Need to know
Arsenal and Manchester City are locked in the Premier League title race as the reality remains both sides could finish the season on the same points
Antoine Semenyo runs with the ball under pressure from Piero Hincapie
Manchester City and Arsenal are locked in a Premier League title battle that could go to the final day(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
What will happen if Arsenal and Manchester City finish on the same points:
Goal difference: Goal difference serves as the absolute first tiebreaker used to separate two teams if they finish level on points at the end of the season. Because Arsenal and Manchester City have kept their margins incredibly close throughout the entire campaign, this initial separator will heavily dictate who has the psychological advantage heading into the final matches.
Total goals scored: Should Arsenal and Man City remain completely inseparable on goal difference, the Premier League rules dictate that total goals scored will be used next. This means the club that has hit the back of the net the most times across all 38 games will finish higher.
Head to head record: If both the overall goal difference and the total goals scored are completely identical, the official head-to-head record between the two teams becomes the deciding factor. The Premier League will look directly at the specific results from the two matches contested between Arsenal and Man City during this current season, with the latter having drawn 1-1 and beaten the Gunners 2-1 in their two games.
Away goals: The subsequent tiebreaker in the official rulebook is the number of away goals scored specifically within those head-to-head matches. In a standard scenario where teams split wins equally, the team scoring more goals on the opponent's turf would get the nod. However, because Man City already mathematically secured the head-to-head advantage, this away goals metric will not actually need to be utilised to split them.
Playoff match: If all of these extensive performance and goal metrics were somehow completely mirrored, a unique neutral venue playoff match would be scheduled. This highly dramatic, winner-takes-all match would be organised by the Premier League board to officially decide the winner of the trophy. Such a spectacular playoff scenario has never actually happened before in the entire history of the Premier League and it will not happen this year either due to City's head-to-head superiority.
Arsenal's final match: Arsenal will face a London derby as they travel away to play against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season on Sunday, May 24. Mikel Arteta's squad could have already wrapped up the title by then if results go their way in the penultimate week of the season.
Manchester City's final match: Pep Guardiola's side will be playing at home as they host a tough Aston Villa side. A victory against Villa could capture the Premier League title if the Gunners drop points.