What happens to the Premier League title if Man City and Arsenal finish level on points?

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Need to know

Manchester City were handed a Premier League title boost on Saturday as they chase current leaders Arsenal in their bid for the top-flight crown

Manchester City can make up ground on Arsenal in the Premier League title race(Image: Getty)

Everything you need to know if Arsenal and Manchester City finish level on points at the end of the season

1. Tightening Race: The Premier League title race has narrowed to two teams, with Arsenal currently holding a nine-point lead at the top of the table. However, a recent 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth has significantly hindered the Gunners' momentum and opened the door for their rivals.
2. City's Advantage: Manchester City sit in second place but possess two crucial games in hand, including a high-stakes encounter against Chelsea. If they win these extra fixtures and defeat Arsenal in their upcoming head-to-head, they could potentially erase the current point deficit.
3. Goal Difference: The first tie-breaker used to separate teams level on points at the end of the season is overall goal difference. This metric is calculated by subtracting total goals conceded from total goals scored throughout the entire campaign.
4. Historical Precedent: Manchester City are currently the only club in history to have secured a Premier League title via goal difference. This famous victory occurred in 2012, when Sergio Aguero's late winner against QPR saw them finish level on points with Manchester United but with a superior goal difference.
5. Goals Scored: If the teams remain tied after goal difference, the second tie-breaker considered is the total number of goals scored. Arsenal famously benefited from this specific rule in 1989 when they finished level with Liverpool but took the title based on their higher scoring tally.
6. Head-to-Head Points: Should the sides still be inseparable after the first two metrics, the league looks at the points earned in matches played against each other. The two teams already played out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates earlier this season, making their upcoming April meeting at the Etihad pivotal.
7. Away Goals Rule: A fourth tie-breaking statistic is utilised if the head-to-head points are equal, focusing on which team scored the most away goals in those specific matches.
8. Uncharted Territory: If the upcoming match ends in a 1-1 draw and all other statistical tie-breakers remain identical, the league enters rare territory. This would mean the teams have mirrored each other's performance across every primary and secondary metric provided by the rules.
9. Play-off Final: The final and most extreme contingency for a deadlocked title race is a one-off play-off match at a neutral venue. This winner-takes-all game would only occur if the Premier League board determines that the teams cannot be separated by any other means.
10. Sudden Death: If a play-off match is required and remains tied after 90 minutes, it would proceed to 30 minutes of extra time. If the deadlock still persists after the additional period, a penalty shoot-out would ultimately decide which team is crowned champion.
11. READ MORE: Pep Guardiola challenges Man City to 'live the illusion' in Arsenal chase