The Premier League season for 2025-26 is wrapping up its final week, and it has proven to be the most thrilling and unpredictable since its inception in 1992-93.
While it may not provide standout champions or individuals breaking records, the drama and narratives of this season have made it unparalleled.
With just days remaining, Arsenal stands on the brink of clinching their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur is still fighting against relegation, and clubs like Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Brentford are in contention for Champions League qualification. On the other hand, Chelsea may endure a stark fall from grace, potentially finishing in the lower half of the table after winning the FIFA Club World Cup a year ago.
This week is poised for more excitement, with every match on the last day (Sunday) holding significant implications. Even the clash between Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers becomes crucial, as a victory for either would prevent them from finishing at the bottom of the table.
Regardless of what the final week holds, this season has already delivered surprising twists and turns.
Manchester United made headlines by sacking their manager, Ruben Amorim, and have transformed from their worst-ever Premier League finish of 15th last year to securing a Champions League spot in third place. Their captain, Bruno Fernandes, who recently won the FWA Footballer of the Year award, is tied for the most assists ever and has the chance to set a new record with one more game remaining.
Defending champions Liverpool have disappointed after investing nearly £450 million in new players, facing a must-win situation against Brentford at Anfield to salvage Champions League hopes.
Despite being promoted from the Championship last season, Sunderland has exceeded expectations, going into their final match against Chelsea with a chance to secure European qualification for the Conference League.
Nottingham Forest has managed to maintain their Premier League status despite cycling through three managers — Nuno Espírito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and Sean Dyche — and now has Vitor Pereira at the helm specifically tasked with ensuring the team’s survival.
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Nicol: The final day of the Premier League will be ruined by reserve lineups
Steve Nicol expresses disappointment that Arsenal’s last game of the season will be diminished by a reserve lineup from Crystal Palace.
Depending on how the next two days unfold, starting with Arsenal’s home fixture against Burnley on Monday, then Bournemouth taking on Manchester City and Chelsea clashing with Spurs on Tuesday, the final day’s drama may be somewhat diluted.
However, if Arsenal secures the championship and Spurs averts relegation by holding Chelsea, with West Ham United three points behind and with a significantly worse goal difference, it wouldn’t lessen the season’s intensity, even if there is no last-minute scramble to settle matters at both ends of the table.
Throughout the Premier League’s history, great seasons are often measured by the caliber of their champions.
Manchester United’s title win in 1995-96, following Newcastle United’s late collapse, and their Treble-winning campaign in 1998-99 are notably memorable, just as Arsenal’s undefeated season in 2003-04 stands out under Arsène Wenger.
City’s dramatic 2011-12 title secured by Sergio Agüero’s last-minute goal and Leicester City’s unbelievable 2015-16 campaign, starting as 5000-1 underdogs, are unforgettable moments, alongside City’s domestic treble in 2018-19, their Champions League Treble four years later, and Liverpool’s 2019-20 title triumph under Jürgen Klopp.
The remarkable teams of United, Arsenal, and City are often cited as the best of the Premier League era. This is unlikely to apply to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal or Guardiola’s City this season, despite Arsenal aiming for a potential Premier League-Champions League double and City striving for another domestic treble.
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Guardiola: ‘The cards are on the table’ for Manchester City in title pursuit
Pep Guardiola emphasizes to his players that they are not “special” after their FA Cup victory, as they pursue the Premier League title.
Nevertheless, the quality of the champions should not dictate whether a season is deemed great.
The Premier League is marketed as the most exhilarating league worldwide, where surprises abound more than in any other competition.
Arsenal may emerge as champions, yet they could not secure a win against bottom-placed Wolves away, and Spurs, despite a stunning 3-0 victory over City earlier in the season, are still battling to avoid relegation for the first time since 1977.
This unpredictability ensures that the season’s final day could still provide nail-biting excitement at both ends of the leaderboard.
Crystal Palace could thwart Arsenal’s title aspirations with a victory at Selhurst Park on Sunday, while if Spurs falter against Chelsea on Tuesday — a venue where they have only won once in nearly four decades and have suffered seven losses in their last nine visits — they could very well succumb at home to Everton on the final day, potentially allowing West Ham to remain in the Premier League with a win against Leeds United.
While these scenarios may seem improbable, given how the 2025-26 season has unfolded, we should remain open to the unexpected.