# From Late Winners to Statement Victories: Eight Key Games Behind Arsenal’s Historic Premier League Triumph

URL: https://technosports.co.in/8-games-behind-arsenal-historic-premier-league/  
Published: 2026-05-21  
Updated: 2026-05-21  
Author: Ankush Mallick

[**Arsenal** ](https://www.arsenal.com/)won 25 **Premier League** games on their way to being crowned champions of England in 2025-26 — ending a 22-year wait that had included three consecutive runners-up finishes and more near-misses than any set of supporters should have to endure.

Not every win carries the same weight. Some were dominant performances that sent messages across the division. Some were dramatic, late, barely-deserved victories that previous **Arsenal** sides would have let slip. Others were quiet, workmanlike results that champions simply have to find.

All of them mattered. But eight mattered most.

## 1. Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City – 21 September 2025

We begin with a game **Arsenal** did not win.

The two teams who would ultimately contest the title met at the Emirates Stadium in September, with **Arsenal** rescuing what proved to be a hugely significant point when Gabriel Martinelli equalised in the 93rd minute. And in truth, the draw barely did justice to **Arsenal’s** dominance over a **Pep Guardiola** side that appeared, for large stretches, entirely unable to cope.

![Premier League](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Arsenal-zones-of-control-vs-Man-City-Premier-League-1024x768.jpg)

**City** had just **33.2% of the ball** — the lowest possession figure for any Guardiola team in any league game across his entire managerial career, spanning **601 top-flight games**. They managed only **seven touches inside Arsenal’s penalty area**, their fewest in a **Premier League** game under Guardiola.

The result made **Mikel Arteta** the first manager ever to go **five consecutive league games unbeaten** against Guardiola. That is not just a statistic — it is a psychological milestone. For years, **Arsenal** had looked like challengers trying to dethrone a dynasty. This was one of the clearest signs that the balance of power was shifting.

Context is important here. At this stage of the season, Liverpool sat top of the table after five consecutive wins, and **City** had taken just seven points from their opening five matches — their worst return at that stage since Stuart Pearce’s side in 2006-07. But stopping **City** from taking three points here would, ultimately, prove pivotal.

## 2. Newcastle United 1-2 Arsenal – 28 September 2025

The following weekend brought another examination of character, at one of **Arsenal’s** least comfortable away venues in recent seasons.

They had lost their previous three visits to St James’ Park without scoring. This one looked to be heading the same way when Nick Woltemade’s goal had Newcastle leading going into the 84th minute.

What followed was pure **Arsenal** 2025-26. First, **Mikel Merino** flicked home from a clever short-corner routine. Then, with virtually the final action of the game, **Gabriel Magalhães** powered in **Martin Ødegaard’s** corner to complete a stunning turnaround.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Newcastle-vs-Arsenal-xG-race-chart-1024x576.jpg)

It was the second-latest **Arsenal** had trailed in a **Premier League** game and gone on to win (the equaliser coming in the 84th minute) — since their 3-1 win over Norwich in April 2013, when the equaliser was scored by a certain Mikel Arteta in the 85th minute.

“***That feels absolutely huge***,” said Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville. It was.

Liverpool had lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace the previous day. **Arsenal** had stolen three points in the last seconds at St James’ Park. Suddenly, the top of the table looked very different.

| Match Stats — Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Arsenal’s position in game at 84 mins | 1-0 down |
| Goals scored | 2 (84th and 90th+ minutes) |
| Historical note | Second-latest Arsenal have trailed and won in PL history |
| Significance | Overtook Liverpool, who lost to Crystal Palace same weekend |

## 3. Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United – 4 October 2025

Perhaps the most straightforward win on this list — but no less significant for it.

**Arsenal** brushed aside West Ham on a Saturday 3pm kick-off, with **Declan Rice** opening the scoring against his former club before **Bukayo Saka** converted a second-half penalty. It was **Arteta’s** 300th game in charge of **Arsenal**.

The larger significance arrived later that evening. Liverpool lost **2-1 at Chelsea**, meaning **Arsenal** ended Matchday 7 top of the **Premier League** table.

It was at this precise moment that the Opta supercomputer first made **Arsenal** title favourites — a position they would hold for the remainder of the campaign. A routine win had, in the context of Liverpool’s simultaneous defeat, become the moment the title race tilted decisively in **Arsenal’s** direction.

## 4. Arsenal 2-1 Wolves – 13 December 2025

One of those wins where you simply have to find a way — regardless of how unglamorous the process.

**Arsenal** were poor against bottom-placed Wolves in December. They failed to register a single shot on target in the first half of a home **Premier League** game for the first time since December 2024 against Manchester United. The second half was not much better.

They took the lead in the most fortunate of fashions — **Saka’s** deep corner bouncing off the post before ricocheting in off Wolves goalkeeper **Sam Johnstone** for an own goal.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Arsenal-wolves-match-momentum.jpg)

Then, in the 90th minute, **Tolu Arokodare** headed in a dramatic equaliser. In previous seasons — in 2023-24, in 2022-23 — this was the moment **Arsenal** would have dropped points that haunted them for months.

Not this time. **Arsenal** immediately summoned one final attack, forcing another own goal as **Yerson Mosquera** headed into his own net under pressure from **Gabriel Jesus**.

It was messy. It was uncomfortably close. And it was exactly what champions do.

## 5. Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa – 30 December 2025

Coming into this match, former **Arsenal** manager Unai Emery had led Villa to **11 consecutive victories** in all competitions, equalling a club record. A 12th would have drawn Villa level on points with **Arsenal** at the top of the table.

**Arsenal** had also lost to Villa at Villa Park just three weeks earlier. After a cagey goalless first half, this looked entirely possible.

What followed was the kind of performance that announces title contenders.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Arsenal-Aston-Villa-xG-shot-map.jpg)

**Arsenal** were 2-0 up inside seven minutes of the second half. Goals from **Gabriel** and **Martín Zubimendi** broke the game open. **Leandro Trossard** and **Gabriel Jesus** added further strikes in what proved to be the highest xG total (**2.59**) and joint-most shots (**15**) **Arsenal** recorded in any single half of **Premier League** football in 2025-26.

**Arsenal** ended 2025 five points clear at the top of the **Premier League**. Villa’s momentum had been emphatically broken.

| Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa — Second Half Stats | Figure |
| --- | --- |
| Second-half xG | 2.59 (highest in a single half all season) |
| Second-half shots | 15 (joint-highest in a single half all season) |
| Points clear at top after result | 5 |
| Villa’s win streak ended | 11 consecutive victories |

## 6. Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal – 22 February 2026

When **Arsenal** arrived at Spurs for the north London derby, they led their rivals by **29 points** in the **Premier League**. But the context made this game feel more precarious than that gap suggested.

Four days earlier, **Arsenal** had inexplicably surrendered a two-goal lead at bottom-placed Wolves, conceding a 94th-minute equaliser from Tom Edozie at Molineux. **Man City** had beaten Newcastle the previous day and were just **two points** behind **Arsenal** with 11 matchdays remaining. It was Igor Tudor’s first game in charge of Spurs, and a new-manager bounce was plausible.

A tight first half ended level at 1-1. And then **Eberechi Eze** took over.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Spurs-Arsenal-xG-shot-map.jpg)

Two goals in this match gave **Eze** a remarkable personal record: he became only the **second player in history** to score **four or more league goals in north London derbies in a single season**, alongside Ted Drake, who scored five for **Arsenal** in 1934-35.

The **4-1 result** was a statement. It reasserted **Arsenal’s** authority at precisely the moment **City** were mounting their most serious challenge.

## 7. Arsenal 2-0 Everton – 14 March 2026

This was far from **Arsenal’s** best performance of the season. For the vast majority of the match they were below par, and it required a massive mistake from **Everton** goalkeeper **Jordan Pickford** to open the scoring in the 89th minute when **Viktor Gyökeres** capitalised.

But this game will be remembered for something beyond the result.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Max-Dowman-becomes-the-youngest-Premier-League-winner-ever-1024x683.jpg)
*LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Max Dowman of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on April 11, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)*

When **Max Dowman** raced onto an empty net deep in stoppage time to make it 2-0, the 16-year-old became the **youngest goalscorer in Premier League history** — at **16 years and 73 days old**, smashing the previous record by **197 days**.

The win was made significantly more important in the hours that followed, when **Manchester City** failed to beat West Ham, drawing **1-1** in the late kick-off. **Arsenal** had held on to three points against the odds. **City** had dropped two.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Arsenal-Everton-xG-race-chart.jpg)

| Arsenal 2-0 Everton — Context | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Gyökeres goal (minute) | 89 |
| Max Dowman — age at goal | 16 years and 73 days |
| Previous youngest PL goalscorer record broken by | 197 days |
| Man City result same evening | 1-1 draw with West Ham |

## 8. West Ham 0-1 Arsenal – 10 May 2026

With **City** having comfortably beaten Brentford **3-0** the previous day, **Arsenal** arrived at the London Stadium knowing a slip was not an option.

West Ham needed the points themselves — sitting in the relegation zone, just a point behind Tottenham. For much of the match, they looked as though they would earn one.

**David Raya** made a superb stop from **Mateus Fernandes** to keep the scores level. Then, in the **83rd minute**, **Leandro Trossard** found the winner.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Mateus-Fernandes-VS-David-Raya-1-1024x683.jpg)

Even then, **Arsenal** needed VAR. Deep in added time, **Pablo’s** arm was adjudged to have impeded **Raya** at a corner before **Callum Wilson** rifled home. The goal was disallowed. **Arsenal’s** lead was preserved.

This win left **Arsenal** with two matches remaining — **Burnley** at home and a final-day trip to face a **Crystal Palace** side distracted by the Conference League final. It was, arguably, **Arsenal’s** last genuine test of the season. They passed it with the narrowest of margins.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/West-Ham-Arsenal-match-momentum.jpg)

| West Ham 0-1 Arsenal — Key Moments | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Raya save | One-on-one stop from Fernandes |
| Winner | Trossard, 83rd minute |
| VAR intervention | Pablo handball disallowed Wilson’s equaliser |
| Remaining fixtures after this result | Burnley (H), Crystal Palace (A) |

Read More: [How Arsenal Finally Won the Premier League Title: Top 10 Key Numbers Behind Their Win](https://technosports.co.in/how-arsenal-finally-won-the-premier-league-10/)

## FAQs

### Which game first made Arsenal title favourites in 2025-26?

Following Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham on 4 October 2025, combined with Liverpool’s simultaneous 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, the Opta supercomputer made Arsenal title favourites for the first time — a position they held for the rest of the campaign.

### Who scored Arsenal’s late winner at Newcastle in September 2025?

Gabriel Magalhães headed in Martin Ødegaard’s corner with virtually the final action of the game to complete a dramatic comeback from 1-0 down, securing a 2-1 win at St James’ Park.

### What record did Max Dowman set against Everton?

At 16 years and 73 days old, Max Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history against Everton on 14 March 2026, breaking the previous record by 197 days.

### What was significant about Arsenal’s draw with Man City in September?

Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with City in September made Mikel Arteta the first manager ever to go five consecutive league games unbeaten against Pep Guardiola. City also registered their lowest possession figure (33.2%) in any league game under Guardiola.

### How did VAR affect Arsenal’s win at West Ham?

Deep in added time, VAR disallowed a Callum Wilson equaliser after Pablo’s arm was adjudged to have impeded David Raya at a corner — preserving Arsenal’s 1-0 lead and what proved to be a pivotal three points in the run-in.