Arsenal have the title back in their hands, but only just. After beating West Ham United last Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s side briefly moved five points clear of Manchester City, only for Pep Guardiola’s team to cut that lead to two points with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
The next 48 hours could decide whether the race for the Premier League title lasts to the final day or ends in north London tomorrow. Arsenal host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium, and Manchester City go to Bournemouth 24 hours later. If Arsenal beat Burnley and City fail to win away, celebrations can start in north London. If City win at Bournemouth, the title will go to next Sunday.
Arsenal can still clinch the championship with two wins from their final two games, and the math is simple enough to keep every corner of the Arsenal table in view. City are now two points behind with two games each remaining, but they hold the edge on the details that matter if the points end level. After the Crystal Palace win, they are one point ahead on goal difference and seven better on goals scored.
That means even a draw for Arsenal against Burnley, paired with a City win at Bournemouth, would leave both teams level on 80 points heading into the final day. If it gets that far, Arsenal would travel to Crystal Palace on May 24 and City would host Aston Villa. The Premier League season runs 380 games, but the final 19 may settle the title, the European places and the relegation fight all at once.
The tension around the bottom half remains just as real. Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers are already part of the struggle, with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United still the other clubs mentioned as possible relegation candidates. West Ham visit Newcastle United today, and a win there would lift them above Spurs. Tottenham, meanwhile, have had their weekend trip to Chelsea pushed back to Tuesday because Chelsea are in the FA Cup final.
Spurs have not won their last home game, leaving them with 16 winless home matches in 18 league fixtures at their ground this season. Arsenal are chasing a 22-year wait for the English league title, while Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are already being treated as teams that have moved clear of the scrap below. For Arsenal, the next step is plain: beat Burnley, and then wait to see whether Bournemouth changes everything.
