Premier League table: Arsenal defend as rivals reboot
Arsenal enter the 2026-27 season as reigning champions and title favourites after ending a 22-year drought, so the premier league table race begins with Mikel Arteta under pressure to defend while Pep Guardiola, Arne Slot and others exit rival dugouts across the Big Six. Match week one begins August 21 and the campaign ends May 30. Burnley, West Ham and Wolves dropped out; Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town come up.
Key Takeaways
- Arsenal are favourites to defend their first Premier League title in 22 years.
- New managers are installed at Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and the rest of the traditional Big Six rivals.
- Promoted Coventry, Hull and Ipswich start as relegation favourites, with Hull leading that market.
- Five clubs enter the Champions League; Erling Haaland is again the Golden Boot favourite.
- Home wins hit 44% last season as goal averages stayed high around 2.75 per game.
Can Arsenal stay top of the Premier League table?
Only Manchester City have successfully defended a Premier League crown since 2009-10, during their six titles in seven seasons from 2018 to 2024. That record frames Arteta's task after Arsenal ended their long wait.
Per Yahoo Sports, the Gunners scored a league-high 29 set-piece goals and conceded eight from dead balls. A treble faded with EFL Cup and Champions League final losses, leaving the league title as their lone major trophy.
FourFourTwo frames a different pressure now: win it all again while new bosses take over at every other Big Six outfit. Continuity is Arsenal's clearest advantage.
How do new managers change the title chase?
Pep Guardiola left Manchester City after a decade. Liverpool sacked Arne Slot after two seasons and hired Andoni Iraola from Bournemouth. Chelsea turned to Xabi Alonso after three managers in 2025-26.
City paid £116 million for Elliot Anderson; Chelsea spent £117 million on Morgan Rogers. Liverpool parted with Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté. Tottenham added Sandro Tonali and others after a relegation scare.
Manchester United finished third under Michael Carrick, who earned a deal through 2027-28. For more sports and culture buzz, browse our Bizarre World hub.
Who faces relegation, and who wins the Golden Boot?
The London Evening Standard has Arsenal opening as title favourites and Hull City as the odds-on relegation pick among the newcomers. Coventry return after 25 years under Frank Lampard; Ipswich are back with Gary O'Neil.
West Ham and Wolves proved established sides can still fall. Haaland won last season's Golden Boot by five goals and has three of the last four, remaining the early favourite as the premier league table takes shape.