As is the custom, the final game of the season in the Premier League took place at the same time across all centers in England with all 10 games on display.
The final day is always filled with tension and drama as there’s usually one thing or the other to compete for – be it qualification for European spots, relegation battles, Golden glove award, or the golden boot award like we saw this season as well.
The measure of how much it means to reach the Champions League was played out in a simple scene after Manchester United secured a place in next season’s competition at the expense of Leicester City.
Leicester had a fine season, a success in so many respects – but to be in the top four for so long then slip at the last day can only be regarded as an anti-climax.
Chelsea took the fourth Champions League place after surviving a potentially hazardous last game at home to Wolves, and manager, Frank Lampard, is on course for a highly satisfactory return from his first season as a Premier League manager.
Lampard also has the FA Cup final coming up against Arsenal so, like Solskjaer with the Europa League, he may yet have a tangible reward for his endeavours this season.
According to the Sport Business Group at Deloitte, Chelsea and United will earn a minimum of around 55m euros (£50.1m) from qualification for the Champions League.
Leicester will only receive 8m euros (£7.2m) for reaching the Europa League.
Related: Premier League final day analysis and reactions; European qualification, relegation and others
Highlights and Analysis
Arsenal 3 – 2 Watford
Watford were relegated from the Premier League after losing 3-2 to Arsenal as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace was not enough in the race for the Golden Boot.
Aubameyang opened the scoring in the fifth minute from the penalty spot after a VAR review of Craig Dawson’s foul on Alexandre Lacazette.
Arsenal doubled their advantage on 24 minutes through Kieran Tierney’s first goal for the club.
It was 3-0 on 33 minutes, Aubameyang producing an overhead kick into the net.
But, Watford pulled one back 10 minutes later, Troy Deeney converting a penalty after Danny Welbeck had been fouled by David Luiz.
Luiz has now conceded 5 penalties this season, a record for a single Premier League campaign.
Welbeck fired in from Ismaila Sarr’s cross to make it 3-2 in the 66th minute before Emiliano Martinez denied the former Arsenal forward an equaliser.
Arsenal rise two places to eighth on 56 points, while Watford go down in 19th with 34 points.
Burnley 1 – 2 Brighton
Brighton won their first league meeting against Burnley since August 2013 after failing to win their previous eight (D6 L2) in the final game of the season to dent Nick pope’s hopes of securing the Golden glove award this season.
Yves Bissouma put the Seagulls in front after 20 minutes with a thunderous drive into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Burnley then equalised just before half-time when Chris Wood slotted in from Erik Pieters’ long pass.
But Brighton retook the lead five minutes into the second half, with Aaron Connolly finishing from a tight angle.
Burnley’s Jay Rodriguez had a goal overturned following a Video Assistant Referee review after Johann Berg Gudmundsson was adjudged to be interfering with Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan from an offside position.
Victory for Graham Potter’s Seagulls means they finished 15th with 41 points.
Burnley drops to 10th place on 54 points.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chelsea went into the game against Wolves on the final day of the season with both teams having plenty to play for. Chelsea with the hunt for Champions League spot while Wolves needed to secure Europa League berth.
Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud scored the goals that confirmed a top-four finish for Chelsea as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.
The breakthrough for Chelsea came in first-half stoppage time when Mount struck a superb free-kick to make it 1-0 to the Blues.
It was 2-0 just a few minutes later, Mount’s through-ball setting up Giroud who rounded the goalkeeper to score for a third successive home match.
After the break, Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who had been brought back to the starting XI, saved well from Diogo Jota while Christian Pulisic fired over at the other end.
Chelsea ended the season in fourth, the final Champions League slot on 66 points, below Manchester United on goal difference.
Wolves dropped to seventh on 59 points, below Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6zaHxAp-Sw
Crystal Palace 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur moved into the sixth position and secured UEFA Europa League football with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
Needing a point to move above Wolverhampton Wanderers, who lost 2-0 at Chelsea on the final day, on goal difference, Harry Kane put Spurs ahead in the 13th minute.
The striker fired a low shot beyond Vicente Guaita after a pass from Giovani Lo Celso for his seventh goal in his last five appearances.
The Eagles, however, equalised on 53 minutes from a Jeffrey Schlupp’s volley into the roof of the net for Crystal Palace’s first goal in four matches.
Roy Hodgson’s men almost took the lead on 64 minutes when Joel Ward’s cross came off Harry Winks and hit a post.
Spurs finished on 59 points, while the draw left Crystal Palace 14th on 43 points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqBJVZY7mQU
Everton 1 – 3 Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth got relegated from the Premier League despite beating Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park.
