Look, the Premier League table is usually a crowded, stressful mess by the time January rolls around. But as we sit here in 2026, something weird is happening. Arsenal is basically making everyone else look like they’re running in sand.
It’s kind of wild. Mikel Arteta has the Gunners sitting at 50 points after 22 games. They just came off a frustrating 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest where Matz Sels basically turned into a brick wall, but even that didn't hurt them much. Why? Because Manchester City decided to lose to Manchester United earlier that same day.
If you’ve been following the 2025/26 season, you know the script has flipped. Usually, City is the one stalking the leaders like a hungry lion. Now, they’re tied with Aston Villa at 43 points, staring up at a seven-point gap.
The Current State of Play: Arsenal’s Seven-Point Buffer
Honestly, the table looks a bit upside down if you haven't checked it since August. Arsenal has only lost twice. Twice! That is insane consistency for a league where even the "small" teams like Brentford are sitting comfortably in 7th place.
Manchester City and Aston Villa are the closest pursuers, both on 43 points. City has been… well, not City. They’ve dropped points in back-to-back games, including that draw against Brighton where Erling Haaland scored his 150th club goal. Great for his trophy cabinet, bad for Pep Guardiola’s blood pressure.
Villa, on the other hand, is the real story of the top four. Unai Emery has them purring. They have a massive game against Everton on Sunday that could cut Arsenal's lead to just four points. If Villa wins that, we officially have a three-horse race. If they don't, Arsenal might start measuring for curtains at the Emirates.
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What’s Going On with the "Big" Clubs?
It’s sort of a disaster for the traditional giants. Liverpool is in 4th with 36 points, which sounds okay until you realize they are 14 points behind the leaders. They've been patchy. One week they look like world-beaters, the next they're drawing 0-0 with Forest or losing to teams they should beat.
Then there’s Chelsea and Manchester United. Chelsea is in 6th (34 pts) and just appointed Liam Rosenior after a rocky start. United is in 5th (35 pts) with Darren Fletcher acting as interim boss. It’s chaotic. United's 2-0 win over City was a massive boost, but they also recently drew 2-2 with Burnley, who are basically nailed to the bottom of the table.
Speaking of bottom... let's talk about the nightmare at the other end.
The Relegation Scrap is Getting Ugly
If you support Wolves, I am so sorry. It has been a historically bad season. They’ve won exactly one game. One. They are sitting on 7 points after 21 matches. To put that in perspective, they need to double their entire season's points total just to catch 19th-placed Burnley (14 pts).
The real panic is at West Ham. They are 18th with 17 points and haven't won a league game in what feels like forever—ten matches to be exact. They’ve conceded 44 goals, which is the worst in the division. Graham Potter is gone, and the fans are fuming.
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The promoted teams have had a mixed bag. Sunderland is the absolute shock of the season. Most people picked them to go straight back down, but they are sitting in 8th place with 33 points. They’re actually ahead of Newcastle and Spurs! Leeds is also holding their own in 16th, though they’re only a few bad results away from the trap door.
The Mid-Table Chaos (Positions 7-14)
- Brentford (7th): Thomas Frank is still doing magic. Igor Thiago has 16 goals already.
- Sunderland (8th): The surprise package. Granit Xhaka has been a revelation for them.
- Newcastle (9th): Underperforming but still dangerous. Harvey Barnes just scored a 102nd-minute winner against Leeds.
- Fulham (10th): Solid, boring, safe. The dream for any mid-table fan.
- Spurs (14th): Absolute crisis. They just lost to Villa in the FA Cup and are hovering way too close to the bottom for comfort.
The Golden Boot Race: Haaland vs. The World
Even when City is struggling, Erling Haaland is still doing Erling Haaland things. He’s got 20 goals. He’s a machine. But Igor Thiago at Brentford is genuinely chasing him with 16.
It’s interesting to see who isn't on the list. Mohamed Salah only has 4 goals this season. Bukayo Saka has 4. The goals are being spread out more, or in the case of Arsenal, they’re coming from everywhere—Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard are both chipping in, but nobody is hitting that 20-goal mark yet besides the big Norwegian.
Why This Table Matters Right Now
We are entering the "crunch" period. The January transfer window is open, and you can bet West Ham and Wolves are going to spend money they don't have to try and survive.
Arsenal’s draw at Forest might feel like a slip-up, but in a season where City is losing derbies and Villa is the primary challenger, a point away from home isn't the end of the world. The gap is seven points. If Arsenal beats Liverpool in their next big fixture, the title race might be over before March.
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But this is the Premier League. It’s never that simple. One injury to William Saliba or a sudden hot streak from Ollie Watkins at Villa Park changes everything.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season
Keep an eye on the "six-pointers" coming up in February. Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham is going to be a bloodbath for survival.
If you’re looking at the title, watch Aston Villa's consistency. They have the fewest "bad" losses of the chasing pack. For Arsenal, the goal is simple: don't overthink it. They have the best defense in the league (only 14 goals conceded), and as the old saying goes, defense wins championships.
Check the fixture list for February. The congestion of Champions League football starting back up will hit Arsenal, City, and Liverpool hard. That is when Villa, who have a slightly lighter squad load, might actually make their move for the top spot.
Monitor the injury reports for Manchester City. If Rodri or Haaland miss any significant time, that 43-point tally isn't going to grow fast enough to catch the Gunners. Watch the 18th-place battle closely—West Ham has the talent to stay up, but the vibes are currently subterranean.
Stay updated on the official Premier League site or your favorite tracking app, because in 2026, the table changes faster than a Haaland sprint. One weekend you're safe in 12th; two weeks later, you're staring at the Championship.