By Chris Bevan BBC Sport journalist 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.

Calculated using a system of four points for a first place, three points for second, two points for third and one point for fourth, the overall expected ranking is: Arsenal (109 points) Manchester City (73) Liverpool (38) Chelsea (35) Manchester United (21) Aston Villa and Tottenham (both two).

Arsenal dominate the pundit predictions, with 89% (25/28) expecting them to retain their title and no-one forecasting them below second place. Theo Walcott highlights their continuity under Arteta, while Danny Murphy emphasizes their momentum and squad cohesion. Thomas Hitzlsperger notes their experience in winning, and Joe Hart stresses the importance of handling championship scrutiny. Several pundits, including Ellen White and Sue Smith, praise their strengthened midfield featuring Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes, and Martin Odegaard.

Manchester City, despite being rebuilding under new manager Enzo Maresca, remain competitive with only 12% (3/26) of pundits backing them to reclaim the title. Thomas Hitzlsperger acknowledges their consistent Champions League presence as a significant achievement. The predictions were made on Thursday, 20 August, with the transfer window closing on 1 September.