The 2025/26 Premier League title race could develop into a two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City in the run-up to Christmas.
Arsenal are 8/13 in Betway’s latest Premier League betting markets to win the title and it would be a brave move to back against them achieving the feat.
The Gunners have a four-point lead over Man City after 11 games, while Chelsea are a further two points behind in third place. However, the top two could edge away over the next few weeks.
Upcoming Fixtures for the Premier League’s Top Eight
With that in mind, read on as we look at what is on the agenda for each of the contenders ahead of the festive period, before assessing how the title race could develop.
Arsenal (1st) – 26 points
- Tottenham Hotspur (H)
- Chelsea (A)
- Brentford (H)
- Aston Villa (A)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
- Everton (A)
Manchester City (2nd) – 22 points
- Newcastle United (A)
- Leeds United (H)
- Fulham (A)
- Sunderland (H)
- Crystal Palace (A)
- West Ham United (H)
Chelsea (3rd) – 20 points
- Burnley (A)
- Arsenal (H)
- Leeds United (A)
- Bournemouth (A)
- Everton (H)
- Newcastle United (A)
Sunderland – (4th) – 19 points
- Fulham (A)
- Bournemouth (H)
- Liverpool (A)
- Manchester City (A)
- Newcastle United (H)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
Tottenham Hotspur (5th) – 18 points
- Arsenal (A)
- Fulham (H)
- Newcastle United (A)
- Brentford (H)
- Nottingham Forest (A)
- Liverpool (H)
Aston Villa (6th) – 18 points
- Leeds United (A)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
- Arsenal (H)
- West Ham United (A)
- Manchester United (H)
Manchester United (7th) – 18 points
- Everton (H)
- Crystal Palace (A)
- West Ham United (H)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
- Bournemouth (H)
- Aston Villa (A)
Liverpool (8th) – 18 points
- Nottingham Forest (H)
- West Ham United (A)
- Sunderland (H)
- Leeds United (A)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
- Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Visits to Chelsea and Aston Villa have the potential to be tricky for Arsenal, but also offer them the chance to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack.
With the rest of their pre-Christmas fixtures all favourable, the Gunners should add a minimum of 14 points to their tally over the next six games.
Man City could potentially narrow the gap to the Gunners over the next few weeks given that their upcoming schedule looks relatively easy.
Their trips to Newcastle United and Crystal Palace could be tricky, but Pep Guardiola’s side have the ability to win both those games.
With the top two sides looking set to enjoy a productive time ahead of Christmas, there will be increased pressure on the chasing pack to keep pace with them.
The Leading Challengers to the Top Two
Intriguingly, Manchester United could be the team which emerges as the closest challengers to Arsenal and Man City over the next few weeks.
The Red Devils are also fancied to bag at least 14 points ahead of the festive period, which could fire them up to third in the standings.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Villa all have plenty of winnable-looking fixtures scheduled, but may struggle to match the points tally of the main title contenders.
The Reds have mounted a hugely underwhelming defence of the title, and will be desperate to steady the ship after the November international break.
However, given the manner of their performances this season, you would be hard-pressed to imagine them keeping pace with Arsenal and Man City.
Chelsea and Villa should continue to pick up plenty of points, but they may also fall short of garnering a similar tally to the top two.
Arsenal could be in an even stronger position ahead of the festive fixtures, but will probably still have Man City breathing down their necks.