It is mid-January 2026, and if you glance at the table of premier league today, you’d think Arsenal fans would be sleeping soundly. They aren't. Not really. Mikel Arteta’s side sits at the summit with 49 points after 21 games, boasting a six-point cushion over the relentless machine that is Manchester City.
But six points is a ghost. It’s a lead that feels massive until Erling Haaland starts scoring in batches of three again. City and Aston Villa are both locked on 43 points, breathing down the Gunners' necks with the kind of intensity that makes every Saturday afternoon feel like a cardiovascular exam.
The Title Race: High Stakes at the Top
Arsenal has been nearly flawless, winning 15 of their 21 matches and maintaining a league-best goal difference of +26. They’ve only lost twice. On paper, it’s a dominant season. However, the 0-0 draw against Liverpool last week exposed some nerves. When you watch them at the Emirates, there is this weird, vibrating energy in the stands—a mix of "we’re actually doing it" and "please don't let it slip again."
Viktor Gyökeres, the big-money summer signing meant to be Arsenal's answer to the Haaland problem, is under the microscope. Seven goals in 24 appearances across all competitions is... fine. But "fine" doesn't win titles when you're being chased by a team that considers a 10-game winning streak a standard Tuesday.
Manchester City is currently in second place, largely because they can’t stop drawing games they should win. They’ve got four draws and four losses. It’s uncharacteristic. Yet, they have Erling Haaland, who has already bagged 20 goals this season. Honestly, it’s getting a bit ridiculous. Behind them, Unai Emery has turned Aston Villa into a genuine heavyweight. They’re tied with City on points and just finished an eight-game winning run that has everyone wondering if 2026 is the year a "non-Big Six" team actually crashes the party for good.
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What the Table of Premier League Today Says About the Champions League Race
Liverpool is in a bit of a transition phase. They’re 4th with 35 points, which is a significant drop-off from the top three. It’s been a tough season for the defending champions. They’ve already lost six games. Injuries have played a part, but there’s a sense that the squad is just a little gassed after the highs of 2025.
Then things get weird.
Brentford is 5th. Read that again. With 33 points, Thomas Frank’s former side (now led by Keith Andrews) is outperforming Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham. Igor Thiago has been a revelation for the Bees, sitting second in the Golden Boot race with 16 goals. He’s basically the most dangerous striker in London right now.
- Newcastle United: 6th place, 32 points.
- Manchester United: 7th place, 32 points.
- Chelsea: 8th place, 31 points.
The manager merry-go-round has been in full swing. Ruben Amorim didn't even make it a full season at Old Trafford—Michael Carrick is back as the interim-turned-permanent boss. Chelsea just appointed Liam Rosenior after Enzo Maresca left by mutual consent. It’s chaos in the middle of the pack.
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The Relegation Nightmare
Down at the bottom, the situation is getting grim for a few historic clubs. Wolverhampton Wanderers are, quite frankly, in deep trouble. One win in 21 games. Seven points. It’s the kind of season that makes fans want to look away. Rob Edwards has a mountain to climb that might be more of a vertical wall at this point.
Burnley and West Ham are the other two in the drop zone. The Hammers being 18th with only 14 points is the shock of the season. Nuno Espírito Santo took over from Graham Potter back in September, but the "new manager bounce" never actually bounced. They are currently seven points adrift of Nottingham Forest in 17th.
Sunderland, on the other hand, is the feel-good story for anyone not living in Newcastle. They’re sitting 10th. For a promoted side to be in the top half in January is incredible. They’ve drawn nine games—the most in the league—but they are incredibly hard to beat at the Stadium of Light.
Key Performance Metrics as of January 2026
The numbers tell a story of a league that has become obsessed with "Proper No. 9s" again. After years of "false nines" and wingers doing all the heavy lifting, the traditional striker is back.
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Erling Haaland is leading with 20 goals.
Igor Thiago (Brentford) follows with 16.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) is 3rd with 10.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is having a career renaissance at Leeds with 9.
Defensively, Arsenal’s David Raya is the king of clean sheets, having kept 10 so far. He’s a huge reason why their goal difference is keeping them comfortably ahead of City, even when the attack stutters.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're following the league closely, keep an eye on the February fixtures. Arsenal has a brutal run coming up that includes trips to both Manchester and Newcastle. This is usually where the wheels start to wobble.
For the relegation battle, the January transfer window is everything for West Ham. If they don't find a way to shore up a defense that has conceded 43 goals, they're going down. It’s that simple.
Watch the Golden Boot race too. While Haaland is the favorite, Igor Thiago’s form suggests he could push it to the final day if Brentford keeps providing him with service.
The table of premier league today shows a league that is more top-heavy than usual but also more volatile in the middle. Whether Arsenal can hold their nerve or City finds that "extra gear" they always seem to have will define the next four months of English football.