{"id":954794,"date":"2026-05-12T12:32:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/954794\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T12:32:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:32:19","slug":"can-manchester-city-overtake-arsenal-to-win-the-premier-league-title-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/954794\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Manchester City overtake Arsenal to win the Premier League title? | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Who<\/strong>: Manchester City vs Crystal Palace<br \/><strong>What<\/strong>:\u00a0English Premier League<br \/><strong>Where<\/strong>: Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, United Kingdom<br \/><strong>When<\/strong>: Wednesday, May 13, at 8pm (19:00 GMT)<br \/><strong>How to follow<\/strong>:\u00a0We\u2019ll have all the buildup on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al Jazeera Sport<\/a> from 16:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.<\/p>\n<p>Second-placed Manchester City kept themselves alive in the Premier League title race with their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/9\/man-city-beat-brentford-to-close-gap-to-arsenal-to-two-points-in-title-race\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">solid home win<\/a> over Brentford on Saturday, but league-leading Arsenal\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/10\/trossard-scores-late-as-arsenal-beats-west-ham-moves-closer-to-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">controversial win<\/a> at West Ham United the following day again pegged City behind in the two-team fight for the trophy.<\/p>\n<p>Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list<\/p>\n<p>Al Jazeera Sport previews City\u2019s delayed Matchday 31 contest against Crystal Palace on Wednesday and breaks down the Sky Blues\u2019 championship hopes as the season draws to a close.<\/p>\n<p>Where does the Premier League title race stand?<\/p>\n<ul class=\"spaced-bullet-spacing\">\n<li>Frontrunners Arsenal are in a favourable title position on the Premier League ladder; they enjoy a five-point lead over Man City, with the Gunners having two matches remaining in the 38-round season.<\/li>\n<li>City have three games to go, including their home tie with Palace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4564661\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-12-111932-1778564998.png\" alt=\"A screengrab of the 2025-26 Premier League points table.\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>A screengrab of the 2025-26 Premier League points table [Al Jazeera]What happens if City win against Palace?<\/p>\n<p>If City beat Palace on Wednesday, they will reduce the gap on league leaders Arsenal to two points. Both teams will then have two games remaining.<\/p>\n<p>A victory against Palace would keep City alive in the title hunt, but they would need to beat Bournemouth in their penultimate match to continue the title fight to the final round of matches on May 24.<\/p>\n<p>What happens if City draw or lose to Palace?<\/p>\n<p>If City draw, they will end up four points behind Arsenal, and in the event of a defeat, the gap would remain at five points. Dropping any points against Palace would mean City all but bowing out of the title race, even if they still have a mathematical chance to contend heading into the penultimate round.<\/p>\n<p>In such a scenario, Arsenal can be crowned Premier League champions as early as Monday, May 18. A win over already-relegated Burnley in Matchday 37 would mean Arsenal would be at least seven points clear, with City only having a maximum of six points available in their last two fixtures.<\/p>\n<p>If the Gunners are crowned champions of England, it would mark the end of the North London club\u2019s 22-year wait for the honour.<\/p>\n<p>How does City\u2019s and Arsenal\u2019s run-in look?<\/p>\n<p>After hosting Palace on Wednesday, City face sixth-placed Bournemouth on May 19 before facing fifth-placed Aston Villa in their final game of the season on May 24. Both fixtures will be challenging as City\u2019s opponents will be fighting to secure European football qualification next season.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal, on the other hand, have a much easier run-in to the end of the season. They host already-relegated Burnley on May 18 and play away to Palace on the final day of the season. Palace will likely name a weaker side for that fixture, with their eyes certainly on their first European final: The Conference League final vs Rayo Vallecano on May 27.<\/p>\n<p>Is the Premier League trophy Arsenal\u2019s to lose?<\/p>\n<p>Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal\u2019s dramatic win on Sunday against their London rivals, West Ham, means they already have one hand on the trophy. Should they win their final two matches of the campaign, they will be crowned champions, regardless of Man City\u2019s results.<\/p>\n<p>But any slip-up would allow their title rivals back in.<\/p>\n<p>Opta\u2019s supercomputer has given the Gunners an 87.2% chance of winning the title from hereon.<\/p>\n<p>Can City and Arsenal end the season on equal points?<\/p>\n<p>Yes, it is possible.<\/p>\n<p>If City win all three remaining matches, and Arsenal draw one of their two games, both teams will end the season level on points.<\/p>\n<p>What happens in this case? Rule C.17 of the Premier League Handbook\u00a0says the final table placings would be determined by the following criteria, in this order:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>goal difference<\/li>\n<li>goals scored<\/li>\n<li>points won in head-to-head matches<\/li>\n<li>away goals scored in head-to-head matches<\/li>\n<li>a playoff match.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Currently, the goal difference between Arsenal and City is very close. Arsenal have a +42 goal difference, and City\u2019s is +40. It could come down to goals scored across the season: City\u2019s current tally is 72, Arsenal\u2019s is 68.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4485618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/afp_69db6a46139e-1775987270.jpg\" alt=\"Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland celebrates on the pitch after scoring a hat-trick, after the English FA Cup quarter final football match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 4, 2026.\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>Manchester City\u2019s Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland is the leading scorer this season with 26 goals. Can he guide them to a surprise title win? [AFP File]<\/p>\n<p>If the clubs finish level on points, goal difference, and goals scored, City would claim the title on the next criterion \u2013 points won in head-to-head matches \u2013 because they have won four points against Arsenal this season, thanks to a win and a draw.<\/p>\n<p>The odds of such a scenario are very low, given City are lagging in the title race, but if this were to happen, it would go down as the closest title race ever. The previous closest race was in 2011-12 when City edged their rivals, Manchester United, on goal difference following Sergio Aguero\u2019s stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day.<\/p>\n<p>City still in the hunt for domestic double<\/p>\n<p>While City\u2019s odds of winning the league title are very slim, they remain on course to complete a domestic double. City, who won the League Cup in March, face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday. They are bidding for their eighth FA Cup, having last lifted the trophy in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Manager Pep Guardiola has backed striker Omar Marmoush, who scored off the bench in the last game, to have a key role in the closing stages of the English season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve talked many times,\u201d said Guardiola. \u201cI know it\u2019s not easy for them [fringe players], but I\u2019m pretty sure in the next games they\u2019re going to play.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to rotate the team because otherwise we cannot arrive in the final or Bournemouth a little bit (fresh).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEspecially Omar. It\u2019s not easy because normally you just want one striker. He\u2019s a proper striker but Erling (Haaland) is there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cErling is so important for us, but the contribution of Omar \u2013 the amount of goals for the minutes played \u2013 is so high.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I love it\u2019 \u2013 Pep Guardiola relishes title run-in<\/p>\n<p>Guardiola said he is \u201cloving\u201d the Premier League run-in, despite his \u2060side no longer controlling \u2060their own fate in the title race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s \u2060not in our hands now,\u201d Guardiola said. \u201cThey have to drop points. The only thing we can do is win again and see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Guardiola said win or lose, the thrilling race to the finish has been thoroughly enjoyable.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-3195410\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2024-09-19T131231Z_1426714701_RC24X6A3LLBL_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-1727013262.jpg\" alt=\"Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, left, and City manager Pep Guardiola embrace\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, left, and City manager Pep Guardiola exchange a hug before a game [File: Carl Recine\/Reuters]<\/p>\n<p>He pointed to his team\u2019s consistency, as their unbeaten run in the \u200cleague stretches back to mid-January. With another major final still to come, City have had plenty to celebrate this season, regardless of how the Premier League finishes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love it. I love to be here again, we\u2019ll finish second again in this season, minimum,\u201d Guardiola said. \u201cLast season, we were fighting to qualify for the Champions League, was so \u2060difficult.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love too Carabao (League Cup) in our pocket. We play an FA \u2060Cup final in Wembley, it is the most beautiful game of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What happened the last time City played Palace?<\/p>\n<p>In their reverse fixture at Selhurst Park in December, City won 2-0, thanks to two goals from Haaland, including a penalty, and another by Phil Foden.<\/p>\n<p>Head-to-head<\/p>\n<p>Palace and City have faced each other in 75 games in all competitions since 1921.<\/p>\n<p>City have won 40 of those encounters, while Palace won 18. A total of 17 matches ended in a draw.<\/p>\n<p>Man City team news<\/p>\n<p>Defenders Josko Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusanov, along with defensive midfielder Rodri, are out injured.<\/p>\n<p>Predicted Man City lineup<\/p>\n<p>Gianluigi Donnarumma (goalkeeper); Matheus Nunes, Marc Guehi, Nathan Ake, Nico O\u2019Reilly; Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders; Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku; Erling Haaland<\/p>\n<p>Palace team news<\/p>\n<p>Edward Nketiah, Cheick Oumar Doucoure, Evann Guessand and Borna Sosa are sidelined with injuries.<\/p>\n<p>Predicted Palace lineup<\/p>\n<p>Dean Henderson (goalkeeper); Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Jaydee Canvot; Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Tyrick Mitchell; Brennan Johnson, Ismaila Sarr; Jorgen Strand Larsen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Who: Manchester City vs Crystal PalaceWhat:\u00a0English Premier LeagueWhere: Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, United KingdomWhen: Wednesday, May 13,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":954795,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,299,94,4884,2465,12,93,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-954794","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-europe","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-manchester","14":"tag-news","15":"tag-sport","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116561627343883353","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/954794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=954794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/954794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/954795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=954794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=954794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=954794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}