Premier League titles aren’t decided in February, but this week could be a pivotal one in determining which team gets their hands on the trophy come the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa all face important mid-week fixtures that could swing either way, such is the unpredictable nature of the Premier League. Arsenal hold a commanding six-point lead over City at the top of the table and are nine points ahead of Villa.
Here’s how the three contenders will shape up in their mid-week outings.
Arsenal vs Brentford, Brentford Community Stadium
Thursday, February 12, 8pm GMT
Had it not been for Manchester City’s late comeback against Liverpool at Anfield, the Premier League might have started tying ribbons in Arsenal colours on to the trophy.
There’s still a very strong chance that Mikel Arteta and his players will end the season as champions, but a six-point lead isn’t comfortable enough to completely write off City, especially ahead of a tricky trip to Brentford.
The west London club have lost just two of their last 10 league games and must be taken seriously as European contenders. Indeed, a win on Thursday could lift Keith Andrews’ side up into sixth, just two points behind Chelsea in fifth.
Arsenal boast the best defensive record of any Premier League side this season, keeping a clean sheet in four of their last five outings.
However, Brentford are the most prolific counter-attacking outfit in the division, scoring nine times on the break this season. This could give Arsenal trouble, as could the fact Brentford have conceded the fewest set-piece goals of any Premier League team.
Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle United and Sunderland have all suffered defeat to Brentford in 2026, and Arsenal will have to perform to avoid a similar fate.
Manchester City vs Fulham, Etihad Stadium
Wednesday, February 11, 7.30pm GMT
Whether or not Sunday’s comeback at Anfield was a catalyst for a Manchester City fightback in the title race will be clearer after Wednesday’s home match against Fulham.
The bigger picture suggests Pep Guardiola’s team lack the consistency to catch Arsenal. Indeed, City have won just two of the seven league matches they have played since the turn of the year.
And yet victory over Fulham would crank up the pressure on the table-toppers, who don’t play until Thursday. Manchester City could be just three points behind Arsenal.
Not so long ago, Fulham had the look of European contenders. A recent run of three defeats in three games, however, has dropped Marco Silva’s side down to 12th place. A top-half finish is no longer a safe bet.
City have won their last 19 games against Fulham in all competitions, making this one of the most lopsided fixtures in English football, and have also scored two or more goals in their last 20 meetings.
Erling Haaland’s recent record of just two goals in nine games is short of his usual standard. However, City also have Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden, and a few others to step up as difference-makers if required.
Aston Villa vs Brighton, Villa Park
Wednesday, February 11, 7.30pm GMT
Now nine points off the pace being set by Arsenal in top spot, Aston Villa increasingly have the look of a third challenger in a two-horse race.
Saturday’s draw against Bournemouth, together with the home defeat to Brentford before that, have made Wednesday’s match a must-win if Unai Emery’s side are to stand any chance of winning the Premier League title.
Emery always played down Villa’s title chances. The Spaniard was possibly wary of the underlying statistics that suggested his side were grossly overperforming.
Morgan Rogers is key to any hopes Aston Villa have of maintaining a title charge (Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Indeed, Aston Villa are ranked 13th for expected goal difference, highlighting how they are overperforming at both ends. In the only ranking that matters, though, they still have a chance of overhauling Arsenal and City.
Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans remain sidelined through injury, leaving Villa extremely depleted in the centre of the pitch and dependent on January signing Douglas Luiz settling quickly.
There have been two or fewer goals in each of Villa’s last five league games, suggesting Wednesday’s match could be a cagey encounter against an out-of-form Brighton side.
As long as Morgan Rogers keeps scoring, as he has in two of his last three games, Aston Villa have a chance.
