Premier League Final Day Review
The main issue that had to be resolved on the final day of the Premier League season was which one of Arsenal and Tottenham would be representing the Premier League in the Champions League next season. Arsenal knew that they need only beat Newcastle at St. James’ Park in order to ensure that they retained their perennial position in Europe’s premier club competition.
This was something that Arsene Wenger had achieved in every single season that he’d managed the Gunners, and though there were predictably some nervy moments in the fixture against Newcastle, a close range header from Laurent Koscielny in the second-half was enough to give Arsenal an invaluable one-nil victory. Arsenal had managed to glean 26 points from their last ten Premier League fixtures, and it was hard to argue that they didn’t deserve the reward of a Champions League place for this exceptional run alone.
Tottenham’s match against Sunderland therefore became a complete irrelevance. It nevertheless exemplified Spurs’ season, as Tottenham toiled to break the deadlock, before Gareth Bale scored a magnificent winner for them at the death. Spurs fans prayed that Arsenal would slip up in the remaining minutes at the north east, but to be fair this never looked like happening. Tottenham must now tolerate a summer of speculation about their match winner.
Chelsea ensured that they finished ahead of Arsenal and gained automatic entry to the Champions League group stages by beating Everton 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Fernando Torres scored the winner, his 22nd goal of the season, but must wait until the summer to find out whether he will remain with the club, with the Blues strongly linked with numerous major forward targets. David Moyes’ Everton career thus ended with a defeat, but no Toffees supporter will underestimate the excellent job that he has done for the club, and his replacement will have a tough job to match his achievements.
Speaking of stepping into people’s shoes, David Moyes’ next competitive fixture in the Premier League will be as Manchester United manager. Sir Alex Ferguson signed off his remarkable career in a suitably staggering match. After 1,500 matches as Manchester United manager, it was quite incredible that his last one produced the first 5-5 draw in the history of the Premier League. It’s probable that the United players were spared the hairdryer, though, despite letting a three goal lead slip.
Manchester City’s disappointing season was summed up by a poor defeat at home to Norwich. The Canaries won by three goals to two, and everyone at Eastlands will be glad to get the 2025-13 season out of the way, after the team’s failure resulted in the end of Roberto Mancini’s tenure.
Having finished behind their neighbours Everton in the league, Liverpool at least were able to beat QPR 1-0 at Anfield and end the season on a positive note. The goalscorer, Philippe Coutinho, will carry a lot of expectation at Anfield next season, after a more than decent beginning to his Liverpool career. Jamie Carragher also bowed out of professional football after a sterling career.
FA Cup winners Wigan were already relegated before their match against Aston Villa, and thus weren’t too disappointed with a 2-2 draw. Villa will hope to hang on to the absent Christian Benteke in the summer, and build on some of their promising attacking play from this season.
West Ham beat Reading comfortably by four goals to two at Upton Park, in a match that illustrated precisely why Reading have been relegated back to the Championship. The Royals have been nowhere near good enough to stay in the Premier League, particularly at the back, and will do well to merely stabilise in a mid-table Championship position.
Michael Owen came on as a late sub for Stoke City in his last ever professional appearance. Apart from that, the match with Southampton was an uneventful and meaningless 1-1 draw.
Finally, the experienced forward Dimitar Berbatov scored his fifteenth Premier League goal of the season in Fulham’s away win at Swansea. The Bulgarian has been his usual mercurial self all season, and will be an important player for the Cottagers next season. Swansea look forward to European football next term.
Premier League Results
Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Liverpool 1-0 QPR
Man City 2-3 Norwich
Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Southampton 1-1 Stoke
Swansea 0-3 Fulham
Tottenham 1-0 Sunderland
West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
West Ham 4-2 Reading
Wigan 2-2 Aston Villa
Final Premier League Table
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