2025-26 Premier League Club-By-Club Predictions: Can Arsenal break the second-place curse and win the title? What kind of difference will the new signings make?

With the 2025-26 Premier League season quickly approaching, it is time to discuss each team’s prospects heading into the new season. Rookie Reporters Noah Guttman and Ellie Swain will be analysing each team’s Premier League prospects and predicting their end-of-season finish. 

The first part of this article series will focus on Arsenal and their quest to push past second place in the Premier League. With Manchester City looking to rebound and Liverpool building a much stronger squad to defend the Premier League title, can Arsenal find a way to finally claim the trophy for themselves?

What Noah says:

As I will probably mention a lot in this article, the opening fixtures are all mayhem for the top Premier League teams. This is especially true for Arsenal; not only do they have to play Manchester United away on the first matchday, but they also have to play Manchester City, Liverpool, and Newcastle in their next six fixtures. 

Ok, now that I hear myself reading that last paragraph, I don’t even think the Manchester United game has anything on the next six games. 

However, after that point, Arsenal does play ten of their next thirteen against sides that finished outside the top six, with the lone exceptions being two matches against Aston Villa and one against Chelsea. Then, on January 7th, Arsenal takes on Liverpool at the Emirates in a game that could have title implications. Even then, should Egypt go on a run at the AFCON tournament, Mohamed Salah would not be able to play for Liverpool, giving Arsenal a little bit of an advantage. That match kicks off a stretch of nine games where they play Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea in three of those games; unlike earlier in the season, the Gunners have the advantage of playing all three at home. 

Then, after a stretch of four games against mid-to-low table sides, Arsenal have to contend with playing Manchester City and Newcastle in back-to-back games, before closing their season out with four more matches against mid-to-low table sides.

After my first look at Arsenal’s 2025-26 schedule, the entire first half is critical if Arsenal are to mount a legitimate title challenge against Liverpool and/or Manchester City. Win at least two of their three early-season games against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Newcastle, and they could put an early stake on the title race. Otherwise, it could be another second-place finish, or worse. 

At the same time, it is worth considering the fact that Arsenal has enjoyed a pretty good transfer season. Not only did the Gunners successfully bring in Swedish striker Viktor Gyökores from Sporting CP, but they also secured the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, and Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of their preseason tour. The question thus becomes one of whether Arsenal’s new arrivals can make an impact and get the team off to a strong start, which would allow for them to keep pace with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

This is an improved side, but I am still going to put Arsenal in second in my Premier League table. While the squad investment made over the summer break is worthy of making them title contenders once more, Liverpool and Manchester City have both improved as well, arguably to a stronger position than that of Arsenal. The second-place luck will continue, though. 

Projected Finish: 2nd place. 

What Ellie says:

After another second place in the 24/25 season, Arsenal are looking to bounce back, with their obvious goal to claim a 14th league title and a first under Arteta. They start the season off with an up-and-down first month, a mix between league favourites and title contenders, Liverpool and newly promoted Leeds.

Arsenal will need to ensure their squad is in top shape this season if they want any chance of fighting and beating an invigorated Liverpool. The new signings from rivals Chelsea and La Liga will help strengthen the squad ahead of an uphill battle. 

Hosting Manchester City and then away at Newcastle will either display the strengthened squad or highlight the cracks forming. If Arsenal stick to a strategy that works over the season, pulling in transfers in the winter market and staying clear of injuries, they have a real chance of clinching the title.

Projected Finish: 2nd place

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Article written by Noah Guttman and Ellie Swain