Arsenal have finally broken their 22-year league title drought after three consecutive second-place finishes. Mikel Arteta’s side are worthy champions, particularly for the way they have held their nerve under pressure since the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City, eking out 1-0 wins over Newcastle United, West Ham United and Burnley.
Set pieces have been the defining feature, but their defence deserves credit, with 19 clean sheets. Their new signings have each delivered at different stretches, too.
Martin Zubimendi was crucial to their early-season form. Eberechi Eze has chipped in with important goals, while Viktor Gyokeres has scored nine times in 2026.
Liverpool’s New Signings Struggle
While Arsenal’s signings have thrived, Liverpool’s have not.
Hugo Ekitike delivered 11 league goals before his Achilles injury, but Florian Wirtz has scored just five times in 32 outings, while Alexander Isak has struck three times in just 703 league minutes.
Jeremie Frimpong, brought in to cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold, has often played at right wing, showing some spark but struggling with injuries. Milos Kerkez, after a tough start, has been more consistent of late.
All of that has played a part in Liverpool just about hanging onto the extra Champions League slot, having been backed to win the league. Arne Slot’s side have lost the identity that drove them to the 2024-25 title, with their pace of play dropping in a season where the league has gone in the opposite direction. Another busy summer awaits…
Man City in Transition
Pep Guardiola will leave City without adding a seventh Premier League title in nine years. This has been a second season of transition after they finished third in 2024-25, but the seeds have been sown for his reported successor Enzo Maresca.
City remodeled their tactical identity to adjust to the Premier League’s directness, playing faster, vertical football while keeping the long-passing sequences that have defined the Guardiola era.
In Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nico O’Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, and Matheus Nunes, they have a defensive core with physicality and the athleticism to defend large spaces. Cover will be required for the departing Bernardo Silva and ageing Rodri, but Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo form a frontline that offers plenty in attack and is capable without the ball.
Arsenal have built a core to continue competing at the top for years to come.