Manchester City won the English Premier League for the fifth time in six seasons on Saturday, taking a first step to a possible golden treble of trophies as second-placed Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners’ challenge finally evaporated after a second consecutive defeat left manager Mikel Arteta’s side four points adrift of City with one game left for them to play.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s first-half goal also ensured Forest avoided relegation in their first season back in the top flight for 23 years.
Photo: AP
City’s third successive English title turned yesterday’s league game at home to Chelsea into a celebration match.
Manager Pep Guardiola’s men are now looking to complete a treble when they face local rivals Manchester United and Italian giants Inter Milan in next month’s FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals respectively.
City have become the dominant force in the English game since an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover transformed their fortunes in 2008, but admiration for the quality of their soccer under manager Guardiola has also been accompanied by questions over their financing, with City facing a mammoth 115 charges for breaking Premier League rules.
Photo: AFP
Nevertheless, City captain Ilkay Gundogan said his side had been pushed hard this season.
“The Premier League is without doubt the most demanding and competitive league in the world, so that tells you everything about what an achievement this is,” he said.
However, for Arsenal manager Arteta, a former assistant to Guardiola, there were thoughts of what might have been for the longtime leaders.
“First of all congratulations to Manchester City for winning the championship, but it is a sad day for us,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “Now we have to face the reality, today we gave a goal away and we were not good enough to break them down. We could play for three hours and we would not have done it.”
By contrast, Forest manager Steve Cooper told the BBC: “We limited them [Arsenal] to very little, incredible desire and we got over the line. It was everything we wished for from today. It is what the players and the supporters particularly deserve.”
Manchester United and Newcastle United were on the brink of qualifying for next season’s Champions League after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Manchester United’s 1-0 victory at AFC Bournemouth, combined with Liverpool’s failure to beat Villa, left Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag’s men and Newcastle within touching distance of ensuring top-four finishes.
Fourth-placed Manchester United and Newcastle, in third, are both three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, who have only one game left.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp watched from the stands at Anfield as he served a touchline ban following his recent rant about referee Paul Tierney.
“We would have loved to make it exciting for another week, but we will make the [UEFA] Europa League our competition. I am not that spoilt,” Klopp said.
For Liverpool’s local rivals Everton, dreams of European soccer have long been replaced by the need to avoid relegation.
Yerry Mina’s last-gasp equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers boosted the Toffees’ hopes of avoiding playing in the second tier for the first time since 1954.
“If you are a footballer you can’t just sign up for the good things,” said Everton manager Dyche. “You have to fight to be in the Premier League and we are fighting.”
Tottenham Hotspurs’ season to forget hit a new low with a 3-1 home defeat against Brentford, while Fulham and Crystal Palace shared a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
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