Man City, Liverpool book CL berths – Misery for Arsenal as Chelsea sign off in style

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LONDON, May 21, (AFP): Arsene Wenger’s torrid year reached a calamitous climax as Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after Manchester City and Liverpool wrapped up the remaining top four places on the final day of the Premier League season.

Wenger’s side won 3-1 against Everton, but Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough and Manchester City’s 5-0 demolition of Watford pushed Arsenal out of Europe’s elite.

After reaching the Champions League for the last 19 seasons, Arsenal will spend next term trekking around the unglamourous outposts of the Europa League.

That indignity will cost Arsenal an estimated £50 million ($65 million) in revenue and increase the pressure on Gunners boss Wenger, who has endured a miserable season filled with fan protests and calls for his resignation.

The Frenchman, who has yet to reveal if he will sign a new contract to extend his 21-year reign, could still finish the season with silverware as Arsenal face Chelsea in the FA Cup final next Saturday.

But even that won’t be enough to quell the mutinous atmosphere among Arsenal supporters who believe Wenger has lost his edge.

Hector Bellerin put Arsenal ahead in the eighth minute, but when Laurent Koscielny was sent off six minutes later for a reckless challenge on Enner Valencia, Wenger must have feared the worst.

Alexis Sanchez increased Arsenal’s advantage in the 27th minute, but by the time Everton’s Romelu Lukaku reduced the deficit with a 58th minute penalty, it was already clear results elsewhere had conspired against Wenger.

Aaron Ramsey got Arsenal’s third, but his team were condemned to finishing fifth because Liverpool crushed relegated Middlesbrough to reach the Champions League for the first time since 2014-15.

Georginio Wijnaldum put Liverpool ahead in first half stoppage-time, Philippe Coutinho struck in the 51st minute and Adam Lallana kept the party mood going with the third five minutes later.

Liverpool finish fourth and will enter the Champions League play-off round next season as they look to make the group stages.

At Vicarage Road, City wrapped up third place and automatic entry into the Champions League group stages.

Vincent Kompany headed home in the fifth minute and Sergio Aguero doubled the lead in the 23rd minute.

Aguero scored his 33rd goal of the season in all competitions nine minutes before half-time.

Fernandinho bagged City’s fourth in the 41st minute before Gabriel Jesus made it five in the 58th minute.

Harry Kane finished as the Premier League’s leading scorer for the second successive year as the Tottenham striker’s hat-trick took him to 29 goals and inspired a 7-1 win at Hull.

Kane fired home in the 11th minute and netted again two minutes later.

Already guaranteed to finish second, Tottenham added further goals through Dele Alli and Victor Wanyama.

Kane, who scored four in a 6-1 win at Leicester on Thursday, completed his treble in the 72nd minute and Tottenham made it an astonishing 13 goals in two games thanks to late efforts from Ben Davies and Toby Alderweireld.

John Terry was given an emotional send-off as champions Chelsea beat Sunderland 5-1 before hoisting the Premier League trophy.

Terry captained Chelsea on his farewell appearance at Stamford Bridge ahead of his post-season departure.

Blues boss Antonio Conte paid a fitting tribute to Terry, taking him off in the 26th minute – matching his shirt number – and Chelsea’s players formed a guard of honour as he walked off to a standing ovation by the capacity crowd.

Standings

P   W   D    L   GF  GA   Pts

x – Chelsea          38   30    3    5   85   33    93

Tottenham           38   26    8    4   86   26    86

Man City             38   23    9    6   80   39    78

Liverpool             38   22  10    6   78   42    76

Arsenal              38   23    6    9   77   44    75

Man Utd              38   18  15    5   54   29    69

Everton              38   17  10   11   62   44    61

Southampton        38   12  10   16   41   48    46

Bournemouth        38   12  10   16   55   67    46

West Brom           38   12    9   17   43   51    45

West Ham           38   12    9   17   47   64    45

Leicester             38   12    8   18   48   63    44

Stoke                38   11  11   16   41   56    44

Palace               38   12    5   21   50   63    41

Swansea             38   12    5   21   45   70    41

Burnley              38   11    7   20   39   55    40

Watford              38   11    7   20   40   68    40

y – Hull               38    9    7   22   37   80    34

y – Middlesbrough   38    5  13   20   27   53    28

y – Sunderland       38    6    6   26   29   69    24

Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points.

x denotes champions y denotes relegated.

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