The Premier League title race remains alive after matchday 36, with both Arsenal and Manchester City securing victories. Manchester City defeated Brentford 3-0 on Saturday, May 9, 2026, with goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, and Omar Marmoush, narrowing the gap to two points behind Arsenal. However, Arsenal responded with a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham, courtesy of a late strike from Leandro Trossard, reclaiming a five-point advantage at the top of the table.
City's Game in Hand Keeps Title Hopes Alive
Despite trailing by five points, Manchester City remain in contention due to their outstanding game. With nine points still available from their remaining three matches, City can capitalize on any slip from Arsenal, who have a maximum of six points left. Arsenal's remaining fixtures are both in London: a home game against Burnley and an away trip to Crystal Palace. City, meanwhile, have two home matches against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, plus a visit to Bournemouth.
Guardiola's Rotation Strategy
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hinted at prioritizing the FA Cup after his comments following the Brentford win. He gave minutes to fringe players like Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden, and Savinho, and promised further rotation. "I know it's not easy for them, but I am pretty sure the next games they are going to play. I'm going to rotate the team; otherwise, we cannot arrive at the final or Bournemouth how we want to," Guardiola said, as quoted by Mancity.com. He added, "Especially for Omar. It's not easy because we normally play with one striker, and Erling is so important for us." Despite this, City remain mathematically in the title race.
Two Scenarios for City's Title Win
Manchester City can still win the Premier League under two conditions, both requiring them to win all three remaining matches:
- Scenario 1: If Arsenal lose one of their remaining two matches, City would win the title by one point.
- Scenario 2: If Arsenal draw one match and City win all three with a superior goal difference, both teams would be level on points, and tiebreakers would decide the winner.
If Arsenal win both remaining matches, they will secure their first Premier League title since the 2003/04 season, leaving City with no chance.
Supercomputer Predicts Winner
Opta's supercomputer previously predicted the Premier League winner after Arsenal reclaimed their five-point advantage. The Gunners' 1-0 win over West Ham at the London Stadium evened the race with Manchester City, who beat Brentford 3-0. The title now hinges on Arsenal's ability to avoid slip-ups in their final two games.
