English media analyze 7 reasons why Arsenal can still win the Premier League title.
On 22 April 2026, Declan Rice told his teammates, “It’s not over yet,” after Arsenal's 1-2 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 19 April. Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta strongly agreed with Rice.
The Telegraph, a prominent English media outlet, compiled 7 reasons why Arsenal can still secure their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Reason 1: Arsenal’s remaining fixtures are much more favorable.
Arsenal have 5 matches left, 3 of which are at home in London. Crucially, all their upcoming opponents are in the bottom half of the table.
Their next game is against Newcastle, who have lost 4 consecutive matches. Then they face Fulham, who have won only 1 of their last 6 games, followed by a trip to London Stadium to meet West Ham United and a home match against Burnley on 17 May.
The final game of the season is an away fixture at Crystal Palace, usually a difficult venue. However, Palace is likely to be focused on the UEFA Conference League final three days later. There is no doubt that Oliver Glasner will prioritize the European cup final over the 38th league match.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s remaining 6 fixtures include 4 matches against top-half teams. Their away games at Everton and Bournemouth look challenging, as does their home match versus Brentford, who are chasing European qualification.
Reason 2: Injured players are close to returning.
At the Etihad, Arsenal missed two key fullbacks and their most dangerous forward. However, Jurriën Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, and Bukayo Saka are all nearing recovery and will add the ball control Arsenal has lacked recently.
Especially Saka, who will return with strong determination as one of the team leaders. He must be eager after missing the last 5 matches. He is clearly superior to Noni Madueke, who has had little impact in the last 4 games.
The last time Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Kai Havertz played together was on 21 December 2024, when Arsenal won 5-1 away at Crystal Palace.
Reason 3: Havertz is playing at his best.
Kai Havertz may not be a clinical goal scorer, as seen in the match against Manchester City, but his presence improves Arsenal’s attack. At the Etihad, he excelled in every aspect—receiving the ball, involving teammates, and pressing with clear intent.
This is the strategy Arsenal must stick to in the coming weeks. Viktor Jørkeres has worked hard all season and is the top scorer but lacks the tactical awareness and technical skill at Havertz’s level.
Reason 4: Ødegaard and Ese form a creative duo ready to explode.
The match against Manchester City was only the fourth time this season that Ødegaard and Ese started together, partly due to fitness issues, especially Ødegaard’s inconsistent season. But when they play, they bring the technical stability Arsenal has missed recently. Ødegaard and Ese are the team’s most creative players.
Reason 5: Rodri may miss a crucial match.
Rodri’s injury forced him off in the final minute of the game against Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola revealed after the game that Rodri suffered a groin injury and was awaiting scan results, saying, “We don’t know how long Rodri will be out.” His absence would be a significant blow to Manchester City’s title hopes.
Reason 6: Statistics and data still favor the Gunners.
Opta’s supercomputer simulated the rest of the season 10,000 times and still rates Arsenal as favorites, estimating a 73% chance of winning the title despite their recent loss to Manchester City. The numbers clearly support them.
Reason 7: The psychology of the “chaser” beats the “chased.”
When Manchester City beat Burnley on Wednesday, Arsenal will switch roles before their game against Newcastle on Saturday. Throughout the season, Arsenal have been the “chased” as league leaders but will now become the “chasers.” How this affects the team’s mindset and the fans’ anxiety at Emirates Stadium remains to be seen. It could even be liberating.
In the 2024 championship race, Arsenal’s players and fans clearly performed better as the pursuers. After a home loss to Aston Villa, Arsenal bounced back to win 6 straight matches to finish the season.