How jostling for Europe could decide the Arsenal vs City title race
By Luke Oluoch, May 8, 2026The race for the 2025/26 Premier League title remains too close to call, with Arsenal and Manchester City locked in an intense battle in a two-horse race.
May, the league final month, has already served the most telling upset yet after Pep Guardiola’s men dropped points against Everton FC in a dramatic 3-3 draw on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but the drama remains far from done with the total of seven games pitting the two title-chasing rivals.
For Manchester City, part of the demanding fixtures that could ultimately decide who lifts the trophy include this Saturday, May 9, 2026, clash at home to Brentford.
Citizens also have clashes against Crystal Palace (game in hand), Aston Villa, and Brentford.
Arsenal heads for a trip to West Ham United on Sunday in match week 36. The Gunners will then return home for their final home match at the Emirates against relegated Burnley.
Their league finale, if all goes as per plans, will see Mikel Arteta’s charges crowned on the final day in London, albeit down south at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park.
Whereas the race remains, the European facet is likely to play a pivotal role in deciding the race, which could portend both ill on one hand and a welcome relief for Manchester City.
For instance, their Saturday opponents are eyeing their first ever reach of Europe, having just been promoted from the league a couple of seasons ago.
Jostling for Europe
The Bees under Keith Andrews are one of the league’s most dangerous counterattacking sides and will be a threat as soon as City lose the ball. They have attempted 56 fast breaks (more than any other team in the league), creating 48 shots from those breaks and scoring nine goals in transition.
They are brilliantly efficient in front of goal, with the best shot conversion rate in the league (13.83%), according to the Guradian.
While bracing for the challenge, City and Arsenal will both draw inspiration from the fact that Palace, whom both of them face, will certainly rest first-team members ahead of the Conference League final due in May.
Villa is also awaiting a crucial finale in their schedule after beating Nottingham in the Thursday, May 7, 2026, semifinal.
With both sides facing zero margin for error in this high-stakes run-in, it remains to be seen who blinks and who will take advantage of any slight chance comings its way to wrap the race