The Premier League title race took yet another twist this weekend as leaders Arsenal endeavour to fend off the chasing Manchester City
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium
Title-chasing Arsenal were beaten by Bournemouth on Saturday in the Premier League(Image: Getty)
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The Premier League title race is essentially down to two with Arsenal in pole position ahead of Manchester City. But the Gunners suffered a setback on Saturday.
As the international break came to an end, Mikel Arteta's side held a nine-point lead over Pep Guardiola's City, who had played one game less. But when Arsenal welcomed Bournemouth to the Emirates, they were put to the sword 2-1.
This defeat means that, while the gap between second and first remains nine points, City now have two games in hand, one of which is a clash with Chelsea on Sunday. Should City beat Chelsea and take down the Gunners on April 19 when the two teams come to blows at the Etihad, they'd be three points off top spot.
Firstly, if both Arsenal and City finish the season on equal points, the first and most common tiebreaker would be goal difference. A team's goal difference is generated by calculating goals scored minus goals conceded.
City are the only team to have ever won the Premier League on goal difference. That feat came in 2012, when Sergio Aguero's iconic strike against QPR brought them level on points with Manchester United, who had scored fewer goals and conceded more that campaign.
Sergio Aguero scores the late winning goal for Manchester City as QPR players show their dejection during the Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers F.A. Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium
City won the title on goal difference in 2012(Image: Getty)
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If both Arsenal and City end up with the same goal difference, then the number of goals scored is considered next. The side that scored the most during the campaign would win the title, as the Gunners did when finishing level with Liverpool in 1989.
However, there is still the possibility that after all this, the two top-flight contenders cannot be separated. Then, we would enter uncharted territory and look at the matches Arsenal and City played against each other throughout the season.
The next factor considered, if two teams finish with the same number of points, the same goal difference and the same number of goals scored, is points earned in head-to-head meetings.
Arsenal still have to travel to play City in April, but during their first meeting this season, Arteta's men drew 1-1 with their fellow contenders at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal controls the ball whilst under pressure from Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Matheus Nunes of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium
The two teams drew 1-1 at the Emirates in September(Image: Getty)
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The outcome of their upcoming bout is unknown, but if it ends in a draw and both teams take two points from their meetings, then another factor comes into play regarding who wins the title. A fourth tie-breaking statistic ensures that whoever scored the most away goals in these two matches would be crowned champion.
If their upcoming meeting ends 1-1, however, and Arsenal and City end the campaign level on all the aforementioned tie-breakers, there is a final but highly unlikely outcome that would decide the top-flight champion: a one-off play-off match for all the marbles.
This match would be held at a neutral venue determined by the Premier League board. If after 90 minutes the two still cannot be separated, we'd have 30 minutes of extra time and a subsequent penalty shoot-out to finally find out who sits on the throne.
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