{"id":21676,"date":"2026-01-27T01:24:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T01:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/manchester-city-lurks-in-premier-league-contention-arsenal-handed-title-verdict-following-manchester-united-defeat\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T01:24:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T01:24:03","slug":"manchester-city-lurks-in-premier-league-contention-arsenal-handed-title-verdict-following-manchester-united-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/manchester-city-lurks-in-premier-league-contention-arsenal-handed-title-verdict-following-manchester-united-defeat\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester City lurks in Premier League contention, Arsenal handed title verdict following Manchester United defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Big controversy: Arsenal lost on Sunday, leaving them with a four-point buffer and opening the door to a Premier League title run, but doubts grow over whether they can get over the line.<\/h2>\n
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January 26, 2026, 12:13<\/span>Updated January 26, 2026 15:47<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Arsenal face questions over title qualification (Image: )<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Manchester United continued to throw the cat among the pigeons during another notable victory, defeating Arsenal at the Emirates and reigniting the Premier League title race.<\/p>\n
The Gunners cut their lead at the top of the table to four points after both Manchester City and Aston Villa won, but Mikel Arteta’s side lost in a five-goal thriller thanks to a late goal from Matheus Cunha.<\/p>\n
Suddenly there are growing question marks for north London residents. Despite showing overwhelming strength throughout the year, there is talk that Arsenal may fall into the underdog again, and that would be unbearable.<\/p>\n
Despite their progress so far, Arteta’s side have finished second for the third consecutive year, having previously relinquished top spot later in the day. This looks to be their year, but they can’t shake that glimmer of doubt as City remain so close.<\/p>\n
They are not at their best, but they have a man in Pep Guardiola who has a lot of winning experience and who knows how to get over the line. Arsenal have neither a talented squad nor an impressive manager yet to learn on the field to end their 22-year wait for success at the top level.<\/p>\n
read more: Manager Arsene Wenger reveals his feelings about Arsenal’s loss to Man United<\/span><\/span>read more: Patrick Vieira says Arsenal’s biggest problem is that one of their stars has been acquitted<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Sunday’s defeat will do little to put those nagging doubts out of their minds, and as the end of the season approaches, we are left asking whether Arsenal will finally cross the line and end not just their wait for the title, but their six-year trophy drought.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Cross<\/h3>\n
Arsenal have the best team. Arsenal have the most depth in their team. Arsenal still have the best defense in the Premier League. And one of the best midfielders in the world like Declan Rice.<\/p>\n
But what Arsenal don’t have is the experience of winning titles. They have the knowledge and belief that they have what it takes to be the best all season long. Also, no manager has ever won back-to-back titles.<\/p>\n
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Matheus Cunha’s late goal puts Arsenal’s title hopes in jeopardy (Image: )<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In other words, Arsenal is destined to once again be a bridesmaid, not a bride. It’s one thing to be good enough on paper, it’s another to want to win a league title, but it’s another thing entirely to go through with it. Arsenal are one step away from that, and if that happens, Arteta should be sacked.<\/p>\n
daniel ohm<\/h3>\n
It’s something Arsenal are all too familiar with now. The Gunners are in a great position and remain favorites to win the title.<\/p>\n
will they do it? No, they are showing too many similar signs to their previous failed title bids and will likely follow the same path as the previous one. Manchester City will bring them the trophy.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, Guardiola’s side are not as intimidating as they once were and failure is possible. That alone should give Arsenal hope. But when pressure is applied, they seem to crumble. And I think being labeled a favorite will do more damage than good for Arteta’s side.<\/p>\n
Just like Manchester City, Arsenal could also slip. Arteta will certainly be hoping for the worst, having only picked up two points from their last three games, but they have some very tough games ahead of them, starting with this weekend’s game against Leeds United.<\/p>\n
This will be followed by fixtures against Sunderland, Brentford, Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup matches. This conceded goal will push the Gunners side over the edge and dropping any more points could put their title ambitions in jeopardy.<\/p>\n
Felix Keith<\/h3>\n
Arsenal remain the most likely to win the Premier League. They are still at the top of the league. They still have the best team. And even after conceding three goals against Manchester United, they still have the best defense.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that Sunday’s loss will be a blow for Arteta, but there is no need to worry too much. They gave United the lead. And the other two were the ones shouting from outside the box. Despite continuing to struggle in the exhibition games, Arsenal still managed to score twice and their 3-1 victory over Inter Milan showed the benefits of Gabriel Jesus’ return.<\/p>\n
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Arteta is without a win in his last three Premier League games (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
There is no doubt that Manchester City have been strengthened by the signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, but their comfortable win against Wolves did not overshadow the fact that they had just been beaten by Bod\/Glimt and had gone just under a month without a league win. It’s not the City giants that Arsenal should fear.<\/p>\n
Arsenal have to pick themselves up and get going again. They are not defined by this loss.<\/p>\n
Andy Dunn<\/h3>\n
Even a team that is avid title favorites can be forgiven for having a bad day at the office, and defeat against a decent Manchester United side was definitely one of those for Arteta’s side.<\/p>\n
However, matches can change at any given moment, and from Arteta’s point of view, Martin Zvimendi’s terrible mistake, which changed the direction of the match, was inexplicable.<\/p>\n
Even if their confidence has been dented by the setback against United, Arsenal still have the ability to pick up the points they need in the remaining 15 games of the season. And based on the numbers and standards so far in the Premier League this season, another 30 points in these games would be enough.<\/p>\n
There is no need for Arsenal fans to panic as neither City nor Aston Villa are tough enough teams to sustain long winning streaks. still. Granted, Arteta may be able to make do with a few key players rediscovering their best form, but there will still be enough to get them over the line in May.<\/p>\n
john cross<\/h3>\n
City is my favorite title. And it’s not just because of Arsenal’s recent wobble against United, which only strengthens the argument. Arsenal were in a perfect position to take the lead last weekend with a seven-point lead. They are four places ahead so they are still in pole position.<\/p>\n
But against United, the pressure did wonders for them. They seem to be a team that is playing with anxiety as they have no winning experience. That’s why I’ve always opposed the idea that Arsenal have the best team. No, they definitely have the biggest and deepest team.<\/p>\n
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Arsenal will continue to feel pressure as the stakes increase (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In my opinion, City have the best team. Because City have a lot of players who have been there, watched the games and won. Liverpool also have a lot of depth, but last summer they dismantled their team and brought in new members. Already in January, City were very favorable to signing Semenyo and especially Guehi. The latter is England’s best defender and will greatly strengthen the squad.<\/p>\n
City will win, but it will be a devastating blow to Arsenal. Because winning from here would leave many questioning whether Mikel Arteta can pull it off. Next year will be even more difficult.<\/p>\n
james whaling<\/h3>\n
Arsenal will still win the title – there is no one else consistent enough to stop them. City are the clear challengers and showed they were serious by adding Semenyo and Guehi in January.<\/p>\n
But they remain fallible and the home win against Wolves did little to convince me otherwise. In the previous league, they were winless in their last four games, and even in the Arctic Circle, they succumbed to European minnows Bod\/Glimt.<\/p>\n
There is perhaps no better chance for Aston Villa to break the apple cart and win the title. However, given its involvement in Europe, it is unlikely that it will remain consistent on the two fronts. I hope Arsenal reset after United’s result, regain their defensive strength and do enough to end the drought, but it won’t be pretty.<\/p>\n
sam mead<\/h3>\n
Are Arsenal in danger of falling out of favor again? Yes, they are, and if anyone is going to deny it it would be City. I am confident that whoever wins the Carabao Cup final on March 15th will win the title, even if there are many matches until that day.<\/p>\n
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Man City, strengthened with new signings, are on the verge of winning their fifth title in six years (Image: Martin Rickett\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
With both Arsenal and City still with one foot in the final ahead of their home patch return leg, it looks like a Pep vs. Arteta final is in store. Whoever wins at Wembley will be the champion.<\/p>\n
Arsenal will prove they have a stronghold on City’s shirt, they can win major trophies and they can get the job done. Until that happens, this deep-seated doubt will remain among many players, most of whom have never won a league title. City know they can go above and beyond and after a trophyless season last season, silverware could give them the second wind they need.<\/p>\n
neil mcleman<\/h3>\n
Arsenal will slump again, but there is no better team in the Premier League and City and Aston Villa don’t seem capable of putting together a long winning streak to rebuild them.<\/p>\n
The Gunners have the best squad and Arteta admitted that Gabriel Jesus is a better striker than Victor Goqueres. And with the return of Kai Havertz, there will be more goals.<\/p>\n
The two big factors against Arsenal are the near-frightening pressure from the fans that the players and manager clearly feel. And equipment congestion. No team ever wins the Quadruple for a reason, and doing well in all four competitions only takes energy away from Arsenal’s team. United’s freshness in all cup competitions, but not in Europe, was a key factor in their stunning victory at the Emirates.<\/p>\n
The Gunners face a difficult visit to Elland Road on Saturday, but had Spurs not sacked Thomas Frank just before the visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they could have had a very winnable game throughout February. But if they can avoid defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 18, it will be enough to win their first Premier League title in 22 years.<\/p>\n
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