Arsenal are the Premier League leaders as the New Year rolls in, with the Gunners hopeful that 2026 is the year their title drought ends.
The North Londoners last lifted the league 22 years ago, but after three consecutive runners-up finishes, look well placed to end that barren run.
Our patch. pic.twitter.com/PTMXEF40XP
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 31, 2025
Their current lead is four points following the New Year’s Day games, but how does that compare to the biggest leads ever held at this stage of a Premier League season?
The biggest Premier League title race leads at New Year
Chelsea – 2005/06 (11 points)
Chelsea’s first-ever Premier League title is etched into the history of the division, as Jose Mourinho’s side were crowned champions with a record-low of just 15 goals conceded.
Though often overlooked given that record-breaking success, their second title was equally impressive.
Chelsea flew out of the traps with 20 wins from their opening 22 games, then the best-ever start to a Premier League defence. By New Year’s Day, the Blues boasted an 11-point buffer and ended the campaign nine clear of Manchester United.
Chelsea also became the first team to beat every opponent in a single Premier League campaign.
Liverpool – 2019/20 (13 points)
After agonisingly missing out on the Premier League the previous season, despite a club-record points return, Liverpool began 2019/20 hellbent on securing a drought-breaking title.
Jurgen Klopp’s side set a new record for the best start to a season in the history of Europe’s top five leagues, leaving all challengers in their wake.
A remarkable run saw Liverpool take 79 points out of a possible 81 to start the season, with their lead on January 1st a whopping 13 points. By the end of their title-winning campaign, the Reds were 18 clear of Manchester City.
Manchester United – 1993/94 (14 points)
Having been the inaugural winners of the rebranded top flight in 1992/93, ending a 26-year title wait, Manchester United went back-to-back the following season.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s defending champions lost just one of their opening 29 games and sat 14 points clear at the top at the New Year festivities. It’s the joint-biggest Premier League lead on January 1st in the league’s history.
Manchester City – 2017/18 (14 points)
Manchester City were an unstoppable force in 2017/18 as Pep Guardiola won his first Premier League title in record-breaking fashion.
The Citizens set a new points record in England’s top tier, becoming the first-ever side to breach 100 points in a top-flight campaign.
After hitting the front in September, City never looked back. Their 100 points remains a record no team before or since has ever achieved, etching them into the annals as one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever sides.
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