PREMIER League champions – sorted. Relegated teams – sorted. Second place – secured by Arsenal.
Champions League spots? Still up for grabs, and it will go down to the ultimate day.
Both Villa and Chelsea got the job done against their opponents and head into the last day of the season, still in the hunt for a Champions League spot.
Nerves will play a huge part – whoever can hold theirs will be rewarded with a place in the most prestigious competition in club football. Chelsea remain underwhelming and could face a tough fight against Nottingham Forest.
With Forest winning on Sunday against West Ham, Nuno Espirito Santo now has one last hurdle.
If results go his way next weekend, Forest could sneak into the promised land.
They’ve already secured European qualification next season – landing a Champions League spot would be a remarkable bonus for the former two-time European champions.
So, who will qualify for the remaining Champions League spots? Will it be Newcastle?
Manchester City? Chelsea? Can Aston Villa or even Nottingham Forest dream of making it to the grandest stage of them all?
Declan Rice settled nerves with a goal worthy of securing a second place for Arsenal. That’s three years in a row now that Mikel Arteta’s men have finished as runners-up. While Rice may have been the match winner, the true hero was David Raya. His five first half saves against the Magpies were game-changing.
Without Raya, Newcastle could easily have been three goals up by half-time.
If he wins the Golden Glove, it will be well-deserved. Arsenal only need a bit more bite up front – just a tweak or two in attack – to truly challenge for the title next season.
As for Spurs and United, it’s now Europa League or bust. Instead of disrupting the title race or building momentum ahead of the final, both sides delivered dismal performances that gave their fans nothing to cheer about.
It’s understandable that both managers are focusing entirely on the Europa League final, but they could at least demand a fight.
Gone are the days when managers used league fixtures to build rhythm and confidence. Now, it seems both sides are hoping their players can just “switch it on” when it matters. But that’s not how one forms a habit, good or bad. And right now, bad habits plagued both squads.
No one can confidently predict a successful performance in the Europa League final, judging by the current league form.
With neither side hitting 40 points, both are lucky the relegated teams were so poor this season—otherwise, they’d be in the drop-zone conversation themselves.
Put a fork in Rasmus Hojlund; he looks done as a striker for United. He can’t hold up play, doesn’t make threatening runs, and poses little danger.
When Harry Maguire is creating more chances than your striker, you’re in trouble. If even Luke Shaw is getting visibly frustrated with you, something is seriously wrong.
Hopefully, Hojlund can find the net against the Asean All-Stars – if not, serious questions need to be asked about Erik ten Hag’s scouting department and the hefty fee paid for such a raw prospect.
Farewell, Goodison Park. And what a fitting send-off it was, with Everton securing a 2–0 win in the final match at one of the Premier League’s most storied grounds.
It’s a bittersweet moment in football history. Like many clubs, Everton must move forward to stay competitive – more corporate boxes, more concessions, more commercial viability. It’s all about the money these days, often at the expense of a club’s soul.
We can only hope that the new stadium carries the same mystique that Goodison Park once held.
One game remains in the Premier League season, with the top five still undecided. Every team in the mix must hold their nerve.
There’s glory – and massive riches – on the line. For some, it could be the difference between a happy summer or a long, bitter one.
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