The Premier League title race remains excitingly close. Arsenal are at the top, five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Arsenal beat Burnley 1-0 on Monday night and if they win their final match at Crystal Palace on Sunday's final day, they will be crowned champions.
There is the possibility they could secure the title before playing Palace, though.
This is because if Man City drop points at AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday 19 May, then the Gunners will be crowned champions before playing again on Sunday.
Should Man City beat Bournemouth then they will also need to defeat Aston Villa on the final day, and hope Arsenal drop points against Palace, to win the title.
Top two's remaining league matches
| Date | Arsenal | Man City | MW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May | 1-0 v BUR (W) | - | 37 |
| 19 May | - | Bournemouth (A) | |
| 24 May | Palace (A) | Villa (H) | 38 |
Arsenal have also reached the UEFA Champions League final and will face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday 30 May, six days after the end of the Premier League season.
How are the champions decided?
Arsenal and Man City could still finish the season level on points, if Arsenal draw their final match and Man City win both of theirs.
In that scenario, the Rule C.17 of the Premier League Handbook says the final table placings would be determined by the following criteria, in this order:
- goal difference
- goals scored
- points won in head-to-head matches
- away goals scored in head-to-head matches
- a playoff match
The goal difference is currently identical. Arsenal have scored 69 goals and conceded 26, so their goal difference is +43, the same as Man City's. If goal difference is equal, it would come down to goals scored across the season — Man City's current tally is 75, Arsenal's is 69.
If the clubs finish level on points, goal difference AND goals scored, Man City would claim the title on the next criterion — points won in head-to-head matches — because they have won four points against Arsenal this season, thanks to a win and a draw.
If this were to happen, that would make it the closest Premier League title race EVER! The previous closest was in 2011/12, when Man City edged Manchester United on goal difference thanks to Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day.