It looks increasingly as though the Premier League could be a cakewalk for the reigning champions Arsenal – whether or not Manchester City are handed a points deduction.

Man City went into the last international break with a 100% winning record under new manager Enzo Maresca, with it all looking like business as usual following the departure of their era-defining manager Pep Guardiola at the end of last season.

However, things have taken a severe dip after the news broke that the club have been found guilty of the vast majority of their 115 charges.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein originally broke the news over the extended international break, and a few days later the Premier League confirmed it with a statement that could have massive repercussions for the English top flight.

“An independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation,” read their statement.

Any potential sanctions are yet to be confirmed or announced, while Man City have lodged an appeal against the verdict, having stated that they’re “both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission” and continuing to protest their innocence.

City responded in a defiant mood, having extended their winning run by going to Anfield and beating Liverpool 3-0. But a few days later, they were defeated 4-2 to PSG in the Champions League and a serious domestic slump has followed.

Maresca’s men have now suffered three successive Premier League defeats, a run that started with a 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa. Losses to Brighton and Nottingham Forest have followed.

The result leaves them six points behind Arsenal at this fledgling stage of the Premier League campaign. The Gunners have won nine of their 10 league outings, are consistently keeping clean sheets, and the recent form is ominous.

The question of a points deduction when it comes to a Premier League title race could soon be academic.

City have picked up just six points from five matches since the verdict was announced in September. That’s nine fewer points than Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, four fewer than Tottenham, and fewer than the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth, Fulham and Everton.

Here’s how the full table shapes up since the verdict was announced.