Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time since 2004, and the question on every football fan's lips is simple: can they do it again? The 2026/27 Premier League season promises to be one of the most unpredictable in years, with managerial upheaval at three of the Big Six, a post-Guardiola era at the Etihad, and a transfer window that is already reshaping the title race before a ball has been kicked.
Arsenal: The Champions Look Stronger Than Ever
Mikel Arteta's side ended their 22-year title drought with 85 points, clinching the trophy with a game to spare after Manchester City drew 1–1 at Bournemouth. What makes Arsenal's position even more ominous for their rivals is how much room for improvement there still is.
Viktor Gyökeres, signed from Sporting CP, took time to adapt but finished the season in blistering form. Kai Havertz managed only 584 league minutes due to injuries, and Martin Ødegaard was restricted to just 16 starts. If those two stay fit, Arsenal's attacking depth becomes genuinely frightening.
Goalkeeper David Raya won his third consecutive Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets — the foundation on which the title was built. At the back, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães remain arguably the best centre-back pairing in European football.
Arsenal's summer priorities are a left winger and a central midfielder. At 6/4 with the bookmakers, they are clear favourites to retain their crown — and it is easy to see why.
Manchester City: A New Era Under Maresca
The biggest story of the summer is the end of the Pep Guardiola era. After ten extraordinary years and 20 trophies — including six Premier League titles and the 2023 Treble — Guardiola has stepped away from the Etihad.
His replacement, Enzo Maresca, knows the building intimately. The Italian served as Guardiola's assistant before taking charge at Leicester City and then Chelsea, where he was sacked in January 2026. He has signed a three-year deal and inherits a squad in genuine transition: Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and goalkeeper Ederson have all departed this summer.
Yet City still have Erling Haaland, who won his third Golden Boot with 27 goals, and the brilliant Rayan Cherki, whose 12 assists in his debut season announced him as one of the league's most exciting talents. Targets like Enzo Fernández and Elliot Anderson suggest Maresca will not be short of resources.
City are 5/2 second favourites. The post-Guardiola hangover is a real risk — but writing off a squad of this quality would be foolish.
Aerial view of Manchester City's Etihad Stadium
Manchester United: Carrick's Revolution
The feel-good story of 2025/26 was Michael Carrick's remarkable rescue act at Old Trafford. After Ruben Amorim was sacked in January, Carrick stepped in and transformed United's fortunes — winning 11 of 16 league matches, beating City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, and dragging the club from mid-table mediocrity to a third-place finish on 71 points.
He has since been appointed permanently on a two-year deal. The key changes were simple but effective: reverting to a back four, pushing Bruno Fernandes into an advanced role (where he broke the all-time Premier League assists record with 21), and trusting Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield.
The question is whether Carrick can sustain that momentum over a full season while juggling Champions League football. The signing of Ederson from Atalanta for £34.9 million bolsters the midfield, but Fernandes is out of contract in 2027 — and United's recruitment record in recent windows has been patchy at best.
At 6/1, United represent an intriguing each-way bet for the title.
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Chelsea: Can Xabi Alonso Work His Magic?
If there is a wildcard in the 2026/27 title race, it is Chelsea. A dismal 10th-place finish — their worst in over two decades — saw Liam Rosenior dismissed and Xabi Alonso appointed on a four-year deal.
Alonso's credentials speak for themselves: he turned Bayer Leverkusen from also-rans into Bundesliga champions in 2024, going the entire league season unbeaten. His expected 3-4-2-1 system should suit Cole Palmer perfectly, and there is genuine excitement at Stamford Bridge for the first time in a while.
Chelsea have already signed Geovany Quenda, Denner, and Emmanuel Emegha, while no European football means fewer fixture pile-ups. At 10/1, they are a long shot for the title — but do not be surprised if they crack the top four.
The Rest of the Field
| Club | 2025/26 Finish | Manager | Title Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1st (85 pts) | Mikel Arteta | 6/4 |
| Manchester City | 2nd (78 pts) | Enzo Maresca | 5/2 |
| Manchester United | 3rd (71 pts) | Michael Carrick | 6/1 |
| Liverpool | 5th (60 pts) | Arne Slot (TBC) | 11/2 |
| Chelsea | 10th | Xabi Alonso | 10/1 |
| Aston Villa | 4th (65 pts) | Unai Emery | 14/1 |
Liverpool endured a dire title defence after winning the league under Arne Slot in 2024/25, slumping to fifth. Replacing the output of Mohamed Salah — who registered just 7 assists in a below-par campaign — remains a massive task, and Slot's position is under scrutiny with Andoni Iraola heavily linked.
Aston Villa were the quiet achievers, finishing fourth and winning the Europa League under Unai Emery. They will be in the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and should not be underestimated.
Tottenham somehow survived relegation for a second consecutive season, finishing 17th. Roberto De Zerbi has been brought in to rebuild, but at 40/1 for relegation, the spectre of the drop still haunts N17.
Sunderland, the great story of 2025/26, earned Europa League football by finishing seventh. Meanwhile, promoted Coventry City, Ipswich Town, and Hull City will be battling to establish themselves, with all three priced as relegation candidates.
Our Prediction
Arsenal have the squad depth, the tactical maturity, and the manager to retain the title. Arteta's side are not a one-season wonder — they have been building towards this for five years, and with key players returning to full fitness, they should only get stronger.
The biggest threat comes from Manchester United rather than City. Maresca needs time to implement his ideas and rebuild the squad, whereas Carrick already has momentum, a settled system, and a squad hungry to prove last season's second-half surge was no fluke.
Our predicted top four: Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea.
It is going to be a brilliant season. Make sure you are ready — set up your prediction league on ScorePit and prove you know the Premier League better than your mates.
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Sources
This post was researched using the following sources:
- Premier League 2025–26 final table — NBC Sports
- Premier League 2026–27 predictions — ESPN
- New-look rivals aim to dethrone Arsenal — Racing Post
- Enzo Maresca appointed Manchester City manager — beIN Sports
- Xabi Alonso appointed Chelsea manager — Chelsea FC
- Michael Carrick appointed Man United head coach — ESPN
- Premier League 2026 summer transfers — ESPN
- 2025–26 Premier League top scorers and assists — Sports Illustrated
- Premier League 2026–27 odds — Squawka
- Supercomputer predicts 2026–27 Premier League table — GiveMeSport
Cover image: Aerial view of Emirates Stadium, London, Arne Müseler via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE. Inline image: Aerial view of Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Arne Müseler via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.