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Seven games remain: three for Arsenal, four for Manchester City. Seven opportunities for more twists and turns in the title race. Just as City appeared to be building their trademark relentless charge at the end of the season, they self-destructed in the space of 13 minutes at Everton. Jérémy Doku’s extraordinary late equaliser has given them a lifeline, but that 3-3 draw has handed the initiative back to Arsenal. Five points separate the sides and the equation is now brutally simple: if Arsenal win their last three games they will be crowned champions for the first time in 22 years, whereas City must be flawless and hope their rivals stumble.
Premier League titles turn on moments: Sergio Agüero’s 94th-minute winner in 2012, Steven Gerrard’s slip in 2014, Vincent Kompany’s thunderbolt in 2019, or City’s final-day comeback in 2022. The question now is whether the 2025-26 season has already had its defining moment in that Everton game or whether, with seven games to play, this campaign is yet to deliver the scene for which it will be remembered.
Manchester City v Brentford: Saturday 9 May
Eight months ago, City supporters would have been rubbing their hands together at the prospect of facing Brentford in a crucial game, but that won’t be the case on Saturday. Having been tipped by many experts go down after they lost their manager and star players in the summer, the Bees are now hoping to qualify for European football for the first time in their history. Brentford are one of the league’s most dangerous counter-attacking 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%). One good omen for City is that Brentford have only won one of their last seven games – although that was a resounding victory against West Ham last weekend.
West Ham v Arsenal: 10 May
Arsenal’s trip to West Ham this weekend is their last match against a team that has anything riding on the outcome. Thoughts of summer holidays are far from the minds of the West Ham players as they fight for survival. This might be one of the rarest sights in English football: a weekend when Tottenham fans find themselves reluctantly willing on Arsenal. There are 40 points and 17 places between the teams, so this should be a procession for Arsenal, but desperation does strange things in football. West Ham, who are unbeaten in their last six home games, are a point and place behind Spurs in the relegation battle so will be fighting for their lives. This will be a test of Arsenal’s temperament more than their tactics.
Manchester City v Crystal Palace: 13 May
Just four days after hosting Brentford, City are back at the Etihad on Wednesday night against Crystal Palace, giving them little time to rest mentally or physically. This is their second game in a brutal stretch of five matches in 16 days and, with an FA Cup final against Chelsea waiting the following Saturday, it will be more a test of their fortitude than footballing ability. Fortunately for City, Palace are 15th in the table and have little to play for in the league. Since their double blow in January – the departure of Marc Guéhi to City for £20m and the confirmation of Oliver Glasner’s exit at the end of the season – their form has plummeted, with just four league wins in their last 19 games. Palace have turned their attention to Europe and they will be preparing for the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano. They also have a punishing schedule; this will be their third game in seven days.
Arsenal v Burnley: 18 May
Arsenal could not have wished for a better penultimate match of the season: a home game against a relegated team with no manager and the worst defensive record in the league. The Arsenal forwards will see Burnley’s visit to the Emirates as a chance to put some distance between themselves and City on goal difference. They could seal the title in this game if City drop points against Brentford or Crystal Palace and they beat West Ham.
Bournemouth v Manchester City: 19 May
Pep Guardiola and his players face a tough task when they meet Bournemouth on the south coast three days after the FA Cup final. Bournemouth are sixth in the Premier League table and on the brink of qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history. Andoni Iraola has taken his high intensity pressing and direct attacking approach to a new level this season. They are unbeaten in their last 15 games – the longest streak in Europe’s top five leagues – so it will take something special for City to leave with three points. This is probably the toughest game for either side in the run-in.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal: 24 May
Arsenal will be delighted that Crystal Palace have reached the Conference League final. When they visit Selhurst Park on the last day of the Premier League season, Palace will have at least one eye on the final in Leipzig three days later. As Glasner looks forward to his last game as Palace manager and the chance to win the club’s first European trophy, he will be keen to rest players and avoid any unnecessary risks. If Arsenal are still in front on the final day, history offers reassurance: on the 10 occasions the Premier League title has been decided on the final day, the team that started the day top has always got the job done.
Manchester City v Aston Villa: 24 May
There is little respite for City, with another team that is chasing a place in the Champions League waiting on the final day. The good news for Guardiola is that Aston Villa might have clinched a place in the competition before them. Villa take on Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul four days before the end of the league season, so will either be emotionally drained by defeat or running on the fumes of celebration by the time they reach the Etihad.
This is an article by WhoScored
