The 2023/2024 season comes to a close after this last round of games. It provided us with a fitting end to a fairly dramatic season at points, as City celebrate their title win as they hold off Arsenal and everyone else. Meanwhile, the relegated sides face their future back in the second tier, and those qualifying for European spots now look to reinforce their squads ahead of the new campaign in just a few short weeks.

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Four In A Row

On the final day of the season, Manchester City delivered in style, beating West Ham United 3–1 at the Etihad and sealing an unmatched fourth consecutive Premier League title. No club in English top-flight history has ever achieved this level of dominance. That win gave City 91 points, just two ahead of their closest challengers.

From the first whistle, it was clear City weren’t leaving anything to chance. Within 80 seconds, prodigious youngster Phil Foden unleashed a thunderous left-foot strike into the top corner, the kind of goal that instantly sends the stadium into overdrive. He doubled the lead by the 18th minute to make it 2–0, leaving the whole Etihad feeling the trophy was already en route.

West Ham offered a brief glimmer of hope when Mohammed Kudus pulled one back with a spectacular overhead kick just before half-time. It revived a pulse, but couldn’t unsettle the champions-elect. Just past the hour, Rodri buried a composed finish from outside the box to restore the two-goal advantage, and from there on City pretty much controlled the result.

This fourth straight title isn’t just another trophy, it’s a statement: a new standard of consistency, ambition and dominance in English football. Under manager Pep Guardiola, City have transformed “title contender” into “default champions,” and rewritten what success can look like for clubs chasing the top.

A Close Second

At the same time as the blue celebration was beginning in Manchester, there was drama and heartbreak down in London at the home of Arsenal. They ended the season with a 2–1 win over Everton, a result that underlined just how much they had improved, but ultimately wasn’t enough to topple City.

Everton struck first, taking the lead via a deflected free-kick. For a moment, the underdogs looked like spoiling the Gunners’ party. But Arsenal reacted before half-time: Takehiro Tomiyasu smashed home an equaliser just as talk circulated that West Ham had pulled one back at the Etihad. That synchronized drama, goal at the Emirates and shifting news from Manchester, had every fan holding their breath.

And when Kai Havertz tapped in in the 89th minute, there were scenes of elation. But ecstasy quickly gave way to bitter realism, as confirmation of City’s win filtered through. Arsenal had done everything asked of them: finished strongly, collected 89 points, one of their best tallies ever, and beat the league’s elite all season long.

Still, for all the progress, the final-day heartbreak underscored that the club remains just short of the summit. It was a season of hope, growth and high drama, but in football, sometimes the margins between glory and “so close” are razor thin. For Arsenal, the pain will be there, but so will belief: they have proven they belong among the elite.

Final Standings

The last matchday didn’t just deliver a title decision. It also sealed the final distribution of European places and locked in where teams stand as they head into the off-season. Titles, Champions League berths, Europa League placements, everything was settled over just 90 minutes.

One big piece of that picture was Tottenham Hotspur. They sealed 5th place with a 3–0 win over Sheffield United, a result that ensures Europa League football next season. That final day victory cleaned up a somewhat uneven campaign and gave Spurs something tangible to build on.

Beyond the top few spots, the final standings draw a clear map: a top tier of dominant contenders, a group fighting for Europe, a mid-table cluster of stability, and the relegated sides who’ll be rebuilding. As clubs shift into summer mode, planning transfers, reworking squads, the final day felt less like an ending and more like a hinge: one season closed, another ready to swing open with fresh ambition, hope and potential.

Matchday 38 Player of the Week: Jean-Philippe Mateta With 3 goals and an assist to see out the season, Mateta dominated the Villa defence as he ends the season on top form.

Matchday 38 Game of the Week: Brentford 2-4 Newcastle United While there was only final placings on the line in this clash, the 6 goal game between Newcastle and Brentford saw goals flying in throughout the game as Newcastle secure 7th spot, and both sides sign off respectable campaigns.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) what you made of the thirty-eighth and final round of fixtures.