Arsenal ended a 22-year wait to be Premier League champions last season, but can they successfully defend their crown? That is the next target for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, whose side finished seven points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City last time out. So, who will challenge them in 2026-27?
We asked 26 BBC TV and radio pundits to pick their top four, with explanations for their selections. We've also asked AI's opinion, and included what Opta's 'supercomputer' came up with too. The AI prediction was generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool to "predict the Premier League table for the 2026-27 season".
Opta's 'supercomputer' is actually a complex algorithm that uses a model based on betting market odds and the sports analytics company's own 'power rankings', which are calculated using past results. It has simulated the outcome of all 380 Premier League games 10,000 times and came to the same conclusion as AI, and three of the pundits. Disagree with our expert humans or think you know more than any machine?
You can make your own top-four prediction, and forecast the rest of the Premier League table, at the bottom of this page. These predictions were made on the basis of how each squad shaped up on Thursday, 20 August, with 13 days to go until the transfer window shuts at on Tuesday, 1 September. Last season, only four teams featured in the forecasted top-four positions, but this time there are seven named, in 15 different combinations.
Overall expected ranking, using all 28 predictions is: Calculated using a system of four points for a first place, three points for second, two points for third and one point for fourth. Last year, only 17% of BBC predictors (6/35) thought they would be champions. This year, 89% (25/28) think they will successfully defend their crown and no-one thinks they will finish lower than second.
Theo Walcott: They have got the biggest advantage of all - continuity. Mikel Arteta is still there, they are coming off an 85-point title-winning season and they have strengthened rather than rebuilt. The Bruno Guimaraes signing is massive, to add to a midfield that already boasts Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
