Season Review: The Top (1st - 5th)

1st: Manchester City
Points: 89 Won: 28 Drawn: 5 Lost: 5 GS: 93 GC: 29 GD: 64



Aguero lifts the Premier League cup aloft



They finally have done it. Manchester City are Premier League Champions. At times this season they looked unstoppable, at times they looked fragile, but in the end they toppled their arch rivals to win the league title in particularly dramatic fashion. Going into the last day of the season they needed a win at home to QPR, but despite prolonged pressure, found themselves 2-1 going into stoppage time. Buoyed by the fact that Manchester United had won, it seemed as if it was now or never. Dzeko pulled one back in the 91st minute, before Balotelli brilliantly played Aguero through and he finished in clinical fashion, breaking the stranglehold that the red half of Manchester had previously had. Despite being disappointing in cup competitions, this season will go down as one of the greatest in Manchester City history, and Mancini has to take a lot of credit. He roused his troops to fight back and close the gap on United, despite being 8 points behind with 6 games to go. His inspiring subs to bring on Balotelli and Dzeko will go down as one of the most effective double substitution in Premier League history, and he was rewarded for his never say die attitude by winning the Barclays premier League title; made ever so sweeter by the fact that they beat their arch rivals in order to achieve such a feat.

Overall Rating: 10/10
Star Man: Sergio Aguero

2nd: Manchester United
Points: 89 Won: 28 Drawn: 5 Lost: 5 GS: 89 GC: 33 GD: 56

Paul Scholes has been incredible since his return in January

Manchester United fans will wonder how they managed to throw away the title this season. Despite being behind City for the majority of the season, they went on an incredible run to close the gap and eventually build a 8 point advantage with 6 games to go. But they threw it away in bizarre fashion. They went down 1-0 to Wigan, conceded 4 at home to Everton to only come away with a point before losing the title decider against City thanks to a Vincent Kompany header. They weren't convincing in cup competitions, getting knocked out of the Champions league at the group stages as well as disappointing runs in both the FA and Carling Cup. This means the United team walk away from this season empty handed and trophy less for the first time in many years. Despite such disappointment, in any other season they would've done enough for the title, and were unlucky to achieve 89 points and still not be crowned champions. However there were positives this year, with the return of Paul Scholes sparking a revival in the race for the title, Antonio Valencia’s electrifying form down the right wing and the development of youth players such as Welbeck, Jones and Cleverley. This being said, United are always there and there abouts, and surely this season will prove to be an anomaly when looked back on in a few years time.

Overall Rating: 7/10
Star Man: Antonio Valencia

3rd: Arsenal
Points: 70 Won: 21 Drawn: 7 Lost: 10 GS: 74 GC: 49 GD: 25

Robin Van Persie has single-handedly achieved a 3rd
place finish for the Gunners this season

At the start of the season Arsenal were in turmoil, falling into the relegation zone and looking a shadow of the team they have been in recent seasons. But all credit to Wenger, despite coming under heavy criticism from the fans, he reversed the clubs fortunes and eventually led them to a 3rd place finish, ensuring they will be in the Champions League group stages for a 14th consecutive year. The fans will also be relieved that they were able to finish above North London rivals Tottenham, despite only overtaking them with a handful of games remaining. But this season has led to Robin Van Persie becoming a world class talent, and high demand for his signature will frighten the clubs fans, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City all reportedly being highly interested in the player. Oxlade-Chamberlain's inclusion in the first team had also been encouraging, and he looks like he has the quality to push Arsenal further up the table in the coming years. With Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Van Persie in the ranks, and with aid of a couple more signings, I think Arsenal have the quality to challenge for silverware next season and end their 7 year trophy-less run.

Overall Rating: 6/10
Star Man: Robin Van Persie

4th: Tottenham Hotspur
Points: 69 Won: 20 Drawn: 9 Lost: 9 GS: 56 GC: 51 GD: 5

Vertonghen will add quality in abbundance to a fragile
Spurs back line

Tottenham will be gutted having finished 4th and not earning a place in the Champions League, as Chelsea stole the last place by winning the Champions League. They will further be gutted as at one point they were even in contention for challenging for the title, but choked and fell away, and got caught by Arsenal as a result. However things are looking bright for Tottenham, as a midfield involving Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Scott Parker, Rafael Van Der Vaart and Luka Modric is perhaps the best midfield in the Premier League. Sadly, Tottenham’s defence let them down, and excluding the quality of Kyle Walker, are particularly average. But by acquiring the services of Vertonghen next season and the possible arrivals of other defenders, these signings will certainly add the quality in defence that they have been lacking for many years, and will make them a force for years to come. But speculation revolves around the futures of irreplaceable world class duo Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, and if they were to be sold then Tottenham will soon plummet down the table and consequently find themselves a mid table team once again.

Overall Rating: 7/10
Star Man: Scott Parker

5th: Newcastle United
Points: 65 Won: 19 Drawn: 8 Lost: 11 GS: 65 GC: 46 GD: 19

Papiss Cisse has helped Newcastle soar up the table

Newcastle are back. Newcastle fans have been treated this season to their best season in roughly 15 years, and find themselves amongst the best in England once again. When Chris Hughton left last season it seemed as if Newcastle would fall down the table, but Alan Pardew has coped brilliantly and led Newcastle to a Europa League place. Inspirational signings of Senegalese duo Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba have proved to be incredible bargains, with the former looking like a world beater since his arrival in January, with some incredible finishes tallying 13 in 13 games. Yohan Cabaye and Ben Arfa have also been quality signings, and Alan Pardew must be applauded for the players he purchased in the summer, as they have added the same quality as the team had back in their ranks back in 1996 when they so nearly won the title. But with good seasons comes transfer rumours, with doubts surrounding the futures of Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Ben Arfa, Danny Simpson and Fabricio Coloccini meaning fans will undoubtedly be nervy as interest from big spending clubs take prominence.

Overall Rating: 9/10
Star Man: Papiss Cisse

Final Premier League Table (1st - 5th)

1		(C)	Manchester City	38	28	5	5	93	29	64	89
2		(CL)	Manchester United	38	28	5	5	89	33	56	89
3		(CL)	Arsenal	38	21	7	10	74	49	25	70
4		(EL)	Tottenham Hotspur	38	20	9	9	66	41	25	69
5		(EL)	Newcastle United	38	19	8	11	56	51	5	65