Premier League form table reveals surprise leader - and gives Arsenal hope of title recovery

The 2026 Premier League form table provides interesting reading for Arsenal and Manchester City supporters – and fans of the Gunners may see reason for optimism if they study it closely.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Manchester City have the momentum heading into the season’s final two months.

On Sunday, goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland helped City beat Arsenal 2–1 to reduce the gap at the top to three points.

And Guardiola's side will move above Arsenal on goal difference if they beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night, which would set up a mouthwatering final five games of the Premier League campaign.

And, looking at 2026 as a whole, City are ahead of Arsenal with 27 points to the Gunners' 25, both with seven wins, but it is actually Manchester United who sit top of the form table for the year with eight wins and 28 points from their 14 games.

But closer inspection does suggest reasons for Arsenal to be positive, with the Gunners facing four teams in the bottom half of the form table – Newcastle United, Fulham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Arsenal have also scored the most Premier League goals this year, with 26 compared to City’s 22.

As for City, they face three sides in the top half of the form table – Brighton, Everton and Bournemouth – as well as Burnley and Spurs, who sit 19th and 20th in the 2026 form table.

City also have an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United to focus on, while Arsenal have a two-legged Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid to come this month, which may have played into Mikel Arteta’s thinking when he allowed his players two days off after the defeat to City.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of his side’s trip to Turf Moor, Guardiola was keen to focus on the demanding fixture schedule.

“Both teams know what happened in the past,” he said. “Both teams know they cannot lose or drop points. It will be difficult to recover. And our calendar is so demanding, especially when we have a game coming up against an opponent [Everton] that is really, really tough.

“It is more difficult [for the side chasing], mentally and physically. After Arsenal, we have to go to Burnley and perform at the level we have to.”

Arsenal run-in

• Newcastle United (H) – Apr 25

• Atlético Madrid (A, UCL SF 1st leg) – Apr 29

• Fulham (H) – May 2

• Atlético Madrid (H, UCL SF 2nd leg) – May 5

• West Ham United (A) – May 10

• Burnley (H) – May 17

• Crystal Palace (A) – May 24

Man City run-in

• Burnley (A) – Apr 22

• Southampton (H, FA Cup) – Apr 25

• Everton (A) – May 4

• Brentford (H) – May 9

• Bournemouth (A) – May 17

• Aston Villa (H) – May 24

• Crystal Palace (H, TBC – game in hand)