SoccerRecap
Palhinha’s late goal gives Spurs first win of 2026
Palhinha's late winner gives Spurs their first Premier League victory of 2026!
Sky Sports1 min read
Sports
Arsenal v Newcastle United: Premier League – live
TL;DR
Arsenal and Manchester City are tied in the Premier League title race, both aiming for a maximum of 85 points this season. With five games left, the competition is fierce, and goal difference may play a crucial role in determining the champion.
Key points
- Arsenal and Manchester City tied in Premier League title race
- Both teams can reach a maximum of 85 points this season
- Goal difference may determine the champion
- Five games left in the season
- Historical title races have been decided by narrow margins
ArsenalManchester CityPremier League
The Little Increasingly Hefty Book of Football Cliches tells us that the Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint. Not any more! In his first spell at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho shared the extraordinary insight that points won in August counted the same as those earned in April and May. Aspiring champions emerged from the blocks accordingly and it became normal for the best teams to reach 90 points in a 38-game season.
That won’t happen in 2025-26, with 85 points the highest total that Arsenal and Manchester City can reach. But after slogging through the first 33 games of the season, they have no choice but to sprint the last five. The title race is effectively a mini-league, with Arsenal and City level on points and goal difference. City are top of the table on goals scored.
Both teams have won league titles by the barest of margins. The impossibe drama of Michael Thomas and Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goals understandably obscures some of the detail. City beat Manchester United on goal difference in 2011-12. And in 1988-89, Boring Boring Arsenal final above Liverpool on goals scored.
It may not come down to goal difference. Both teams have tough away games in the run-in and the chances are oneof them will drop points. But it should surprise nobody if they win the lot; if so, popcorn sales will go through the roof because we have never seen that kind of extended goal-difference shoot-out in a English title race.
It would be negligent for either team to ignore the table and coast through a game if they are, say, 2-0 up. But it’s an awkward situation, because to think of goal difference before a match can imply or reveal complacency.
More than anything, Arsenal need to beat Newcastle at the Emirates to keep their destiny in their own hands and end a short but punishing run of two straight defeats. If they drop points tonight, the Book of Football Cliches may throw up a different metaphor: the one about the horse race.
Kick off 5.30pm.
Explore more on these topics
Q&A
What is the current points total for Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League?
Both Arsenal and Manchester City are currently level on points and goal difference, with a maximum of 85 points possible this season.
How does goal difference affect the Premier League title race between Arsenal and Manchester City?
Goal difference could be critical in the title race, as both teams have tough away games ahead, and one may drop points.
What historical context is there for Arsenal and Manchester City's title races?
Both teams have previously won league titles by narrow margins, with memorable moments like Michael Thomas and Sergio Aguero's last-minute goals.
