Both giants of their respective leagues, both perennial underachievers, and both with their best chance of a league title in years, if they can stave off disaster!

The Buccaneers have dominated the Betway Premiership for much of the 2025/26 campaign, at one stage held a 10-point cushion over reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Arsenal, meanwhile, were recently nine points clear of Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League.

But just as Pirates succumbed 2-1 to Sundowns in a top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday, Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with bottom-placed Wolves.

Colombian striker Brayan Leon proved decisive for the Brazilians, netting both goals against Pirates to take his tally to four in just three games and reduce Orlando’s lead at the top of the Premiership table to three points, despite having played an extra fixture.

Arsenal meanwhile, conceded a stoppage-time strike from Tom Edozie at Molineux, leaving them only five points ahead of City, also from one game more.

The history books provide further context. Pirates last won a top-flight title in 2011/12, and have repeatedly come close to dislodging Sundowns, finishing second in three consecutive seasons.

Arsenal's last league triumph came in 2003/04 under Arsene Wenger, in an historic unbeaten campaign. Yet the Gunners, like Pirates, have been runners-up in each of the last three seasons — twice to City and most recently to Liverpool.

But while Mikel Arteta has spent years shaping a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League crown since taking charge in 2019, Abdeslam Ouaddou, by contrast, is in his first season at the Pirates’ helm, and has already lifted both MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cups.

Throwing away the league at this stage would be a disaster, but if they can persevere and achieve historic victories, it may well signal a new era for both clubs.

Ouaddou has only just begun his journey with Bucs, what what of the future of Arteta if he can't get his team over the line this season…

Innocent Maela backs Orlando Pirates' readiness to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the title