NEVER before has a six-point lead felt like such a slim advantage. That’s the gap between Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, but this is somewhat deceptive. Momentum could swing in either direction between now and the end of the season. The title race is far from settled.

Arsenal have been top of the table since August. They were eight points clear of City in mid-January, but the dynamic of the title race has shifted since then. Pep Guardiola’s team have hit their stride, scoring 21 goals in their last four games in all competitions. Arsenal, meanwhile, were pegged back by Liverpool on Sunday having led 2-0.

The Gunners’ six-point advantage will become a three-point one should Manchester City win their game in-hand. Their lead would be erased entirely in the event of a defeat at the Etihad Stadium on 26th April. The title race is still in Arsenal’s hands, but it’s also in City’s hands – a fact that highlights just how narrow the margins have become between the pair.

Not for a long time has the Premier League witnessed a title race this compelling. Liverpool and Manchester City finished within a single point of each other in 2018/19 and 2021/22, but they essentially ran at full speed alongside each other without their paths ever crossing. There weren’t many twists or turns.

The same can’t be said of this season’s title race. There was City’s away win at the Emirates Stadium followed by their 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest. Arsenal have lived on the edge in multiple matches this season, scoring late winners against Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Manchester United to keep their nose in front.

Despite all the drama already produced over the course of the campaign, there is a growing sense the contest between Arsenal and Manchester City will come to a head over the coming weeks. The Gunners’ true title credentials will be tested in challenging away fixtures against City and Newcastle United while City must juggle Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup duties.

“I’d prefer to be in Arsenal’s position in the Premier League than the one we have,” Guardiola said when asked how he views the title race at the top of the Premier League table. “The advantage is that they are eight points in front of us – this is the real advantage. The past is the past; experience doesn’t count.”

Mikel Arteta likely feels somewhat different. The Spaniard has been part of a title winning team as Manchester City assistant manager while Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko also know what it takes to become champions, but Arsenal’s general lack of elite level experience could be a factor down the home stretch.

So too could Manchester City’s unmatched squad depth which was showcased in the 4-1 away win over Southampton, when Guardiola rested Erling Haaland by bringing World Cup-winner Julian Alvarez off the bench for the final 20 minutes. Alvarez scored to bring his tally to four goals in three games after Haaland had netted his 44th goal of the season. Arsenal, on the other hand, started Rob Holding in William Saliba against Liverpool.

Great Premier League title races, like the ones between Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, are part of the division’s folklore and this season’s title race could be era-defining in a similar way. After months of shadow boxing, Arsenal and City are now finally facing each other in the ring. A knockout blow will be delivered at some point.