What happens if Arsenal and Man City finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored?

March 4, 2026 Oliver Obel

The Premier League title race could produce an outcome never before seen in the competition’s history as Arsenal and Manchester City battle for the 2025–26 crown.

With the season entering its decisive months, the two clubs remain the leading contenders. Arsenal currently hold the advantage at the top of the table with 36 points and a goal difference of +36, while Manchester City sit five points behind with a game in hand.

If both teams continue collecting victories, their upcoming clash at the Etihad Stadium could become the defining moment of the title race. City will benefit from home advantage, but Pep Guardiola’s side may need to win that match to significantly reduce Arsenal’s lead if Mikel Arteta’s team maintains its form in the remaining fixtures.

A rare set of tiebreakers

Under Premier League rules, teams level on points are separated first by goal difference. Given the attacking strength both sides have shown this season, it is possible that metric could also end level.

Goals scored would then be used as the next tiebreaker. At present, Arsenal have scored 58 league goals, narrowly ahead of City’s 57.

If the teams were still tied, officials would then look at the head-to-head results between the two clubs. Arsenal and City drew 1-1 in their first meeting at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the campaign.

Another draw in the return fixture at the Etihad would keep the teams level on that measure as well. If the scorelines differed, the title could then hinge on away goals scored in those head-to-head matches.

Should every one of those criteria still fail to separate them, Premier League regulations allow for a one-off playoff at a neutral venue to decide the champion — something that has never happened since the league was formed in 1992.

Fine margins have decided titles before

While a playoff would be unprecedented, the Premier League has previously produced dramatic finishes decided by the narrowest margins.

Manchester City edged Liverpool to the title by a single point in both the 2018–19 and 2021–22 seasons, denying Jurgen Klopp’s side on each occasion. One-point title victories have occurred only a handful of times in the league’s history, including Arsenal’s 1997–98 triumph.

Perhaps the most famous finale came in 2011–12. City finished level on 89 points with Manchester United but claimed their first Premier League title thanks to a superior goal difference, sealed by Sergio Aguero’s stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day.

With several weeks of the current season still to play, the standings could yet shift. But if Arsenal and City continue matching each other result for result, the 2025–26 campaign could push the Premier League’s tiebreaking rules to their absolute limit.

Sources: Premier League official rules and historical season statistics.