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When Arsenal clinched the 2003–04 Premier League title without suffering a single defeat, it appeared unthinkable that they wouldn't go on to dominate English football for years to follow.
Yet, over two decades have passed and the Gunners have still not secured another top-flight championship. Remarkably, four members of Mikel Arteta's current squad weren't even born when that now-legendary triumph took place.
While the club's supporters are careful not to tempt fate, many observers have broadly accepted that the end of this long wait will finally come this season. Opta's supercomputer is bullish enough to place Arsenal's title chances at above 97%.
Several matches still remain, and there's the not-so-trivial matter of a Manchester City side that appears to be rediscovering their peak form. Nevertheless, attention has already begun shifting toward that long-anticipated title-winning moment.
Earliest Date Arsenal Can Win Premier League Title
Arsenal could theoretically secure the Premier League title before April is out. In the admittedly improbable scenario where City drop points in their next three league outings, Arteta's men could be crowned champions by winning consecutive games and then avoiding defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday, April 25.
The current table-toppers would need to overcome Bournemouth this weekend — no straightforward task — while City stumble against a fractured Chelsea side before the two title rivals collide in a massive showdown at the Etihad on April 19.
City haven't suffered a home defeat to Arsenal since Santi Cazorla inspired a 2–0 win back in January 2015, with eight of the following 11 meetings in Manchester going the home side's way. However, should Arteta get the better of his former boss, and City then fall to Burnley in a midweek fixture on April 22, he could welcome Newcastle to the Emirates knowing a single point would be enough to seal the title.
Arsenal's Earliest Coronation
Date | Fixture | Necessary Outcome |
|---|---|---|
April 11 | Arsenal vs. Bournemouth | Arsenal win |
April 12 | Chelsea vs. Man City | Man City loss |
April 19 | Man City vs. Arsenal | Arsenal win |
April 22 | Burnley vs. Man City | Man City loss |
April 25 | Arsenal vs. Newcastle | Arsenal don't lose |
Likeliest Date the Premier League Title Is Decided
Outside of their head-to-head encounter, both Arsenal and Manchester City are expected to be favorites in every other remaining Premier League match. The Gunners have in fact already beaten each of the sides they are set to face in the run-in this term, with the exception of City.
While Arsenal have endured a lengthy wait for a victory at the Etihad, Arteta's side have drawn their last two visits to the blue side of Manchester. Should the two clubs split the points later this month and win all their other games, the title race could be settled on the second-to-last weekend of the season.
If City's rescheduled game against Crystal Palace is moved to Wednesday, May 13 — one of two probable options — all attention will shift to the following weekend of May 17.
The Premier League have yet to confirm kickoff times and dates for that stage of the season, so it's unclear whether Arsenal would even need to take to the pitch. Should City drop points away at Bournemouth that weekend, the Gunners would be champions regardless of their own result against Burnley. That said, any positive outcome against the Clarets would render City's result irrelevant.
Arsenal, Man City's Remaining Premier League Fixtures
Arsenal | Man City |
|---|---|
April 11 - Bournemouth (H) | April 12 - Chelsea (A) |
April 19 - Man City (A) | April 19 - Arsenal (H) |
April 25 - Newcastle (H) | April 22 - Burnley (A) |
May 2 - Fulham (H) | May 4 - Everton (A) |
May 10 - West Ham (A) | May 9 - Brentford (H) |
May 17 - Burnley (H) | May 17 - Bournemouth (A) |
May 24 - Crystal Palace (A) | May 24 - Aston Villa (H) |
TBD - Crystal Palace (H) |
Can the Premier League Title Come Down to the Final Day?
This is a very real and plausible scenario. City only need to win their game in hand at home against Crystal Palace and then beat Arsenal at the Etihad to trim the gap to just three points. Should Guardiola's men match the leaders' results — or even accumulate six more points than their rivals — over the weeks that follow, both clubs could enter the final day separated by just a single win.
Arsenal make the trip to Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park at the very same time Manchester City host Aston Villa on the season's final Sunday. City have already claimed five Premier League titles on the last day of a season, most recently denying Arsenal in 2023–24.