By The English Premier League (EPL) title race has come down to the wire, with Manchester City and Arsenal vying for the crown on the final day of the season, dubbed “Championship Sunday.” The fate of the title will be decided by the outcomes of their respective matches on Sunday.
The scenario is straightforward: If Manchester City secures a victory against West Ham at home, they will clinch the championship for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season. However, if they stumble and either draw or suffer a shocking defeat, and Arsenal manages to beat Everton, the Gunners will claim their first EPL title since the 2003–04 season.
Here are the key details for the final day of the EPL season:
All EPL matches are scheduled to kick off simultaneously at 11 a.m. ET.
The Manchester City vs. West Ham match will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
The Arsenal vs. Everton match will be aired on the USA Network and streamed on Peacock.
The paths to victory for each team are as follows:
Manchester City (27-7-3) would secure the title with:
A win against West Ham, or
An Arsenal draw or loss against Everton
Arsenal (27-5-5) would claim the title with:
a win against Everton, and
A Manchester City draw or loss against West Ham
It’s worth noting that if Arsenal wins and Manchester City draws, both teams will finish the season with 89 points. In this scenario, Arsenal would be crowned champions based on goal difference, a rare occurrence that has only happened once before in the Premier League, back in the 2011–12 season.
Manchester City is on the brink of making history with their current run of dominance. A victory on Sunday would mark their fourth consecutive Premier League title, a feat that no team has ever accomplished.
Additionally, it would be their sixth title in the last seven seasons, another unmatched achievement in the league’s history. Manager Pep Guardiola is also chasing personal glory, as a win would tie him with Liverpool’s Bob Paisley and Aston Villa’s George Ramsay for the second-most league titles as a manager, with 12 in 15 seasons. Only Sir Alex Ferguson’s 13 titles at Manchester United stand above them.
Manchester City’s unbeaten streak is also on the line. They have gone an impressive 34 matches without a loss in all competitions, setting a new club record. In the Premier League, they have been unbeaten in their last 22 matches, including eight consecutive wins, outscoring their opponents 30-5 during that period.
At home, Manchester City has been even more formidable, with a club-record 43 matches unbeaten in all competitions. Their last home defeat in any competition dates back to November 12, 2022, against Brentford, over 1.5 years ago. Moreover, they have been unbeaten against West Ham in their last 16 EPL meetings.
On the other hand, Arsenal is on the verge of their best season since “The Invincibles” went undefeated in 2003–04. They have already set club records with 27 wins and 89 goals this season. The Gunners boast the best defensive record in the EPL, having conceded just 28 goals, five fewer than the next-best team, Manchester City. They also lead the league with 18 clean sheets, five more than any other team. If Arsenal manages to win the title, their manager, Mikel Arteta, who will be 42 years and 54 days old on Sunday, will become the youngest manager ever to achieve this feat.
As the Premier League season reaches its thrilling conclusion, all eyes will be on Manchester City and Arsenal as they battle it out for the coveted trophy. With history on the line and both teams in top form, “Championship Sunday” promises to be a nail-biting affair for fans around the world.
Culled from NBCNews.com
