The Premier League season finished with Arsenal crowned champions for the first time in 22 years, while arch rivals Tottenham avoided the humiliation of relegation on the final day.

It has been a campaign of surprises, from Liverpool's collapsed title defence despite spending £450m last summer to promoted Sunderland completing the remarkable feat of earning European football.

There have been stories right through the division, with Pep Guardiola departing Manchester City after 10 glittering years.

Here is my end-of-season review - with a look back to what I predicted in August.

Champions: Arsenal

Prediction: 2nd

Arsenal were deserved winners of their first title since 2003-04.

This season was the acid test for manager Mikel Arteta and his players. No more second places. No more nearly men. It had to be this season.

Forget the quibbles about not being pleasing on the eye or too many set-pieces. The best team always win the Premier League and Arteta finally found the winning formula, with the Champions League final against Paris St-Germain to come on Saturday.

Arsenal's title was built on solid defensive foundations, with goalkeeper David Raya outstanding behind Gabriel and William Saliba in central defence. Declan Rice was my player of the year.

Now one title has been won, Arsenal have the foundations for years to come.

What I said in August: "This is a team with enough to mount a meaningful title pursuit and challenge for the biggest prizes."

2nd: Man City

Prediction: 3rd

Pep Guardiola's final season in charge of Manchester City ended with the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, but this time they were outlasted by Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

The best pure football team in the country maybe, but the history books will not say that - only that Arsenal were champions, and rightly so.

City simply had too many days - too many draws - where they could not complete the job, and it cost them.

Guardiola, however, leaves behind a rebuilt team that have a glittering future. He will not be back at the heart of next season's title race. City will be.

What I said in August: "I fully expect City to win a trophy and challenge for the title - but do not think they will reclaim their old crown."

3rd: Man Utd

Prediction: 7th

A big achievement, especially by Michael Carrick, who seamlessly cleared up the wreckage of Ruben Amorim's ill-fated time in charge and took Manchester United back into the Champions League.

Bruno Fernandes was the inspiration, the player United simply cannot do without, while summer arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo added quality in attack.

Belgium keeper Senne Lammens has been a masterstroke signing, while the rehabilitation of Kobbie Mainoo is more credit in Carrick's ledger.

What I said in August: "They surely cannot be as bad again, can they?"

4th: Aston Villa

Prediction: 5th

What more can be said about Unai Emery's work at Aston Villa? Back to the Champions League and the club's first trophy since 1996 with his fifth Europa League win.

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

Morgan Rogers is the centrepiece, but the key to it all is Emery and a team and club built in his own image and likeness. He is on course to go down in history as a Villa legend.

What I said in August: "I fully expect them to be at the sharp end of the Premier League once more under the outstanding guidance of Emery."

5th: Liverpool

Prediction: champions

Where do you even start? This was a desperate campaign after strolling to the title last season in Arne Slot's first campaign in succession to Jurgen Klopp.

The context should be provided by the tragedy of beloved forward Diogo Jota's death in July. Perfectly understandably, only those inside Anfield will feel and know its full impact.

No-one, however, expected the season to end with Liverpool fans turning on Slot.

Liverpool splashed out £450m last summer to make the team worse, while few could have predicted Mohamed Salah's form falling off a cliff and into public acrimony with Slot.

So will Slot be around to oversee a recovery? Many Liverpool fans do not want him to be, but owner FSG is - currently - standing firm.

A truly rotten campaign.

What I said in August: "It's hard to see past Liverpool as this season's Premier League champions. This is a prediction made with complete confidence."

6th: Bournemouth

Prediction: 15th

A truly remarkable achievement by Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth as they reached Europe for the first time in their 127-year history.

It is even more striking as they lost three first-choice defenders last summer, while main forward Antoine Semenyo joined Manchester City in January.

No matter, as this thrilling team never missed a beat, going 18 league games unbeaten, with Alex Scott and exciting teenager Junior Kroupi outstanding. They were even in Champions League contention until the final day of the season.

One question: why would Iraola leave this behind?

What I said in August: "It would be another sign of Iraola's quality if he can once more direct them into the Premier League's top half."

7th: Sunderland

Prediction: 19th

More humble pie here. What a magnificent achievement to go from relegation tips - including my own - to qualifying for Europe.

Sunderland defied all the odds and predictions with an outstanding season back in the Premier League under the calm, understated but very shrewd guidance of Regis le Bris. He should be in any manager-of-the-season conversation.

It is reward too for Sunderland's owners for a bold transfer strategy last summer, designed to stay in the Premier League.

Huge credit to all involved. Europe here they come.

What I said in August: "Integrating so many new signings may actually prove a problem."

8th: Brighton

Prediction: 11th

Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton future looked bleak in mid-season when fan discontent surfaced at Amex Stadium, but this fiercely driven, competitive young German coach turned it around to not only take Brighton into Europe, but signed a new contract through to 2029.

After a period of uncertainty, this superbly run club now look back on an even keel and ready to move forward once more - both in Europe and domestically.

What I said in August: "Brighton are always pleasing on the eye and will not take a backwards step under Hurzeler. Another decent season awaits."

9th: Brentford

Prediction: 16th

Once again, not enough humble pie to go around here and a slice should be aiming in this direction. It was real shame that Brentford missed out on Europe, but they can take huge credit from this season.

Keith Andrews' appointment in succession to the beloved Thomas Frank was regarded as a high-risk promotion from within, yet he has done a superb, seamless job, even after losing key strikers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively.

Igor Thiago has been one of the Premier League players of the season. Jordan Henderson has brought experience and guidance in midfield, while Caoimhin Kelleher has shown, as he did at Liverpool, that he is a quality goalkeeper.

What I said in August: "For the first time in a long time, I genuinely fear for Brentford."

10th: Chelsea

Prediction: 4th

Chelsea's poor season contained one final insult when they were beaten at Sunderland on the final day, meaning they have no European football under new manager Xabi Alonso next season.

They started the season as Club World Cup champions with Enzo Maresca in charge. He was gone in January following the breakdown of his relationship with Chelsea's hierarchy.

Liam Rosenior lasted only three months amid acrimony, a head coach out of his depth, before Calum McFarlane stepped to take Chelsea to the FA Cup final, which they lost to Manchester City.

A very underwhelming campaign from a club that have seemed lost.

What I said in August: "They usually find a way to win silverware and I expect them to do so again, but not the Premier League."

11th: Fulham

Prediction: 14th

Fulham are now very much in a Premier League holding pattern. Not much up, not much down - just a very stable presence under the excellent stewardship of Marco Silva.

Silva has been key, but his future is in doubt as he comes to the end of his contract, while the same applies to Harry Wilson, who has made such an excellent contribution at Craven Cottage.

What I said in August: "This will be another season of stability for Fulham under the tactically astute Silva. Mid-table perhaps."

12th: Newcastle United

Prediction: 6th

A season of turmoil on Tyneside, undermined by the 11th-hour sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

Eddie Howe, rightly, will be at the helm to turn things around in what looks like a transitional summer as Anthony Gordon looks set to leave and speculation continues to surround Sandro Tonali.

Simply an unsettled, unsatisfying campaign after the glory of Newcastle's first domestic trophy in 70 years when they won the 2025 Carabao Cup.

What I said in August: "Why such an optimistic prediction? Newcastle have a fine side when everyone is fit."

13th: Everton

Prediction: 12th

A funny one, this. Everton were in position to reach Europe with a few weeks of the season to go, but a late collapse left supporters very frustrated with manager David Moyes and his players.

Jack Grealish played his part before a season-ending foot injury, but the workload heaped on Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall eventually took its toll.

An average season with none of the relegation worries of previous years, but home form was poor in Everton's magnificent new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The biggest mystery? The complete disappearance of 20-year-old Tyler Dibling following his £40m move from Southampton last summer.

It will be intriguing to see what approach club owner the Friedkin Group takes this summer.

What I said in August: "Manager David Moyes is hoping to build on the revival he inspired in the second half of last term."

14th: Leeds United

Prediction: 17th

Leeds looked like they would struggle early on, but manager Daniel Farke turned it around, so both he and his players deserve great credit.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin proved a very shrewd signing on a free transfer from Everton, while, as expected, the Elland Road bearpit played its part.

If there was a disappointment, it was the timid performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley.

The main mission, however, was Premier League safety and that was achieved with something to spare.

What I said in August: "Someone has got to buck the growing trend of 'three up, three straight back down' from the Championship's promoted sides, so I am going to say Leeds will break that glass ceiling."

15th: Crystal Palace

Prediction: 9th

This has been a strange season for Crystal Palace and manager Oliver Glasner, going from the sale of star players, unrest, then on to potential glory.

A mid-season slump meant the holders suffered a humiliating FA Cup third-round loss to non-league Macclesfield, Marc Guehi left for Manchester City, then Glasner announced he was leaving at the end of the season.

However, Palace remained a side with class in all departments and now have the chance of adding another major trophy when they face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday.

It would be the perfect ending.

What I said in August: "Palace's fortunes, and consequently their league placing, will inevitably be shaped by the fortunes of two of their most influential figures, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi."

16th: Nottingham Forest

Prediction: 10th

It is ridiculous that Nottingham Forest found themselves fighting relegation until late in the season given they possess players of the highest quality such as Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.

This was the consequence of having four managers in one season.

In appointing Ange Postecoglou to succeed Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest went from one style to another. He was sacked after 39 days, then Sean Dyche, the supposedly pragmatic choice, lasted only 114.

Vitor Pereira restored calm and Forest's play finally reflected the standard of the squad.

There is big summer given speculation around the future of Anderson.

What I said in August: "No-one can question the ambition of owner Evangelos Marinakis."

17th: Tottenham

Prediction: 8th

As big a shambles as it is possible to imagine - on and off the field. Reduced to celebrating Premier League survival on the season's final day with victory over Everton.

The job proved too much for Thomas Frank, who found the expectations and dysfunction of Tottenham a sharp contrast to the stability of Brentford.

Just when you thought it could not get worse, matters hit a new low with the bizarre appointment of Igor Tudor, an arrival that posed serious questions of CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.

Tudor lost five of his seven games before he left after 44 days, to be replaced by Roberto de Zerbi.

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

What I said in August: "It could not get worse than last season - or Spurs would find themselves in the Championship."

18th: West Ham - relegated

Prediction: 13th

It was such disappointment for a fiercely loyal set of fans to watch this season fizzle away to relegation. The soulless bowl that is London Stadium, so unpopular with fans after their beloved, atmospheric Upton Park, will now play host to Championship football.

Graham Potter was sacked in September after only eight months and, while Nuno Espirito Santo occasionally suggested he could take West Ham clear of relegation, they were simply not good enough.

This may not be an instant return for a club in need of a fresh start.

What I said in August: "I'm not really expecting fireworks in east London this season."

19th: Burnley - relegated

Prediction: 20th

Another joyless season in the Premier League for Burnley, doomed to relegation under the now sacked Scott Parker, long before the drop was officially confirmed.

Burnley's top brass were more ambitious in the markets, signing experienced players such as Kyle Walker, but one look at Armando Broja's injury record should have told them to keep their £20m in their pocket.

What I said in August: "It is a bold transfer strategy, but will it be enough to keep Burnley up? I have my doubts."

20th: Wolves - relegated

Prediction: 18th

Grim. Grim. Grim.

Wolves were another side effectively going out of the Premier League from the early weeks of the season, their fate sealed once they loss the real class of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City.

Vitor Pereira was sacked after failing to win any of the first 10 league games and, while successor Rob Edwards occasionally hinted at better things to come and some optimism next season, this was a miserable campaign.

Teenager Mateus Mane looks a player, but will he stay?

What I said in August: "This prediction is made with a heavy heart, but there have been some damaging departures and not enough quality incomings."

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