Manchester City beat Burnley 1-0 to officially take first place in the Premier League on Wednesday, April 22 – after months of chasing down a now-flailing Arsenal.
Man City and Arsenal are now level on 70 points and both teams have a +37 goal differential (the first tiebreaker), but City holds a 66-63 advantage in goals scored, the second tiebreaker.
Arsenal had led the league since October, with the club's biggest advantage at nine points on multiple occasions – usually with City having a game in hand until Wednesday. In last weekend's head-to-head game that was billed as a title decider, Man City won 2-1 at the Etihad.
Arsenal has not won the Premier League since 2004, finishing in second place each of the previous three seasons: Manchester City ran down the Gunners late in 2022-23; City won out on the final day of the 2023-24 season; and then Liverpool ran away with the league last year. No team in English history has finished in second four years in a row
Arsenal faces a tough Premier League match this weekend against Newcastle United and could re-apply the pressure with a win – while Manchester City plays in the FA Cup semifinals.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United misses a headed chance while under pressure from Leny Yoro of Manchester United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. Leeds United won the match, 2-1.Djordje Petrovic of AFC Bournemouth attempts to make a save while under pressure from Gabriel and William Saliba of Arsenal during the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium on April 11, 2026 in London, England. Bournemouth won the match, 2-1.Konstantinos Mavropanos of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal in a 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at London Stadium on April 10, 2026 in London, England.Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi (9) scores his club's third goal in a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on March 22, 2026.Brighton's Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring his team's opener against Liverpool on March 21, 2026.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match against Brighton on March 21, 2026.
Harry Maguire of Manchester United celebrates his side's second goal against AFC Bournemouth on March 21, 2026.
James Milner celebrates Brighton's win against Brentford on Feb. 21, 2026.
West Ham United's Valentin Castellanos shoots against Chelsea on Jan. 31, 2026. Chelsea won the match, 3-2.
Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford on Jan. 17.
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Nottingham Forest on Dec. 27.
Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Newcastle on Dec. 26.
Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Nov. 1. The victory ended a four-game losing streak in Premier League games for the defending champions.
Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri (right) and Burnley's Florentino Luis battle for possession of the ball at Turf Moor. Arsenal won the Nov. 1 match, 2-0, to stay six points above Manchester City atop the Premier League table.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City competes for a header whilst under pressure from Sepp van den Berg and Kristoffer Ajer of Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. Man City won the match, 1-0.
1 / 72Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 seasonDominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United misses a headed chance while under pressure from Leny Yoro of Manchester United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. Leeds United won the match, 2-1.1 / 72Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 seasonDominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United misses a headed chance while under pressure from Leny Yoro of Manchester United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. Leeds United won the match, 2-1.2 / 72Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 seasonDjordje Petrovic of AFC Bournemouth attempts to make a save while under pressure from Gabriel and William Saliba of Arsenal during the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium on April 11, 2026 in London, England. Bournemouth won the match, 2-1.3 / 72Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 seasonKonstantinos Mavropanos of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal in a 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at London Stadium on April 10, 2026 in London, England.4 / 72Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 seasonNottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi (9) scores his club's third goal in a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on March 22, 2026.5 / 72Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2025-26 seasonBrighton's Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring his team's opener against Liverpool on March 21, 2026.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match against Brighton on March 21, 2026.
Harry Maguire of Manchester United celebrates his side's second goal against AFC Bournemouth on March 21, 2026.
James Milner celebrates Brighton's win against Brentford on Feb. 21, 2026.