539 nights on top, no title to show: Will Arteta’s Arsenal avoid another agonising Premier League slip?

539 nights on top, no title to show: Will Arteta’s Arsenal avoid another agonising Premier League slip?

Mikel Arteta faces being haunted by another near miss, unless Arsenal can turn around their stuttering form.

Arsenal have led thePremier League table since October, but will be replaced at the summit by Manchester City this evening, if Pep Guardiola's side beat Burnley at Turf Moor.

It's an all-too-familiar feeling for Arsenal, who in recent seasons have forged a reputation as fast starters in the title race, but without the legs to last the distance.

Arsenal have spent 200 consecutive nights at the top of the Premier League table in 2025/26, but could yet end the campaign as runners-up.

It follows a record-breaking 2022/23 season, in which Arsenal led the Premier League table for 248 days, the most for a team who failed to win the title in English top-flight history.

According toOpta, Arsenal have spent 539 nights at the top of the Premier League table under the management of Arteta. It's the most any manager has ever led the table without winning the title, with the next closest former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan (339 days).

A runners-up finish this season would set a new unwanted record. No team in Premier League history has ever ended four consecutive campaigns second.