Arsenal have led the way at the top of the Premier League this season, but that could be about to change.
The Gunners' Premier League title hopes were dealt a huge blow on Sunday, as they suffered a damaging 2-1 loss to Manchester City.
Arsenal players react to conceding goal to Man City
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Arsenal's chances of winning the title took a major hit on SundayCredit: AFP
For so much of this campaign, Mikel Arteta's side have looked all but certain to end a 22-year wait for English league glory.
Just over a month ago, Arsenal opened up a 10-point gap at the Premier League summit with victory over Everton.
But a nightmare turn of events has seen them hunted down by City, with defeat on Sunday reducing their lead at the top to just three points, and one goal on goal difference.
And their advantage will be wiped out entirely on Wednesday if the Citizens win their game in hand against lowly Burnley at Turf Moor.
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This would place the title in City's hands, meaning, not for the first time, the north Londoners could fall agonisingly short at the end of the season, despite leading for the majority of it.
So, with Arsenal facing more 'bottlejob' allegations, just how much time have they spent at the top of the league without silverware?
How many days have Arsenal been top of the Premier League this season?
Arsenal have spent 207 days at the top of the Premier League table this season.
The huge figure is made even more impressive considering that the 2025/26 campaign has been running for a total of 247 days.
If, as expected, Man City become league leaders by beating Burnley it will leave a biter taste in the Gunners' mouths.
By contrast, Pep Guardiola's side have spent just six days at the league summit this season.
Mikel Arteta applauds Arsenal fans after defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium
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Arteta's men may have blown their best chance of winning the league since Arsenal's 'Invincible' season in 2003/04Credit: AFP
Manchester City players celebrate win against Arsenal
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City put the title race back in their hands by beating the GunnersCredit: Getty
Their stint in top spot came in the opening week of the campaign, after a 4-0 opening day thrashing of Wolves made them early leaders on goal difference.
However, ever since a 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham in the second gameweek, City have been playing catch-up on Arsenal.
As for the Gunners, they have not budged from the league summit since getting their noses in front in October.
The Citizens threatened to catch them at the back end of 2025, when the gap at the top shrank to two points after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in December.
But Arteta's men soon restored their healthy lead, and in 2026 the gap at the top has never dropped to below four points, until now.
A 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth last week offered City a lifeline, which they pounced on by beating Chelsea to close the gap to six points, before halving it with victory over the Gunners in their all-important showdown.
Arteta has been outfoxed by former mentor Pep Guardiola in two Premier League title races
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Arteta has been outfoxed by former mentor Pep Guardiola in two Premier League title racesCredit: Getty
How many days have Arsenal lead the Premier League under Mikel Arteta?
Should Arsenal miss out on Premier League glory, it will surely be their most agonising near-miss in recent years.
The Gunners have been runners-up in each of the past three seasons, twice to Man City, and once to Liverpool last year.
And there is a strong case for Arsenal being the Premier League's biggest 'nearly men' considering just how many days they have spent at the league summit.
Arteta was first hailed for turning his side into title challengers in the years since taking charge at the Emirates in 2019.
But a series of near misses have now seen the Spaniard slammed for failing to deliver title success, and his team frequently labelled 'bottlers'.
Since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Arteta's men have led the way for a total of 531 days, but don't have a single Premier League trophy to show for it.
Arsenal Man City
Days top of the league this season 207 6
Days top since 2022/23 531 174
Days top since Mikel Arteta's appointment 538 477
premier league table
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The Premier League title race couldn't be tighter with crunch-time upon us
By contrast, Man City have led the way for just 174 days, but boast back-to-back league title successes in 2023 and 2024.
Arsenal's most crushing second-place finish so far came in 2022/23, when they topped the table for 248 days before City hunted them down.
And there is an even more bleak picture when looking at the Gunners' total time spent at the top of the league under Arteta.
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Since taking charge, his side have been in first place for 538 days, with City occupying top spot for just 477 in this period.
With just five games remaining for Arteta and Arsenal to finally silence his critics, can they finally make the statistics count?