The end of the 2025/26 Premier League season sets two distinct routes for the leading sides. Arsenal sit closest to the finish line. Three consecutive league wins have steadied their campaign and two more victories will guarantee them the title.

Arsenal host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on May 18. Burnley are already relegated, are winless in their last 11 fixtures and occupy 19th place. They drew with Aston Villa in their most recent game. The meeting looks straightforward on paper and offers Arsenal a chance to boost goal difference.

Arsenal then travel to Selhurst Park to close their league campaign on May 24 against Crystal Palace. Palace have troubled Arsenal previously, with two of the last three meetings ending in draws. Oliver Glasner could be inclined to rest many of his best players with one eye on the Conference League final three days later. “The visitors will also no doubt have the Champions League final on their mind, but they cannot afford to rotate against the Eagles when the Premier League title could still hang in the balance.”

Manchester City must hope for slip-ups while erasing the memory of last week’s misstep against Everton. Pep Guardiola’s side must win their remaining games to retain any chance of the title and must also hope Arsenal falter at least once.

City have the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley at the weekend. A win there would return a second trophy to the Etihad this season, with the Citizens still chasing a potential third. Three days after Wembley they travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth on May 19. Bournemouth recently toppled Arsenal and are pursuing European qualification, so they are unlikely to yield easily.

On paper the Citizens’ remaining fixtures appear tougher than Arsenal’s. Time is running out for City. The final fixtures will determine whether Arsenal can close the job or whether City can engineer a late swing in the title race.

Manchester City produced a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Wednesday, a result that maintains a tight title race with Arsenal. The three points ensured that Arsenal would not be able to wrap up the league this weekend with a single win over relegated Burnley.

The scoring began in the 32nd minute when Phil Foden back-heeled the ball to Antoine Semenyo, who, positioned inside the box with his back to goal, required one touch to turn and beat the goalkeeper. Eight minutes later Omar Marmoush doubled the lead, allowing the ball to roll past before taking a first-time right-footed shot over Dean Henderson’s legs. City sealed the win in the 84th minute as Savinho threaded a skilful run through Palace’s backline and finished a left-footed flick into the side netting.

The Cityzens sit two points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with both teams holding two games remaining. Arsenal still control their destiny: win both remaining matches against Burnley and Palace and they will secure the title. If Arsenal record a win and a draw while City win both of their remaining fixtures against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, the two clubs would finish level on 83 points and the title would be decided by goal difference, and then by goals scored if necessary.

City will hope either Burnley or Palace can challenge Arsenal in the coming rounds. Burnley are considered unlikely to upset the Gunners, but Palace could pose a threat, particularly if Mikel Arteta partially rotates his squad ahead of the Champions League final. Palace themselves may adjust personnel given their Conference League final follows their fixture with Arsenal.

Player ratings:

GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma—8.0: Relatively untested on the night.

RB: Matheus Nunes—7.2: Combined well with Savinho.

CB: Abdukodir Khusanov—7.6: Solid outing for the Uzbekistan international.

CB: Marc Guéhi—7.8: Was patient on the ball. Did well to penetrate the space the Eagles gave him.

LB: Joško Gvardiol—6.6: Looked comfortable and collected, despite taking the pitch for the first time since January.

CM: Bernardo Silva—7.4: Was highly successful at breaking down Palace’s midfield lines.

RM: Savinho—8.2: Had creative looks to switch the field, but lacked accuracy early in the match. Brilliant in his late goal.

AM: Phil Foden—8.9: Two assists for the Englishman, who had a point to prove.

LM: Rayan Aït-Nouri—7.1: Rejoined the starting lineup. Was dynamic high up the left flank.

ST: Antoine Semenyo—7.2: Took a rare central position and struggled to get involved at times, but came through when it mattered.

ST: Omar Marmoush—7.9: Proved the star power of striker Erling Haaland wasn’t needed.

Subs: Nathan Aké (58’ for Nunes)—6.3; Jérémy Doku (58’ for Gvardiol)—6.0; Rayan Cherki (79’ for Marmoush)—7.6; Mateo Kovacic (79’ for Silva)—6.5; John Stones (82’ for Foden)—N/A.

Subs not used: James Trafford (GK), Rúben Dias, Tijjani Reijnders, Erling Haaland.

Match statistics: Possession 72% – 28%; Expected Goals (xG) 1.56 – 0.68; Total Shots 15 – 6; Shots on Target 4 – 2; Big Chances 3 – 0; Pass Accuracy 89% – 77%; Fouls Committed 10 – 7.

Chelsea face a fragile run-in this season where only lifting the FA Cup could salvage what the club calls a nightmare campaign. Reports have suggested the Blues are “exploring a deal” for Xabi Alonso, and if the 44-year-old is installed as permanent manager he would arrive with recent Real Madrid contacts he knows well. Alonso lasted just 233 days on the Bernabéu touchline, but remains an attractive option to steady Stamford Bridge.

Three players who feature in the speculation are Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger and Eduardo Camavinga. Fran García had already tried to engineer a loan move to Bournemouth in the winter window before Real Madrid reportedly tore up the deal. His minutes at the Bernabéu have dwindled behind Ferland Mendy and Álvaro Carreras. There is room for García at Madrid should Mendy recover, but the left back has openly considered the Premier League. Chelsea possess Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato and Malo Gusto on the left, although Cucurella has been linked with a move away, which could create an opening. García thrived as a left wing-back under Alonso and would fit naturally into a 3-4-2-1 system the manager favors.

Antonio Rüdiger is out of contract at season’s end and negotiations to extend his stay in Madrid have not progressed. A return to Stamford Bridge has been mooted, with Chelsea in need of defensive reinforcements. Rüdiger enjoyed success in a blue shirt previously and would represent a cost effective short-term option if he becomes a free agent. The 33-year-old center back brings Premier League experience and a combative style that could be immediately useful.

Eduardo Camavinga has been linked with several Premier League suitors, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. After a difficult season he may seek more regular minutes. The 23-year-old has already won two Champions League titles and remains a high-upside option. If Enzo Fernández departs Chelsea this summer, perhaps for Real Madrid, the club could look to a player with Camavinga’s profile to help fill the midfield gap.