McNulty review: Arsenal crowned champions as Premier League sees managerial upheaval and financial missteps
BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty’s end-of-season analysis highlights Arsenal’s first title in 22 years, Liverpool’s regression despite heavy spending, and widespread instability across the division.
Arsenal have secured their first Premier League title in 22 years, concluding a campaign that McNulty describes as the definitive acid test for manager Mikel Arteta. The victory ends a period of near-misses and second-place finishes, with McNulty noting that the best team won, built on solid defensive foundations and the standout performances of goalkeeper David Raya and central defenders Gabriel and William Saliba. Declan Rice was identified as the player of the year, providing the creative impetus that allowed Arsenal to finally find the winning formula ahead of their upcoming Champions League final against Paris St-Germain.
The title race was defined by Manchester City’s failure to reclaim the crown in Pep Guardiola’s final season. Despite winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, City were outlasted in the league, with McNulty observing that they had too many draws where they could not complete the job. Guardiola departs having rebuilt the squad for a glittering future, but the history books will record Arsenal as the rightful champions. Meanwhile, Manchester United saw Michael Carrick seamlessly take charge after Ruben Amorim’s departure, guiding the club back into the Champions League with Bruno Fernandes as the inspirational core and summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo adding significant quality.
Liverpool’s campaign stands in stark contrast to their previous success, ending in fifth place with 60 points—a 24-point regression from the prior season. McNulty highlights the disappointment of a £450m summer spending spree that failed to prevent the collapse, compounded by a decline in Mohamed Salah’s form and growing acrimony with manager Arne Slot. The tragedy of forward Diogo Jota’s death in July provided context for the team’s struggles, yet the result has seen Liverpool fans turn against Slot, despite owner FSG currently standing firm behind him.
Managerial instability was a recurring theme, particularly at Tottenham, where Thomas Frank exited after finding the club’s dysfunction a sharp contrast to his previous stability at Brentford. Frank’s successor, Keith Andrews, is noted for his seamless transition at Brentford, securing European qualification despite losing key strikers. In contrast, Tottenham’s situation deteriorated further with the brief and unsuccessful tenure of Igor Tudor, who lost five of his seven games before leaving after 44 days, raising serious questions about the club’s sporting direction under CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.
Other notable narratives included Sunderland’s remarkable promotion to European competition under Regis le Bris, defying all pre-season predictions, and Bournemouth’s historic European qualification under Andoni Iraola. Chelsea endured a turbulent season marked by the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, while Newcastle and West Ham faced transitional turmoil and relegation respectively. McNulty’s review underscores a season where financial investment did not guarantee success, and strategic clarity proved essential for survival and advancement.
