Arsenal’s 1-0 win at West Ham has left the title race hanging on Manchester City’s result against Crystal Palace. Arsenal now need five points from their final two Premier League games to guarantee the crown, and West Ham saw a goal controversially chalked off in the same match.

What Arsenal need now

The cleanest reading is simple. Arsenal are once again five points clear of Manchester City before City play Crystal Palace on Wednesday, May 13, and Arsenal are top of the league with 76 points from 35 games. City are second with 74 points from 35 games, so the gap is still there, but not sealed.

That means Mikel Arteta’s side can finish the job in stages. Arsenal’s next league home game is against Burnley on Monday, May 18, and that is the earliest date they can clinch the title from their own schedule. As Football London staff said, "The result means the Gunners could secure the title as early as Monday, May 18, when they host Burnley in their final home fixture of the season."

Why City still control the timing

Manchester City remain the only side that can force Arsenal into waiting. If Pep Guardiola’s team beat Crystal Palace and keep the race alive, they travel to Bournemouth 24 hours after that game, and the title could go to the final day if City keep picking up points. If they drop points against Palace, the pressure shifts straight back onto Arsenal and Burnley becomes the likely title-checkpoint.

Tom Gott put the arithmetic plainly: "Manchester City still have three games left to play, beginning with Wednesday’s visit from Crystal Palace. Pep Guardiola’s side can reach a maximum of 83 points, meaning Arsenal need five points from their remaining two games to guarantee the title."

Arsenal do not need to think beyond the next two league fixtures. Beat Burnley, and the path gets much shorter if City slip against Palace. Fail to settle it there, and the final day may still matter. The title race is in Arsenal’s hands, but City’s next result decides when the question stops being open.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →