Credit: Imago

Jack Dawson

Wed 22 April 2026 16:15, UK

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Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City could actually come to their benefit in the Premier League title race.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, who told Football Insider that the pressure will now be on Pep Guardiola’s side to win the division.

Man City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad on Sunday to go within three points of the league leaders.

If the Manchester club win all of their game between now and the end of the campaign, they have a good chance of winning the title on goal difference, with Guardiola’s side still having a game in hand.

However, Arsenal may still win the Premier League title as Mikel Arteta looks to finally lift the trophy.

Keith Wyness: Arsenal will still win the Premier League title

In recent weeks, Arsenal have been simply awful.

The Gunners lost the Carabao Cup final, while they also crashed out of the FA Cup to Championship side Southampton.

On top of this, they have now lost their last two Premier League matches, which have allowed Man City to firmly get back into the race.

However, Wyness has exclusively told Football Insider that the defeat to Guardiola’s side could actually be the making of them as the campaign edges closer to its conclusion.

He said: “Yeah, look, it was a good game. You’re right, it did deliver. It wasn’t just one of these stalemates where they tried not to lose. It was both of them going for it. And I thought Arsenal actually were unlucky.

“If anything, it’s taken a little bit of pressure off Arsenal, to be fair. I think that, you know, while they were front running, it’s always harder to be leading from the front.

Arsenal under Mikel Arteta:

2019-20: League ❌ FA Cup ✅ EFL Cup ❌ UEL ❌
2020-21: League ❌ FA Cup ❌ EFL Cup ❌ UEL ❌
2021-22: League ❌ FA Cup ❌ EFL Cup ❌
2022-23: League ❌ FA Cup ❌ EFL Cup ❌ UEL ❌
2023-24: League ❌ FA Cup ❌ EFL Cup ❌ UCL ❌
2024-25: League ❌ FA… pic.twitter.com/CDuPIUFNhy

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 19, 2026

“City are getting a bit of pressure on them as well, Arsenal are probably at the right place because they played pretty well and they got a lot to take from that game.

“Actually, I still think Arsenal are the ones that are going to go forward. I think they’ll still do it at the end, and that actually, in a funny way, that loss may have been the making of them for the final stretch.”

Could Mikel Arteta face the sack if no trophy is delivered this season?

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown believes that serious questions will be asked of Arteta if a trophy is not delivered this season.

Arsenal can still win both the Premier League and Champions League titles. However, their recent form has suggested that this is unlikely.

As it stands, the Gunners’ last trophy came in 2021 when they won the FA Cup, and patience from the fans is running out, especially if they endure another late collapse.

However, it remains to be seen if Arteta can get the club over the line and win the league.