Football NewsBBC SportUnverified source· 16 Aug 2026
Can Arsenal defy history to retain Premier League title?
Arsenal start as champions for the first time in 20 years, but history shows defending is tough.
Arsenal
team
Champions
Arsenal won 2024-25 Premier League title
Margin
Finished seven points ahead of Manchester City
Last defence
2004-05 season
What happened. Arsenal begin the new season as defending Premier League champions, a position they haven't held since 2004-05, and are favourites to retain the title.
- Pep Guardiola successfully defended the title four times at Man City before leaving this summer.
- Before Guardiola, only Ferguson and Mourinho had managed back-to-back Premier League titles.
- Psychological factors make it hard for champions to repeat, according to the analysis.
Arsenal face the challenge of becoming the first team since Man City to win consecutive titles.
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