Premier League final day: Arsenal crowned champions as relegation and European stakes loom
Arsenal end a 22-year title drought, while Tottenham and West Ham face potential relegation. Sunderland host Chelsea in a bid for European football, and Manchester City bid farewell to Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions, ending a 22-year wait for the title. The conclusion of the season sees ten matches with significant implications for European qualification and relegation, with results potentially allowing all of the top six to reach the Champions League for the first time since the competition was reformed in 1992.
Tottenham Hotspur face a precarious position against West Ham United, with both clubs at risk of dropping to the Championship. Tottenham’s financial exposure is forecasted at roughly £261m in total annual revenue if relegated, more than double the £100m loss projected for West Ham. The north London side has won just two of its 18 home matches this season, while West Ham accumulated only four points from 30 available between 22 November and 17 January.
Sunderland host Chelsea at the Stadium of Light in a fixture that could secure European football for the Black Cats for the first time in over four decades. Sunderland currently sit 10th on 51 points, marking the sixth-highest tally for a newly promoted side in Premier League history. A win would leapfrog Chelsea, who are navigating a period of managerial instability following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior. Calum McFarlane currently serves as interim manager, with Xabi Alonso announced as the incoming manager for the 2026/27 season.
Liverpool play Brentford, with Mohamed Salah set to leave as the club's all-time Premier League top scorer, having netted 180 times since 2017. The match also highlights the struggles of Liverpool’s new signings, including Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who have yet to fully integrate into the squad. Brentford manager Keith Andrews, promoted from set-piece coach, has utilised long throws to generate five goals, the most in the division, and could secure European qualification for the club for the first time in its 137-year history.
Manchester City face Aston Villa in what is described as Pep Guardiola’s final home match before his departure. The north stand at the Etihad Stadium will be renamed the ‘Pep Guardiola Stand’ for this fixture. Guardiola leaves with 17 major trophies, including the club’s maiden Champions League title in 2022/23, and holds the record for most points and goals in a single campaign.
