England’s most prestigious trophy (the FA Cup) has gone to London with the Gunners registering their first Major trophy in 3 years. Arsenal are also the record holders with the most amount of FA Cup winners Titles with 14 now – an incredible & impressive achievement.
The gunners came from 1 goal down to turn around the result and outclass their London Rivals Chelsea to finish on a high after a disappointing year in the Premier League.
Arsenal now get into Europe & ironically knock Spurs out of Europe as they look to build from their disappointing season in 2021.
In the last week of the Premier League – the final day had both European & relegation to play for. In the upper end of the league- Manchester United finished off their fantastic post Covid form- with a win over Leicester to secure 3rd position.
This pushed Leicester into 5th spot as they miss out on the lucrative Champions League. Chelsea also won 2-0 over Wolves to finish 4th and give Lampard his target of Champions League football with his young squad.
Relegation
The relegation battle was in full swing on the final day of the season with either Bournemouth, Aston Villa or Watford to take the last available place and survive the dreaded drop to the Championship!
With Bournemouth having a superior goal difference and being 3 points behind both Aston Villa and Watford, Bournemouth simply needed to defeat Everton and hope that Villa and Watford both loose. Bournemouth played their part- with an emphatic 3-1 win at Goodison Park.
Meanwhile Watford went to Arsenal knowing a win would or could be enough depending on what Villa did at West Ham. Watford however were pitiful in front of goal and could well have been a few goals up however did not take their chances, subsequently the gunners punished them & went 3-0 up with Watford clawing 1 back just on the Half way mark.
Watford could only muster a late finish to eventually loose 3-2 and condemn the London outfit back to the Championship for the first time in 5 years. Aston Villa meanwhile were playing in the London stadium against West Ham knowing a win would almost guarantee them a place in the Premier League.
Villa
Villa came into the match in season defining form on a 4-game unbeaten run and Villa were all of a sudden tipped to survive the drop. Neither side threatened to much & then in the 87th minute, Villa’s Captain Grealish scored to what looked like the match winner,
However West Ham cancelled out the effort 1 min later to ensure Villain nervous were on display. Villa held out as the match finished 1-1 which gave Villa a point and kept the midlands outfit in the Premier League as Bournemouth Jointed Watford and Norwich back in the Championship.
Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion join the Premiership which is set to open in the first week of September whilst Brentford and Fulham will play off to decide the final place midweek.
Wesley Tronson is an award winning sport writer who spent 7 years in England in soccer and banking. He is now a senior regional manager in banking in Queensland