As suggested by the 5-1 mauling of Tottenham at the hands of a relegated Newcastle side, the 38th match week of the Barclays Premier League did justice to the most indifferent of Premier League campaigns.
However, with Arsenal finishing above Tottenham for the 21st season running, it seems a bit comforting to note that there are things which remain the same no matter what the circumstances.
Here are the 5 things we learned from the 38th game week of Barclays Premier League …
5Tottenham need Signings to challenge for the title next season
Back at the start of May, Tottenham needed just 3 points from their last 3 games to finish the season above Arsenal. The task seemed easy as the likes of Newcastle were in the offing.
However, now that we could take a look at the final Premier League table, Tottenham have been given a brutal reality check at the end of this season.
Thankfully for the Spurs fans, that reality check wasn’t enough to derail the good work of their whole season.
However, as for Pochettino, the Argentine should learn the lessons from last 3 weeks to fortify his squad in the summer.
4Arsenal need a new striker in the coming transfer window
Despite all the heroics of Olivier Giroud on the penultimate day of 2015/16 season, Arsenal need to go for a new striker in the summer.
While he may have managed 3-goals in his last 2 games for the Gunners, Giroud was unable to find the net in the last 15 before them.
Thus, with Welbeck also facing a long spell on the sidelines, Arsene Wenger should splash the cash if he wants to perch his team at the Number 1 spot next season.
3Manuel Pellegrini bequeathed a Champions League berth for his successor
While it was not in the most vintage way possible, Manuel Pellegrini should be relieved to finish his Manchester City career on a “high”.
For a team that splashed more than 100-Million on new signings last summer, Manchester City finished well below their lofty standards this season.
Thus, despite undergoing a season to forget, the Citizens should be relieved to book their berth in the next season’s Champions League.
2After today’s draw, it is all or nothing for Liverpool now
Going into this Wednesday’s Europa League Final, Liverpool players know that they’re facing two extremes for next season.
If they are able to defeat Sevilla, the Reds will get a place in next season’s Champions League, if not, they won’t even play in the Europa League.
Thus, if the Liverpool players were looking for some extra incentive ahead of their season-defining game, this “All or Nothing” perspective should spur them in time for the Europa League Final.
1With no Champions League for next season, Louis Van Gaal’s future looks in severe doubt
While his team wasn’t able to demonstrate its quality today – with a bomb threat forcing the authorities to call their game off, Louis Van Gaal is under severe pressure now from the Manchester United faithful.
Bar Manchester City, Manchester United spent more than any of the teams that have finished in the top 4 this season. However, as suggested by the Premier League table, the Red Devils now have to contend with Europa League for next season.
Thus, no matter how he handles it in his upcoming press conference, the future of Louis Van Gaal as Manchester United manager is hanging with a thread.
