Which side were remarkable? Who were a shambles? Phil McNulty's season review

The Premier League play finished with Arsenal crowned champions for the archetypal clip successful 22 years, portion arch rivals Tottenham avoided the humiliation of relegation connected the last day.

It has been a run of surprises, from Liverpool's collapsed rubric defence contempt spending £450m past summertime to promoted Sunderland completing the singular feet of earning European football.

There person been stories close done the division, with Pep Guardiola departing Manchester City aft 10 glittering years.

Here is my end-of-season reappraisal - with a look backmost to what I predicted successful August.

Prediction: 2nd

Arsenal were deserved winners of their archetypal rubric since 2003-04.

This play was the acerb trial for manager Mikel Arteta and his players. No much 2nd places. No much astir men. It had to beryllium this season.

Forget the quibbles astir not being pleasing connected the oculus oregon excessively galore set-pieces. The champion squad ever triumph the Premier League and Arteta yet recovered the winning formula, with the Champions League last against Paris St-Germain to travel connected Saturday.

Arsenal's rubric was built connected coagulated antiaircraft foundations, with goalkeeper David Raya outstanding down Gabriel and William Saliba successful cardinal defence. Declan Rice was my subordinate of the year.

Now 1 rubric has been won, Arsenal person the foundations for years to come.

What I said successful August: "This is simply a squad with capable to equine a meaningful rubric pursuit and situation for the biggest prizes."

Prediction: 3rd

Pep Guardiola's last play successful complaint of Manchester City ended with the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, but this clip they were outlasted by Arsenal successful the Premier League rubric race.

The champion axenic shot squad successful the state maybe, but the past books volition not accidental that - lone that Arsenal were champions, and rightly so.

City simply had excessively galore days - excessively galore draws - wherever they could not implicit the job, and it outgo them.

Guardiola, however, leaves down a rebuilt squad that person a glittering future. He volition not beryllium backmost astatine the bosom of adjacent season's rubric race. City volition be.

What I said successful August: "I afloat expect City to triumph a trophy and situation for the rubric - but bash not deliberation they volition reclaim their aged crown."

Prediction: 7th

A large achievement, particularly by Michael Carrick, who seamlessly cleared up the wreckage of Ruben Amorim's ill-fated clip successful complaint and took Manchester United backmost into the Champions League.

Bruno Fernandes was the inspiration, the subordinate United simply cannot bash without, portion summertime arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo added prime successful attack.

Belgium keeper Senne Lammens has been a masterstroke signing, portion the rehabilitation of Kobbie Mainoo is much recognition successful Carrick's ledger.

What I said successful August: "They surely cannot beryllium arsenic atrocious again, tin they?"

Prediction: 5th

What much tin beryllium said astir Unai Emery's enactment astatine Aston Villa? Back to the Champions League and the club's archetypal trophy since 1996 with his 5th Europa League win.

Emery's perfectionist streak makes his absorption of Villa a enactment of art, with work-rate, organisation and endowment making for a top-class team.

Morgan Rogers is the centrepiece, but the cardinal to it each is Emery and a squad and nine built successful his ain representation and likeness. He is connected people to spell down successful past arsenic a Villa legend.

What I said successful August: "I afloat expect them to beryllium astatine the crisp extremity of the Premier League erstwhile much nether the outstanding guidance of Emery."

Prediction: champions

Where bash you adjacent start? This was a hopeless run aft strolling to the rubric past play successful Arne Slot's archetypal run successful succession to Jurgen Klopp.

The discourse should beryllium provided by the calamity of beloved guardant Diogo Jota's decease successful July. Perfectly understandably, lone those wrong Anfield volition consciousness and cognize its afloat impact.

No-one, however, expected the play to extremity with Liverpool fans turning connected Slot.

Liverpool splashed retired £450m past summertime to marque the squad worse, portion fewer could person predicted Mohamed Salah's signifier falling disconnected a cliff and into nationalist acrimony with Slot.

So volition Slot beryllium astir to oversee a recovery? Many Liverpool fans bash not privation him to be, but proprietor FSG is - presently - lasting firm.

A genuinely rotten campaign.

What I said successful August: "It's hard to spot past Liverpool arsenic this season's Premier League champions. This is simply a prediction made with implicit confidence."

Prediction: 15th

A genuinely singular accomplishment by Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth arsenic they reached Europe for the archetypal clip successful their 127-year history.

It is adjacent much striking arsenic they mislaid 3 first-choice defenders past summer, portion main guardant Antoine Semenyo joined Manchester City successful January.

No matter, arsenic this thrilling squad ne'er missed a beat, going 18 league games unbeaten, with Alex Scott and breathtaking teen Junior Kroupi outstanding. They were adjacent successful Champions League contention until the last time of the season.

One question: wherefore would Iraola permission this behind?

What I said successful August: "It would beryllium different motion of Iraola's prime if helium tin erstwhile much nonstop them into the Premier League's apical half."

Prediction: 19th

More humble pastry here. What a magnificent accomplishment to spell from relegation tips - including my ain - to qualifying for Europe.

Sunderland defied each the likelihood and predictions with an outstanding play backmost successful the Premier League nether the calm, understated but precise shrewd guidance of Regis le Bris. He should beryllium successful immoderate manager-of-the-season conversation.

It is reward excessively for Sunderland's owners for a bold transportation strategy past summer, designed to enactment successful the Premier League.

Huge recognition to each involved. Europe present they come.

What I said successful August: "Integrating truthful galore caller signings whitethorn really beryllium a problem."

Prediction: 11th

Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton aboriginal looked bleak successful mid-season erstwhile instrumentality discontent surfaced astatine Amex Stadium, but this fiercely driven, competitory young German manager turned it astir to not lone instrumentality Brighton into Europe, but signed a caller declaration done to 2029.

After a play of uncertainty, this superbly tally nine present look backmost connected an adjacent keel and acceptable to determination guardant erstwhile much - some successful Europe and domestically.

What I said successful August: "Brighton are ever pleasing connected the oculus and volition not instrumentality a backwards measurement nether Hurzeler. Another decent play awaits."

Prediction: 16th

Once again, not capable humble pastry to spell astir present and a portion should beryllium aiming successful this direction. It was existent shame that Brentford missed retired connected Europe, but they tin instrumentality immense recognition from this season.

Keith Andrews' assignment successful succession to the beloved Thomas Frank was regarded arsenic a high-risk promotion from within, yet helium has done a superb, seamless job, adjacent aft losing cardinal strikers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively.

Igor Thiago has been 1 of the Premier League players of the season. Jordan Henderson has brought acquisition and guidance successful midfield, portion Caoimhin Kelleher has shown, arsenic helium did astatine Liverpool, that helium is simply a prime goalkeeper.

What I said successful August: "For the archetypal clip successful a agelong time, I genuinely fearfulness for Brentford."

Prediction: 4th

Chelsea's mediocre play contained 1 last insult erstwhile they were beaten astatine Sunderland connected the last day, meaning they person nary European shot nether caller manager Xabi Alonso adjacent season.

They started the play arsenic Club World Cup champions with Enzo Maresca successful charge. He was gone successful January pursuing the breakdown of his narration with Chelsea's hierarchy.

Liam Rosenior lasted lone 3 months amid acrimony, a caput manager retired of his depth, earlier Calum McFarlane stepped to instrumentality Chelsea to the FA Cup final, which they mislaid to Manchester City.

A precise underwhelming run from a nine that person seemed lost.

What I said successful August: "They usually find a mode to triumph silverware and I expect them to truthful again, but not the Premier League."

Prediction: 14th

Fulham are present precise overmuch successful a Premier League holding pattern. Not overmuch up, not overmuch down - conscionable a precise unchangeable beingness nether the fantabulous stewardship of Marco Silva.

Silva has been key, but his aboriginal is successful uncertainty arsenic helium comes to the extremity of his contract, portion the aforesaid applies to Harry Wilson, who has made specified an fantabulous publication astatine Craven Cottage.

What I said successful August: "This volition beryllium different play of stableness for Fulham nether the tactically astute Silva. Mid-table perhaps."

Prediction: 6th

A play of turmoil connected Tyneside, undermined by the 11th-hour merchantability of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

Eddie Howe, rightly, volition beryllium astatine the helm to crook things astir successful what looks similar a transitional summertime arsenic Anthony Gordon looks acceptable to permission and speculation continues to situation Sandro Tonali.

Simply an unsettled, unsatisfying run aft the glory of Newcastle's archetypal home trophy successful 70 years erstwhile they won the 2025 Carabao Cup.

What I said successful August: "Why specified an optimistic prediction? Newcastle person a good broadside erstwhile everyone is fit."

Prediction: 12th

A comic one, this. Everton were successful presumption to scope Europe with a fewer weeks of the play to go, but a precocious illness near supporters precise frustrated with manager David Moyes and his players.

Jack Grealish played his portion earlier a season-ending ft injury, but the workload heaped connected Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall yet took its toll.

An mean play with nary of the relegation worries of erstwhile years, but location signifier was mediocre successful Everton's magnificent caller Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The biggest mystery? The implicit disappearance of 20-year-old Tyler Dibling pursuing his £40m determination from Southampton past summer.

It volition beryllium intriguing to spot what attack nine proprietor the Friedkin Group takes this summer.

What I said successful August: "Manager David Moyes is hoping to physique connected the revival helium inspired successful the 2nd fractional of past term."

Prediction: 17th

Leeds looked similar they would conflict aboriginal on, but manager Daniel Farke turned it around, truthful some helium and his players merit large credit.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin proved a precise shrewd signing connected a escaped transportation from Everton, while, arsenic expected, the Elland Road bearpit played its part.

If determination was a disappointment, it was the timid show successful the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea astatine Wembley.

The main mission, however, was Premier League information and that was achieved with thing to spare.

What I said successful August: "Someone has got to subordinate the increasing inclination of 'three up, 3 consecutive backmost down' from the Championship's promoted sides, truthful I americium going to accidental Leeds volition interruption that solid ceiling."

Prediction: 9th

This has been a unusual play for Crystal Palace and manager Oliver Glasner, going from the merchantability of prima players, unrest, past connected to imaginable glory.

A mid-season slump meant the holders suffered a humiliating FA Cup third-round nonaccomplishment to non-league Macclesfield, Marc Guehi near for Manchester City, past Glasner announced helium was leaving astatine the extremity of the season.

However, Palace remained a broadside with people successful each departments and present person the accidental of adding different large trophy erstwhile they look Rayo Vallecano successful the Conference League last connected Wednesday.

It would beryllium the cleanable ending.

What I said successful August: "Palace's fortunes, and consequently their league placing, volition inevitably beryllium shaped by the fortunes of 2 of their astir influential figures, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi."

Prediction: 10th

It is ridiculous that Nottingham Forest recovered themselves warring relegation until precocious successful the play fixed they person players of the highest prime specified arsenic Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.

This was the effect of having 4 managers successful 1 season.

In appointing Ange Postecoglou to win Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest went from 1 benignant to another. He was sacked aft 39 days, past Sean Dyche, the supposedly pragmatic choice, lasted lone 114.

Vitor Pereira restored calm and Forest's play yet reflected the modular of the squad.

There is large summertime fixed speculation astir the aboriginal of Anderson.

What I said successful August: "No-one tin question the ambition of proprietor Evangelos Marinakis."

Prediction: 8th

As large a shambles arsenic it is imaginable to ideate - connected and disconnected the field. Reduced to celebrating Premier League endurance connected the season's last time with triumph implicit Everton.

The occupation proved excessively overmuch for Thomas Frank, who recovered the expectations and dysfunction of Tottenham a crisp opposition to the stableness of Brentford.

Just erstwhile you thought it could not get worse, matters deed a caller debased with the bizarre assignment of Igor Tudor, an accomplishment that posed superior questions of CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting manager Johan Lange.

Tudor mislaid 5 of his 7 games earlier helium near aft 44 days, to beryllium replaced by Roberto de Zerbi.

Spurs escaped astatine the 11th hour, but it was a reprieve borne of luck much than judgement.

What I said successful August: "It could not get worse than past play - oregon Spurs would find themselves successful the Championship."

Prediction: 13th

It was specified disappointment for a fiercely loyal acceptable of fans to ticker this play fizzle distant to relegation. The soulless vessel that is London Stadium, truthful unpopular with fans aft their beloved, atmospheric Upton Park, volition present play big to Championship football.

Graham Potter was sacked successful September aft lone 8 months and, portion Nuno Espirito Santo occasionally suggested helium could instrumentality West Ham wide of relegation, they were simply not bully enough.

This whitethorn not beryllium an instant instrumentality for a nine successful request of a caller start.

What I said successful August: "I'm not truly expecting fireworks successful eastbound London this season."

Prediction: 20th

Another joyless play successful the Premier League for Burnley, doomed to relegation nether the present sacked Scott Parker, agelong earlier the driblet was officially confirmed.

Burnley's apical brass were much ambitious successful the markets, signing experienced players specified arsenic Kyle Walker, but 1 look astatine Armando Broja's wounded grounds should person told them to support their £20m successful their pocket.

What I said successful August: "It is simply a bold transportation strategy, but volition it beryllium capable to support Burnley up? I person my doubts."

Prediction: 18th

Grim. Grim. Grim.

Wolves were different broadside efficaciously going retired of the Premier League from the aboriginal weeks of the season, their destiny sealed erstwhile they nonaccomplishment the existent people of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City.

Vitor Pereira was sacked aft failing to triumph immoderate of the archetypal 10 league games and, portion successor Rob Edwards occasionally hinted astatine amended things to travel and immoderate optimism adjacent season, this was a miserable campaign.

Teenager Mateus Mane looks a player, but volition helium stay?

What I said successful August: "This prediction is made with a dense heart, but determination person been immoderate damaging departures and not capable prime incomings."