Arsenal and Man City run-ins compared as Premier League title race goes to wire

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Evening Standard

·22. April 2026

Arsenal and Man City run-ins compared as Premier League title race goes to wire

City leapfrogged Arsenal with slender victory in midweek

Mikel Arteta’s side had held a nine-point gap at the summit just a fortnight ago, but stutters from the Gunners and relentless form from City has seen that advantage washed away.

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City hauled themselves within three points with a 2-1 win over the north London club at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, as goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland helped Pep Guardiola’s men to a huge victory over their rivals.

City sit top on goals scored, having hit 66 compared to Arsenal’s 63, while both sides are level on 70 points and a 37 goal difference.

Haaland was on target again as his sixth-minute winner at Turf Moor took City to the top of the tree with five games to play, but who do both sides face in their respective run-ins, and how close could it be going into the final knockings of the campaign?

City will have another game in hand to play at some point as they do not play in the Premier League this weekend.

They instead take on Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, with the Saints having dumped Arsenal out in the last eight.

It means that Mikel Arteta’s side could be back on top by the end of the week, when they take on Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on April 25.

The weekend after that, City are back in action, travelling to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Europe-chasing Everton, while Arsenal host London rivals Fulham.

After that, City are back at the Etihad Stadium to play Keith Andrews’ high-flying Brentford, while Arteta’s men make the trip to Stratford to take on West Ham, who are fighting for their Premier League survival.

A visit to Bournemouth could be the biggest banana skin across both sides’ run-ins, and City will have to make the trip to the Dorset coast on May 17, while Arsenal play already-relegated Burnley at the Emirates, with City sending the Clarets down with their victory at Turf Moor.

On the final day, City must travel to Aston Villa - who could still be in Champions League contention - while Arsenal visit Crystal Palace, who could have their attentions elsewhere should they progress into the Europa Conference League final.

City’s game in hand will, incidentally, come against Palace, although a date for that fixture is yet to be confirmed.