Arsenal's Championship Dreams Hang in the Balance: Five Crucial Matches That Will Crown the Premier League Winner
Arsenal looked like an unstoppable force early in the campaign, but their recent stumbles have energized their Premier League championship competitors.
Arsenal shockingly threw away a commanding two-goal advantage against relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening, extending their poor run to just two victories in their past seven Premier League fixtures. They currently sit five points clear of Manchester City and eight ahead of Aston Villa, though they have contested one additional match.
The championship door remains slightly open as the competition intensifies, with ample opportunity for more dramatic developments in the final stretch.
Below are five crucial matchweeks ahead that could significantly reshape the championship battle.
Gameweek 27
Gameweek 27
The upcoming weekend presents Arsenal with an ideal chance to bounce back from consecutive stalemates. Regrettably for Mikel Arteta's squad, the intensity and chaos of the north London rivalry lies in wait.
Igor Tudor takes charge of his inaugural match as Spurs boss following the inevitable sacking of Thomas Frank. With the Lilywhites genuinely battling relegation fears, they'll be highly driven to distance themselves from the bottom three while simultaneously damaging their rivals' championship aspirations.
Arsenal aren't the sole championship hopefuls confronting a difficult encounter. City host an admittedly weary Newcastle United team at the Etihad, with the Magpies having recently completed an exhausting journey to Qarabağ. Their commanding 6–1 triumph there should reinvigorate them despite the demanding travel.
City suffered defeat at St James's Park earlier this campaign but overcame Newcastle in both encounters of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie. Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola's team has shown inconsistent form and must perform at peak level against the northeastern visitors.
Villa remain on the periphery of the championship discussion but merit inclusion in the debate. Hosting Leeds United in the west midlands this weekend, they'll be keen to exploit any potential slip-ups from their competitors.
Gameweek 28
Gameweek 28
Challenges persist for Arsenal in Gameweek 28, with the Gunners beginning March facing another capital city rivalry. This occasion they'll enjoy home support at the Emirates Stadium when confronting Chelsea—they've already defeated the Blues twice in 2026 during Carabao Cup action.
Liam Rosenior's rejuvenated Chelsea should employ a more offensive strategy than their recent 1–0 loss at Arsenal, with their numerous attacking weapons potentially troubling an increasingly vulnerable Gunners defense.
Elland Road has been a challenging destination for visiting sides this campaign, but City will be favored to succeed in their Yorkshire expedition. Nevertheless, it's important to recall that Pep Guardiola's team needed an injury-time winner in the earlier meeting, having previously squandered a two-goal lead.
Villa will commence Gameweek 28 with a trip to local adversaries Wolves. Despite Arsenal's breakdown at Molineux, there's good reason the Old Gold occupy bottom position with merely 10 points. Unai Emery's team should accomplish what the Spaniard's previous club failed to do and secure victory.
Gameweek 33
Gameweek 33
Forecasting the Premier League's top positions by Gameweek 33 proves challenging, but Arsenal's journey to Manchester will undoubtedly significantly influence the title's final destination.
City enjoy home field advantage for what becomes their third seasonal encounter—the Carabao Cup final precedes this Etihad showdown—and Guardiola will desire a superior result compared to their initial confrontation.
Gabriel Martinelli's injury-time leveler secured Arsenal a point from the north London encounter, with the Brazilian's sole league strike this season potentially proving decisive at the campaign's end. Arsenal would probably accept a stalemate in April—contingent on their table position at that stage, naturally—particularly given their poor Etihad record.
Villa will observe with delight if they remain championship contenders by this heavyweight clash, though welcoming Sunderland presents its own difficulties. The Black Cats persist in troubling elite opposition, despite their exceptional early season momentum slightly diminishing.
Gameweek 34
Gameweek 34
Arsenal continue from their challenging Manchester visit with an equally demanding Newcastle encounter. Eddie Howe's squad has created significant problems for the Gunners in recent campaigns, though the league leaders prevailed in the reverse meeting at St James's Park.
An extraordinary late comeback was sealed by Gabriel, who nodded home the decisive goal in the sixth minute of added time during a 2–1 September victory. Newcastle's performance in this matchup improves considerably at home, but they did claim victory at the Emirates last season in Carabao Cup competition.
City receive one of their most manageable remaining encounters in Gameweek 34, visiting bottom-dwellers Burnley—among their preferred opponents. Across 19 matches Guardiola has contested against the Clarets, he's claimed 18 victories, with a combined scoreline of 63–7. Even the most hopeful Arsenal and Villa supporters won't anticipate an upset at Turf Moor.
The Villans also travel as they prepare for the rarely simple journey to Fulham. However, they possess an excellent record against the London outfit, claiming seven victories in their previous eight meetings.
Gameweek 38
Gameweek 38
If the Premier League championship battle extends to the season's final day, we might witness one of the competition's greatest conclusions in its storied past.
Two potential champions clash directly, with City welcoming Villa in a captivating encounter. Meanwhile, Arsenal visit Crystal Palace for what will mark Oliver Glasner's concluding match managing the Eagles.
City prove exceptionally dangerous in the season's closing stages and possess the experience should the race reach Gameweek 38. Arsenal, conversely, will aim to overcome their past disappointments for their first championship in over twenty years.