Why Arsenal are still the favourites to win the Premier League

Manchester City gained ground last weekend but the league leaders have plenty of reasons to remain positive

By https://theanalyst.com/">Opta Analyst

Last weekend was nightmarish for Arsenal.

They https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/11/arsenal-bournemouth-premier-league-match-report">lost at home to Bournemouth on Saturday with a flat, disjointed performance, and matters deteriorated further the following day when https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/12/chelsea-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report">Manchester City beat Chelsea convincingly at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal’s lead at the Premier League summit has narrowed from nine points to six, and City still have a game in hand.

The two sides meet at the Etihad on Sunday for a match that could define the title race.

The narrative pretty much writes itself: City win that game, then win their game in hand, and the title is surely theirs given how strong they are at the end of the season.

That scenario is being talked about as an inevitability in some quarters, as though Arsenal have already let things slip.