The fixtures for the 2026/27 Premier League were announced on 19th June. The new campaign is still a long way off, getting started on 21st August, when champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City. What’s more, right now we are in the midst of what is promising to be a brilliant edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Much of the football world’s attention is undoubtedly on the goal-packed fiesta taking place in Canada, the USA and Mexico, not least because the best goalscorers in the world, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and others, have run rampant in the early stages. Even so, with the fixtures for the new PL campaign now in the calendar, many fans will have at least started to think about the season that starts in August.
Top-tier new boys Coventry, Ipswich and Hull, and probably one or two other clubs besides, will only be thinking of survival. Most others will think they can perhaps push for a place in Europe. But for a select few clubs, the title is a realistic aim. But just who will end up celebrating come May 2027?
Many Clubs Facing a Transitional Year
The new season will see the Gunners start as defending champions for the first time in 22 years. Retaining a title, with a target on your back and your own hunger and desire somewhat diminished by the accomplishments of the campaign prior, can often be harder than getting the first win. However, there is reason to believe that Mikel Arteta’s men might just be able to make it two wins in a row.
Many of their key rivals will start with new managers in the dugout. Arne Slot showed that winning a title at the first time of asking is not impossible, but then he inherited a very strong squad from Jurgen Klopp. Typically, it takes new bosses a little time to get their ideas across and a few transfer windows to really shape the squad of players to their style of play.
As such, it might be unrealistic to expect Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, Andoni Iraola at Liverpool, Enzo Maresca at Man City, Michael Carrick at Man United or Roberto De Zerbi at Spurs to instantly turn their team into one that can rival the Gunners. De Zerbi and Carrick may not be completely new to their clubs, but this will be their first full season in charge and the former, certainly, obviously has a lot of work to do given how poor Spurs have been in recent times.
In addition to their more settled position regarding their squad and manager, Arsenal also have the advantage of the pressure being off. Having finished second three seasons in a row, everyone connected with the club must have been anxious about making unwanted history by becoming the first side in the long history of English football to finish second in the top flight four years running.
With that weight off their shoulders, they might find themselves able to play with greater freedom in 2026/27. What’s more, their financial position looks strong and will only have been improved by a brilliant 2025/26. Their title success and run to the Champions League final will have swollen their coffers significantly, as, to a lesser extent, will their League Cup final appearance and solid FA Cup run.
Additionally, they are a hugely attractive proposition to any player in world football. They may find it easier to sign their targets, they have the money to go after almost anyone, and they are improving their squad from a position of strength. They might just take some stopping.
What do the Bookies Think?
Top clubs are always linked with brilliant players and that is perhaps even more the case in a World Cup year. It is early days yet, and major signings are thin on the ground in the Premier League. The picture could change significantly if any club has a summer like Liverpool had last term – even if it ultimately didn’t work out, it was a spectacular transfer window from the Merseysiders.
So, while the odds may – or rather will – change in the weeks and months ahead, right now Arsenal are favourites at 13/10, with Man City next at 3/1. It is set to be a tight campaign if the oddsmakers are to be believed, with Liverpool 11/2 and Manchester United 13/2. In decimal prices, for ease of comparison, that means the top four are in a narrow odds range between 2.3 and 7.5.
Beyond those four, Chelsea are priced at 11/1, Aston Villa are available at 33/1 and believers in a De Zerbi revolution can get 50/1 on Spurs. Overall, we have to feel it is too early for Spurs, Chelsea or Man United to push for the title in 2026/27. The others, and we include Villa here, could fight it out.
We believe that Villa, managed by the brilliant Unai Emery, could offer the best value. That will depend on whether or not they can keep their best players and their ability to add both class and depth to their squad. But overall, if pushed, and with the transfer window barely open, we would have to fancy Arsenal to successfully defend their Premier League title.
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