22/04/2026

WEDNESDAY | APR 22, 2026

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Premier League title race Do Arsenal or Man City have the easier run-in?

Ű BY JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

to finally end their 22-year wait for a league title but they could well face a shootout for this season’s trophy, with goal difference potentially deciding the destination of the title. City denied Arsenal the title in both 2023 and 2024, and now the Gunners will feel they need five wins from their remaining five games in order to win the league for the first time since 2004. However, City will likely feel the same, and with six games left of their campaign, here’s how the crucial run in is shaping up. ARSENAL Played: 33 | Points: 70 | GD: 37 Remaining fixtures: April 25 - Newcastle (H) , May 2 - Fulham (H), May 10 - West Ham (A) , May 17 - Burnley (H), May 24 - Crystal Palace (A) Toughest game? With the trip to Manchester City out of the way, there’s one fixture that stands out with just five more League games to go. The visit of Newcastle this weekend looks tough on paper, though with the Magpies faltering of late, the Gunners could well find a victory more easily than they have in the past against Eddie Howe’s side. Indeed, it may prove that the game against relegation-threatened West Ham proves more difficult. Final straight? While the loss to City is damag ing, Arsenal can only try and win all of their final five games now, and they can be confident of doing so. In May, they will play Fulham and Burnley at home. Mid-table Fulham will likely be in “nothing to play for” territory while 19th-placed Burnley could well be down by the penulti mate weekend and Crystal Palace could be preparing for a Europa Conference League final by the time they head to Selhurst Park for the final

game of the season. West Ham, though, will be fighting for their lives. Still, the Gunners might not have to play a top half team in May. MAN CITY Played: 32 | Points: 67 | GD: 36 Remaining fixtures: April 23 Burnley (A) , May 4 - Everton (A), May 9 - Brent ford (H) , May 17 - Bournemouth (A), May 22 - Aston Villa (H) , TBC - Crystal Palace (H). Toughest game? Pep Guardiola’s side have hit their purple patch and the win over Arsenal closes the gap to just three points with City having a game in hand. However, City have a potentially far more difficult run-in than Arsenal, and a final-day game at home to Aston Villa could be a tough end to the season if everything isn’t already decided by then. Final straight? On paper, much tougher than Arsenal’s. Brentford and Bournemouth are in the mix for European qualifica tion over the final weeks of the season and City have to play them both in their final three games. Then, they host Aston Villa on the final weekend of the season. Unai Emery’s side could have Champions League qualification wrapped up by then, though, and there is a chance they could still be celebrat ing victory in the Europa League final if they advance past Nottingham Forest to get there. VERDICT? Arsenal’s fixtures look more favour able than City’s, particularly in their final stretch, but the result at the Etihad means momentum has swung in City’s favour, and Pep Guardiola’s side look in ominous form as they chase a seventh title under the Spaniard. – The Independent

T HE Premier League is set up for another thrilling run-in after Manchester City beat Arsenal to set up a fascinating last month of the title race. The Gunners

travelled to the Etihad on Sunday with a six-point lead at the top of the table but that has now been cut to just three points, and with City hold ing a game in hand Mikel Arteta’s side could see their lead wiped out by tomorrow. Arsenal are bidding

Man City’s Pep Guardiola (left) and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. – REUTERSPIC

Wolves relegated after dismal season ends eight-year stay

WOLVES were relegated from the Premier League yesterday after West Ham’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace sealed their fate. The Midlands club are now 16 points behind fourth-bottom West Ham with just five games to go and are mathematically certain to drop down to the Championship. Bottom of the table Wolves, managed by Rob Edwards since November, have endured a miser able campaign, winning just three League matches

The north Londoners have not won a Premier League match since December, with new boss Roberto De Zerbi winless in his first two games. Nottingham Forest and Leeds are also in the relegation battle, but both won at the weekend to pull well clear of the drop zone. Frank Lampard’s Coventry, currently top of the Championship, on Friday sealed their return to the Premier League next season after a 25-year absence. – AFP

Former Middlesbrough boss Edwards was brought in but he had an almost impossible task and has been unable to work a miracle. Second bottom Burnley look certain to join Wolves in the second tier next season. They will be relegated if they lose against title chasing Manchester City tomorrow. Spurs came agonisingly close to climbing out of the relegation zone on Saturday but conceded a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Brighton.

from their 33 games to date. Despite notable recent wins against Aston Villa and Liverpool, Wolves have looked relegation cer tainties for months and their eight-year stay in the Premier League is coming to an end. Vitor Pereira, now in charge of Nottingham Forest, started the season in charge of the Molineux club but the Portuguese coach was sacked in early November after a terrible start to the campaign.

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