The curtains have officially closed on an unforgettable 2025–26 Premier League campaign. While the ultimate prize had already been secured, Matchweek 38 delivered a masterclass in final-day drama, settling the frantic scramble for European spots and confirming a heartbreaking final relegation.
From Arsenal lifting their first title in over twenty years to a brutal London-centric battle for top-flight survival, here is the comprehensive data-driven breakdown of how the season ended.
1. The Champions: Arsenal’s 22-Year Wait is Over
Mikel Arteta’s side put the perfect exclamation point on a historic season with a rotated squad securing a 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace. Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke found the back of the net to hand the Gunners a final tally of 85 points. This marks Arsenal’s first Premier League title since the famous “Invincibles” campaign of 2003–04.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s familiar dominance finally wavered. Facing a brilliant Aston Villa side on the final day, Pep Guardiola’s men suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad, finishing a distant second with 78 points.
2. The Final Standings & European Qualification
The landscape of English football saw a real shakeup this year. Aston Villa—recently crowned UEFA Europa League champions—capped off their spectacular season by beating Manchester City to finish 4th. Because they won a Champions League ticket via their league position, the Premier League gets five teams in the elite competition next season.
Down in the Europa League spots, Bournemouth and newly-promoted Sunderland cap off fairytale seasons by heading to continental competition, while Brighton sneaks into the Conference League.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | European Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal (C) | 38 | 26 | 7 | 5 | +44 | 85 | Champions League |
| 2 | Man City | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | +42 | 78 | Champions League |
| 3 | Man United | 38 | 20 | 11 | 7 | +19 | 71 | Champions League |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | +7 | 65 | Champions League |
| 5 | Liverpool | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | +10 | 60 | Champions League |
| 6 | Bournemouth | 38 | 13 | 18 | 7 | +4 | 57 | Europa League |
| 7 | Sunderland | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | -6 | 54 | Europa League |
| 8 | Brighton | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | +6 | 53 | Conference League |
3. The Heartbreak: West Ham’s 14-Year Stay Ends
The most cruel narrative of the final day unfolded in London. West Ham United entered Matchweek 38 knowing they needed to beat Leeds United and pray that Everton beat Tottenham.
The Hammers did their part, cruising to a emotional 3-0 victory at the London Stadium behind goals from Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen, and Callum Wilson. However, over in North London, Tottenham dug deep to secure a tense 1-0 win over Everton.
The results condemned West Ham to the EFL Championship. Cruelly, the Hammers’ total of 39 points matches the highest ever accrued by a relegated team in a 38-game Premier League season. They join Burnley and Wolves in the drop zone.
- Relegated Teams: West Ham (39 pts), Burnley (22 pts), Wolves (20 pts)
4. Stat Leaders: Individual Excellence
While the team trophies have been handed out, two individual players rewrote the history books and solidified their statuses this season.
- The Golden Boot: Manchester City’s Erling Haaland claimed his third consecutive Premier League Golden Boot, netting 27 goals—five clear of Brentford’s Igor Thiago (22).
- The Playmaker: Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes put together a historic creative campaign. He registered 21 assists, officially breaking the Premier League single-season record previously shared by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry (20).
Editor’s Note: With the domestic season concluded, the focus shifts to the continental stage. Newly-crowned English champions Arsenal have a chance to secure a historic double when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final next Saturday.