Manchester City return to Premier League title contention with 1-1 draw at Arsenal

Throughout the entirety of the preseason and even into the opening weeks of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, all of the hype surrounding the title race has been between two teams, Liverpool and Arsenal. Manchester City, long considered England’s juggernaut courtesy of four straight titles and a famous treble in 2022 under Pep Guardiola, has since been pushed to the sidelines. However, a spirited 1-1 draw away at The Emirates has changed the narrative surrounding the Blues. 

City grind out a point 

It looked as though Guardiola’s men might have escaped North London with all three points when they managed to defend Erling Haaland’s first-half goal with uncharacteristic resilience. Perhaps the iconic Spanish boss took a few hints and tips from a certain Neil Warnock after the Yorkshireman visited City’s training ground back in February. The veteran manager is renowned for his back-to-the-wall, nonsense tactics, and they were on full display at the Emirates as City sacrificed attacking vigor in a bid to grind out a 1-0 win. 

Guardiola piled on the defensive cavalry from the substitutes bench, with the likes of Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Nico Gonzalez all entering the fray to add their respective steel. In the end, though, it wasn’t enough. Gabriel Martinelli managed to net a brilliant equalizer, finishing with a delicious chip over City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure a share of the spoils late on. But even so, the visitors can take heart in the way they battled with one of the most physical teams in the league, ultimately showing a different side to their game than that we have become accustomed to under their iconic manager. 

The result leaves City three points behind the Gunners after five games, with reigning champions Liverpool already five points clear at the summit. And it’s that deficit back to the chasing pack that has prompted online sports betting sites to slash odds on the Reds retaining their crown. The latest online sports betting at Bovada odds now makes Arne Slot’s side 9/10 favorites to win the Premier League again this term, with Arsenal (2/1) and Manchester City (6/1) both trailing in their wake. 

Champions remain perfect 

But while Manchester City may well have shown another side to themselves in their spirited draw away at Arsenal, Liverpool unquestionably remain the team to beat. The Reds are the only perfect team remaining in the Premier League this year, winning all five of their games so far this term, and doing so in spectacular fashion. 

In the opening four of those five games, the Merseysiders found late winners to secure the victory. In the opener against Bournemouth, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah scored in the last ten minutes to seal a 4-2 win. Then, teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha bagged the winner in the tenth minute of injury time on the road against Newcastle. In their third game, Dominik Szoboszlai rifled home a 30-yard rocket to down Arsenal at Anfield, before a 95th-minute Salah penalty nicked all three points against Burnley. 

In their fifth and most recent victory, the late-late show was swapped out for an early start. Two goals in the first half an hour from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike were enough to secure a 2-1 victory in the Merseyside Derby at home to Everton, albeit the Toffees did push hard for an equalizer in the second half. Even so, they were unable to find it, and now Liverpool find themselves already sitting on a five-point cushion over the chasing pack. 

What’s to come? 

Manchester City have already had some tough tests. The 1-1 draw at Arsenal followed a 3-0 victory over cross-city rivals United, with the prolific Haaland netting twice. Now, they have a favorable run of games which they can sink their teeth into, and they can do so with a fully fit squad. 

Burnley at home, Brentford away, and Everton at home represent their next three games, and they’re games that Guardiola will be expecting nine points from. Sandwiched in between is a League Cup clash with third-tier Huddersfield Town and a trip to Monaco in the Champions League, also games that the Blues will fancy themselves to win. 

Manchester City’s next big test comes on November 9th when they welcome Liverpool to the Etihad, but the Reds have far more difficult tests between now and then. They face both Chelsea and Manchester United between now and their trip down the M62, as well as clashes with Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, and a mouthwatering encounter with Real Madrid in Europe. As such, Guardiola will feel that he will be able to get his side within striking distance over the next few weeks, timing their peak perfectly for the visit of Mohamed Salah and company. 

Arsenal, meanwhile, are sandwiched somewhere in between in terms of schedule difficulty. They do have to visit Newcastle in a testing contest, but then home games against West Ham and Crystal Palace will also have them dreaming of reeling in the Reds. 

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.