Arsenal end a 22-year wait to win the 2025–26 Premier League
Arsenal had not won the Premier League since 2004. In 2025–26 they led the table for 238 days, survived a spell when Manchester City briefly edged ahead on goals scored, and were confirmed champions with a match to spare when City drew at Bournemouth on 19 May 2026.
Holders Liverpool made the early running, winning their first five games and sitting top for most of August and September. On 4 October Arsenal beat West Ham 2–0 while Liverpool lost 2–1 at Chelsea, and the Gunners hardly let go after that. City drew level on points by 22 April, but Arsenal won their next four and City dropped points at Everton and Bournemouth. The trophy was handed over on 24 May after a 2–1 win at Crystal Palace, bringing Arsenal's fourth Premier League crown and 14th English title.
The newly promoted clubs broke a grim pattern. For two seasons running all three promoted sides had gone straight back down, but Sunderland and Leeds both survived. Sunderland, back after eight years and bringing the Tyne–Wear derby back to the top flight for the first time since 2015–16, finished seventh with 54 points, a joint best finish for a promoted team. Burnley did go down, along with Wolves, whose eight-year stay ended in April.
The last relegation place came down to a London fight on the final day. West Ham thrashed Leeds 3–0, but Tottenham, starting two points better off, beat Everton, so West Ham went down with 39 points, the highest total for a relegated side since 2010–11.
Off the pitch, Puma replaced Nike as ball supplier after 25 years, Everton played their first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and it was the first full campaign with semi-automated offside. Nine English clubs qualified for Europe, helped by an extra Champions League place and cup wins for Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
Source: 2025–26 Premier League
