Two more teams have led the Premier League for the longest periods but failed to win the title after Manchester City overtook Arsenal.
On 23 April 2026, BBC Sport revealed an interesting but likely disappointing statistic for Arsenal after their fierce Premier League title rival, Manchester City, overtook them to take the top spot in the latest league standings.
Manchester City narrowly beat Burnley 1-0 last night, bringing them level with Arsenal on 70 points from 33 matches. Both teams also share a +37 goal difference, but Manchester City has scored more goals, allowing them to move ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
1. Manchester City (33 matches) 70 points (66 goals for, 29 against, +37 goal difference)
2. Arsenal (33 matches) 70 points (63 goals for, 26 against, +37 goal difference)
BBC Sport recently reported that Arsenal led the Premier League for 208 days during the 2025-26 season before Manchester City took the crown last night. Among the six teams that led the league longest but failed to win the Premier League that season, Arsenal appears three times. The other two teams that suffered this fate are Manchester United and Newcastle United.
1. Arsenal (2022-23 season) led for 248 days
2. Newcastle (1995-96 season) led for 212 days
3. Arsenal (2025-26 season) led for 208 days *season ongoing
4. Arsenal (2002-03 season) led for 189 days
5. Manchester United (1997-98 season) led for 187 days
6. Arsenal (2007-08 season) led for 156 days
Going forward, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will still clinch the 2025-26 Premier League title, ending a 22-year wait, or if Manchester City, having taken the lead, will finish strong and claim their seventh league title in the last nine years.
