The Premier League title race is effectively down to two teams, with Arsenal holding a nine-point lead over Manchester City, though the defending champions have two games in hand. Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday has tightened the contest, meaning City could reduce the gap to three points if they beat Chelsea on Sunday and then defeat Arsenal in their head-to-head clash on April 19.
Should both sides finish the season level on points, the first tiebreaker would be goal difference. City are the only club to have won the Premier League on goal difference, doing so in 2012 when they pipped Manchester United. If goal difference is identical, goals scored would be the next deciding factor, as happened in 1989 when Arsenal beat Liverpool to the title on that metric.
If still inseparable, the head-to-head record between the two teams comes into play. Arsenal and City drew 1-1 in their first meeting this season at the Emirates, so the outcome of their upcoming match at the Etihad will be crucial. Should that also end in a draw, the number of away goals scored in those two matches would be considered.
In the highly unlikely event that all tiebreakers are equal, a one-off play-off match at a neutral venue would be held. If the match is drawn after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties would determine the champion. This scenario has never occurred in Premier League history.
