Image source: Getty Images3 Hours Ago190 CommentsWith only five games left, Manchester City and Arsenal remain separated by goals scored in the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta of the Gunners says, “It’s like a different league now.” His team had been at the top of the Premier League table for 209 consecutive days before Wednesday. BBC Sport asked pundits, journalists and fans to predict the scores of each club’s remaining five games. This will help us determine who will win the title. Arsenal have been trying for 1-0 wins – are they in need of a mindset change? 21 hours agoAdvantage Man City? Guardiola, the ‘Queen Bee’, leads them to the summit. “Both teams will be scoring freely in the final five Premier League games, with the title on the table. Both teams will have a goal difference of +46, but they will not have perfect records. There will be a draw each and the results will determine that both teams will end up with the same result. Manchester City may have a more difficult run-in than Arsenal, but their ability to get the job done in a tight race is crucial. “We’ve seen Agueroooo score, and now we’re about see Semenyoooo do the same. On the final day of this season, the Gunners will have a lead over Crystal Palace and be touching the Premier League Trophy with their hand. “But City’s new signing will score against Aston Villa in injury time to level the metrics, and give Pep Guardiola’s side the title because they scored more goals than Arsenal. This will spark wild celebrations at Etihad Stadium. “It’ll allow City to complete their second domestic treble, and a tearful Guardiola can sail off into sunset after a decade full of unprecedented success. Stranger things have happened in the world of football, right? BBC Sport’s Arsenal Reporter Alex Howell: ‘Even though Arsenal has lost the momentum in their title race and won only one of their last six games in all tournaments, I still think they will be champions at season’s end. “It’s because Manchester City has a tougher schedule and I think Pep Guardiola will also drop points. “I see Mikel Arteta winning four of the five remaining league matches, while Manchester City draws against Everton or Bournemouth who are both chasing European Football. “The Gunners had some positives, even though they lost to City 2-1 last Sunday. “Arteta chose Eberechi Eze, and Martin Odegaard who showed they could be key to providing chances and a threat for a Arsenal attack which has been increasingly lacking in ideas and fluidity over the past few weeks. “The title may be decided by goal differential depending on the results, and I believe that Eze and Odegaard will have some big moments to decide where the trophy ends. What does BBC’s predictions specialist say? Chris Sutton, who won one of the most tightest title runs-ins in 1995 when Blackburn edged Manchester United at the final day, now predicts all 380 Premier League matches for BBC Sport. It was therefore an obvious choice for him to give his opinion on this season’s race. “In the reverse fixtures Arsenal beat all five teams they still have left to play this year, by an average score of 8-1. He said, “I think they’ll beat them all again.” “City lost at Aston Villa away in October, but beat all the other teams.” “But I think City has tougher games because they must play Everton and Bournemouth on the road. I think that they will lose points in one of these games, and it’s more likely to happen at Everton. “I expect Arsenal to beat Newcastle this Saturday. Newcastle has given them a good match in the past, but they are struggling right now and, with the stakes, Arsenal should win. “West Ham away is a tricky game for them. It’s a tricky game for them because it comes just a few days after the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against Atletico. I still think that they will win. “I think Arsenal will win this game, based on how I have calculated the remaining games. “I know City just beat them, which was huge, but I don’t think it’s straightforward for Pep guardiola’s team from here on – and I don’t think Arsenal is as bad as people make out. “But he wonders if City forwards can be a factor. Could Erling Haaland make the difference in this season? Sutton continued. “I looked up how many Premier League Goals he scored in each season since he first joined City, and his totals are 36, 27, 22, and – this season so far – 24. “Arsenal’s top Premier League scorers in the same time period have scored 15, 16, 9 and Viktor Gyokeres is up to 12 this season. “I really believe that Arsenal can win this game. If you’re looking for someone who can make a difference, someone to end these games, Arsenal had Gyokeres sitting on the bench [against City] at the weekend. “If City win, it will be because they have great attackers and Rayan Cherki has come to the forefront. “But I think Arsenal can just click again and it will come down to the wire. “City has a better goal difference than them at the moment, but they’ve already played Burnley and won 5-1 at home in September. “Arsenal must play Burnley at The Emirates. This could be a good opportunity for them to improve their goal difference. The AI has scored more points than the expert over the course of the season. The points system is skewed because it gives 40 points for a perfect score and 10 for a correct result. It has predicted that City and Arsenal would both win their remaining five games, with Pep guardiola’s team taking the title based on goal differential. Sutton was speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan. What about the fans? BBC fan writers Laura Kirk Francis and Emily Brobyn both had a shot at predicting the champions. I’ve deluded myself to think that Everton’s manager, Mikel Arteta, who played under Arsenal manager Mikel for six years, would take points off Manchester City in a gesture of gratitude and a favor to his former captain. “Aside from that, Arsenal should be inspired by the performance of the weekend. The error made by Gianluigi Donarumma may also provide a glimmer hope that Manchester City has flaws. Maybe just one flaw is all that’s required. “On paper, Arsenal has a slightly easier match-up but the momentum is with Manchester City. “Faith or fear, both require you to believe in something that you cannot see. Today I choose to believe (at least for the next few hours). Laura Kirk-Francis is a guest on the Latte Firm Podcast. I am surprised that City is still in the title race. A period of sloppy draw has been followed up by powerful performances against Arsenal twice and Liverpool once. “But I think the final games in the title race may still produce a surprise. Arsenal will be encouraged by the positive performance at the Etihad Stadium. City may have the momentum but they’ll need to keep it. “I think it could be a shootout on the final day – winner take all.” It could come down to who scores the most before the end, and whoever is brave to feel the fear and embrace it and use it as their driving force. “I think City will win on goal difference. Have your say …[embedded Content]What information do you collect from this quiz?” [embedded content]What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsPremier LeagueManchester CityArsenalFootballMore on this storyFollow your club with BBC Sport12 MarchListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone16 August 2025
