Just 6 of 33 BBC pundits predicted Arsenal’s title win

Just six of the BBC’s 33 TV and radio pundits correctly picked Arsenal as this season’s Premier League winners, with Martin Keown among them.

With Arsenal winning the Premier League on Tuesday night, it’s a good time to take a look back at the August predictions for the 2025/26 campaign.

The BBC asked 33 TV and radio pundits to pick their top four, as well as asking Microsoft Copilot Chat, and Opta’s Supercomputer for their predictions.

Of those 35 predictions, just six correctly chose Arsenal as their title winners.

Chris Waddle was the only pundit to predict Chelsea to win the league, putting Arsenal in second place.

Then Joe Hart, Michael Brown, Steph Houghton, Paul Robinson and Nedum Onuoha all went for Manchester City, and notably, none of the five even had Arsenal in second place. Hart and Brown both had Chelsea finishing third above the Gunners in fourth.

21 of the pundits went for Liverpool retaining their title, with all 21 at least putting Arsenal in the top four (three in fourth, six in third, and 12 in second).

Then Microsoft Copilot predicted Manchester City to win the league, whilst Opta’s Supercomputer put Liverpool top. Both had Arsenal in second.

That leaves us with the six who actually backed Arsenal from the beginning, as follows:

• Matt Upson (former Arsenal defender)
• Martin Keown (former Arsenal defender)
• Thomas Hitzlsperger (former Aston Villa goalkeeper)
• Sue Smith (former England women international)
• Leon Osman (former Everton midfielder)
• Jermaine Beckford (ex-Chelsea youth, Everton, and Leeds United striker)

Upson’s prediction looks like being the closest, as he also had Manchester City in second place.

But all six picked Liverpool in their top three and Chelsea in their top four, so none of them were spot on. At least they got the title winners correct!

• Real Madrid release statement with implications for Arsenal
  Real Madrid have denied claims linking them with a move for Enzo Fernandez, casting doubt on the credibility of suggestions of Arsenal interest in those same reports.
• Arsenal prepare new Bruno bid despite Newcastle’s Tonali agreement
  Arsenal haven’t given up on signing Bruno Guimaraes this summer, despite Sandro Tonali’s move to Tottenham Hotspur increasing Newcastle United’s resolve.
• Arsenal withdraw from transfer race amid Manchester City ‘hijack’
  Arsenal have withdrawn from the race to sign Jeremy Monga from Leicester City, with Manchester City now pushing to complete the signing.
• Arsenal sign Georgia Stanway on a free transfer from FC Bayern
  Lionesses midfielder Georgia Stanway joins after four succesful seasons winning eight trophies in Bavaria and will bring a lot of experience and winning mentality to the Arsenal.
• Manchester City try to sign Arsenal talent 1 year after he joined
  Manchester City are trying to lure Arsenal youngster Mishel Nduka away from the club, with the player’s youth contract now at an end and the Gunner pushing to renew.