta that season and was a surprise league leaders despite sustaining the worst start to a season in their history. They spent a record 248 days at the top of the table and lead the closest challengers City by eight points as late as January 28, almost having the title in their hands. Unfortunately, it started the collapse that the Gunners will make a habit of in the future, as they gave in when the real pressure started arriving in April. On the other hand, City remained focus in their task and showed their ruthless nature in the latter half of the season again to brush off the deficit at the time of asking. The 4-1 demolition of the Gunners at Etihad became the tip of the comeback that effectively sealed their third consecutive title and the fifth under Guardiola's watch.
Others
City were involved in a few more title races that did not make an overtly comeback stance but nevertheless showed their never dying spirit of achieving glory. They were challenged by Liverpool again in the 2021-22 in another close relentless battle for the Premier League trophy. The Reds pushed them all the way and almost snatched the title on the final day when City went 2-0 behind against Aston Villa at the Etihad. However, making a remarkable turnaround in the game, Ilkay Gundogan smashed in a now one of the iconic winners in the league history to grab a 3-2 thriller winner and land another title to City's cabinet. The side eventually reached 93 points once again condemning Liverpool to be one of the best runners-up with just a point behind. Another example was set in the frantic three-way battle they had with the Reds and Arsenal in the 2023-24 season where they once again found themselves trailing behind in the title hunt. Come January, they were in a disadvantageous position to that of their title rivals but maintained their tradition of a strong second half to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League trophy.
Can They Do It Again?
We have seen Manchester City, under Guardiola, making a historic comeback from the most unthinkable position repeatedly to clinch the Premier League title. They are in pole position to do so again and have beaten Arsenal twice before in the same way. Their statement victory in the title decider and then seizing the opportunity to displace the Gunners from the top spot by winning the game in hand against Burney now puts destiny firmly on their own hands. They don't have to rely on the North Londoners anymore this season unless they somehow manage to lose their track in an unlikely manner. Even if their opposition wins the remaining games from now, City will still claim the title if they do the same with the goal difference also in their favour. History shows that once Guardiola’s City reaches the top in April, they rarely relinquish it.
With only six games remaining for the season and no top-five opponents to face in the schedule, City have a major advantage with no European football to think about which Arsenal have to worry about after reaching the semifinal stage of the Champions League. It is the City side that hasn't lost in the league since mid-January, while Arsenal had let go off their momentum completely with back-to-back losses as the former seems poised to deliver a seventh title in nine years.
