In January 1996, Newcastle United led the Premier League with a 12-point advantage, having played 23 games, while Manchester United trailed in second place. As a result, many believed it was only a matter of time before the trophy arrived at St James’ Park.
yet, history reminds us that Newcastle did not secure the title, extending their drought to 99 years since 1927, while Manchester United came back to clinch the title by four points in a gripping finish to the season.
Fast forward two years to the 1997-98 season, when Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal was also 12 points behind Manchester United as late as February, yet they managed to snatch the league title by a single point. so, when United fans celebrated their recent 3-2 victory over the Gunners at the Emirates with chants of “we’re gonna win the league,” their optimism might not be entirely unfounded.
That win propelled United into fourth place, trailing Mikel Arteta’s struggling league leaders by 12 points and sitting eight behind both Man City and Aston Villa, who occupy second and third spots, respectively. They also hold a slim advantage over Chelsea and Liverpool. But, realistically, few expect Michael Carrick’s squad to mount a title challenge in the final stretch of the season.
Even Carrick, a five-time title winner during his playing days at United, resisted the urge to fan the flames of excitement after Sunday’s win, pointing out that his team has “bigger games ahead” in their pursuit of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.Yet, this unpredictable season leaves room for the possibility of a shocking title bid from United.
This twist seems implausible given United’s struggles a month ago, marked by the departure of coach Ruben Amorim after just 14 months. yet, the vulnerabilities of the top three teams have opened up the chance for unexpected outcomes leading up to the season finale on May 24.
So, who might claim the Premier League title for the 2025-26 season? Currently, it’s hard to pinpoint a clear frontrunner. Arsenal’s recent performances suggest they could be feeling the pressure as challengers begin to sense the tension of the run-in.
On Friday, Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, labeled Arsenal the “best team in the world” at the moment. This could be a strategic mind game, yet Arsenal boasts a perfect record with seven wins out of seven in the Champions League and maintains a four-point lead in the Premier League, making it difficult to identify a team better positioned in Europe.
even with this, they have only managed to garner two points and score two goals in their last three league matches, leading to heightened anxiety among supporters at the Emirates during the game against United on Sunday.
The mounting fear of failure seems to be stifling Arteta’s squad, alongside concerns about the absence of a dependable goal scorer. Winning the title typically requires a striker netting 20 goals a season, yet their top Premier League scorers are Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyökeres, both with just five goals.
Star winger Bukayo Saka has not found the net in his last 13 games across all competitions, while striker Gyökeres has gone 11 league matches without scoring from open play. Other forwards, including Gabriel Martinelli (no goals in his last 13 league games) and Noni Madueke (no goals in his last 26 league games), are also struggling.
by contrast, City, trailing four points behind, managed to snap a four-game winless streak in the league with a 2-0 victory against bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. even with this, having already recorded five defeats by mid-January, they should arguably be out of the title contention.
City’s defensive issues have persisted throughout the season, although they have added defender Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace for £20 million this month. Guardiola continues to face challenges in assembling a midfield robust enough to compete with the league’s top sides. Striker Erling Haaland has scored 20 goals in 23 league games this season but has only managed one goal — a penalty — in his last nine matches, exposing vulnerabilities when facing aggressive opponents.
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Should Man United be looking at Unai Emery as a potential manager option?
ESPN’s Dan Thomas and Janusz Michallik react to Aston Villa’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Premier League.
Can Aston Villa take advantage of the weaknesses exhibited by the top two teams and secure an improbable title victory like Leicester City did in the 2015-16 season?
Coached by Unai Emery, Villa currently sits third, also four points behind Arsenal, boasting victories over Arsenal (2-1), City (1-0), United (2-1), and Chelsea (2-1) this season. In fact, they have won 15 of their last 18 matches across all competitions, including an impressive 11-game winning streak. yet, just as they seemed poised as serious contenders, they suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat against Everton last week.
This was an opportunity to prove their mettle, but Villa faltered. The seven-time English champions last secured the league title in 1981, but aiming for their eighth in 2026 necessitates building on their remarkable streak, despite having the smallest squad among the top clubs. The journey won’t be straightforward as Villa faces tough challenges against United, Chelsea, and Liverpool in their final ten matches, with the season’s last game against City at the Etihad.
Recent title races have generally seen teams build early momentum and sustain it, often under the pressure of being relentlessly pursued by rivals. yet, this time is different.
Rather than pulling away from the pack, the leading teams have stumbled at crucial moments. so, United, currently 12 points behind in fourth, could sneak into the title conversation after rejuvenating the atmosphere at Old Trafford with consecutive wins against City and Arsenal under Carrick.
A United title victory is a highly unlikely scenario, but unless one of the top three starts demonstrating champion-level performances, this unpredictable season could yet feature another astonishing twist.
