Five lessons learned: Chelsea are champions
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Weekend points of interest
From Chelsea’s win on Friday, which gifted them the Premier League title, to Spurs’ victory over Manchester United in London on Sunday, there was no lack of drama in the English top-flight.
The Blues finally got themselves across the line, home and hosed down as 2016/17 kings, and deservedly so. We go into the final week of the season, with teams catching up on games to play in midweek, before the curtain goes down following a full fixture list on Sunday.
So, as is often the case on Monday morning, we look at five lessons learned over the course of the last three days. What do we know on Monday morning that we didn’t on Friday? Here’s our picks…..
Chelsea are deserving champions
Chelsea beat West Brom on Friday night, courtesy of a 1-0 score, to get over the line. They have now been crowned Premier League champions, and will celebrate with a home tie vs London rivals Watford on Monday night. Spurs pushed them close, but The Blues fully deserved their moment in the sun. 10th place finishers last season, they have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to transform the club from top to bottom. Conte looks the future of the boys from the bridge. They won more games than any other side, and that’s what it’s all about.
West Ham need a holiday
Stratford residents West Ham didn’t enjoy too many highlights since moving over from Upton Park, and it looks like it’ll take them a while to fully settle in at the London Stadium. They will be happy to see the back of this season, and looked like a side already off on their summer holidays when losing 4-0 in front of their own fans to Liverpool on Sunday. A top-half finish is now beyond them. A bit of spring cleaning looks in order.
Hull are down and out
The Tigers threw away their best chance at staying in the league when losing to Sunderland last weekend. There’s an argument that any side beaten so soundly by The Black Cats deserves to go down with them. Hull were smashed 4-0 by Palace on Sunday, leaving them four points off Swansea, who earned their safety by beating Sunderland. Makes sense.
Europa League a must for Jose
Man Utd looked to have two golden chances at getting in to the Champions League next season, but they are now down to one, and must win the Europa League if they want to gain entry into Europe’s elite. That means, if they do it, English football will have five representatives. Mourinho’s boys were beaten 2-1 by Spurs, their second loss on the bounce, and are now seven points off rivals City in fourth. If United don’t win the Europa League, it’s got to go down as a failed first season for Jose.
Arsenal may just finish fourth
Arsenal hammered Stoke 4-1 on Saturday, but the most notable event of the afternoon was a plane spotted flying overhead, dragging a ‘Wenger out’ message across the skies. The boss could lead his side to a top-four finish and FA Cup win, but fans aren’t in a forgiving mood, they have made their thoughts on the gaffer crystal clear. If Arsenal beat Sunderland at the Emirates on Tuesday they’ll move to within a point of Liverpool.
