1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 20 May

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    Anon: I think Derek misses the point. Bayern would have been nowhere without Kane. With Arsenals defence a 25 goal striker would make all the difference.

  2. 'Lies, damned lies and statistics' - why Arsenal are the real winnerspublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 20 May

    Leandro Trossard and Declan RiceImage source, Getty Images

    According to Opta, Arsenal were the Premier League champions this season in all but name.

    Does that help, Gunners fans? No, I thought not.

    Opta's expected points table has Arsenal top, beating actual champions Manchester City by a fine margin, but beating them all the same.

    I will let Opta explain, external: "The model simulates the number of goals scored by each side in every match based on the expected goals (xG) value of all shots taken. It then uses the simulated number of goals to determine the match outcome (win/draw/loss). Every match is then simulated 10,000 times, with the expected points for each team in each match calculated based on the proportion of simulations they win/draw/lose."

    Mark Twain once said "there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics" - do you think he was talking about xG?

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 20 May

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    Some Arsenal fans have short memories... a fantastic season and closer to a title than we have been in twenty years. The team is still young and has another level to reach and I am sure we'll bring in a few more top players this summer. Just enjoying the ride.

    Ben in North London

  4. Anfield awash with emotion as Klopp says farewellpublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 20 May

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Wolves

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

    Jurgen KloppImage source, Getty Images

    Jurgen Klopp's final game as Liverpool manager ended with victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers amid emotional scenes at Anfield.

    Liverpool's fans made it their business to dedicate the whole occasion to giving thanks and paying tribute to the manager who has brought such success to the club in a nine-year reign.

    And Klopp's players delivered their part of the bargain with a comfortable three points in an atmosphere that was part carnival and part a sad farewell to the German, who was given a rapturous reception before kick-off and serenaded throughout.

    Liverpool owner John W Henry flew in from Boston to pay his own tribute to Klopp, whose crowning achievements were winning the Champions League in 2019 - the club’s sixth win in the tournament - and their first league title in 30 years the following season.

    The game itself was almost a sideshow.

    Read more.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 20 May

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    Not sure Arsenal do need a ‘top striker’ (er, Kane at Bayern). They score enough. Not sure they need anything. They ‘only’ need City to dip. Good luck with that.

    Derek, Netherlands

  6. Spurs loss denies Arsenal league triumphpublished at 10:43 British Summer Time 20 May

    Son Heung-min has his shot savedImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal won 16 of their 18 league matches in 2024, City pretty much matched them, with 16 wins from 19 and three draws.

    If any of those victories had been draws or losses, and crucially no other results changed, Arsenal would have won the title.

    Was City's most challenging win on paper their victory over Arsenal's rivals Tottenham last week?

    Erling Haaland's second-half double settled a tight encounter in which substitute keeper Stefan Ortega deputised superbly for the visitors.

    The German did well to deny Spurs captain Son Heung-min who had a golden chance to equalise just before City's second.

    According to Opta, Arsenal would have had an 81% chance of winning the title if City had lost to Tottenham - and a 75% chance if that match had ended in a draw.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 20 May

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    Dave: As an Arsenal fan, I’m disappointed we didn’t win the league. However, with a few good signings (such as Gyökeres) we could do it next season.

  8. Rodri calls out Arsenal's mentalitypublished at 10:32 British Summer Time 20 May

    RodriImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City midfielder Rodri used his post-match interview to call out Arsenal, telling Australian channel Optus Sport: "I think to be honest it's the mentality [that helped City win the league].

    "Great players are all over the leagues. All over other clubs. Arsenal also, they did an unbelievable season but the difference was in here [points to head].

    "When they faced us here in the Etihad I saw these guys who didn't want to beat us. They just wanted to draw.

    "That mentality... we wouldn't do it the same way. At the end, if you give us one point we will win the last seven or eight games even with how tough it is, so I think it's in terms of mentality."

  9. Did Villa win it for City?published at 10:26 British Summer Time 20 May

    Ollie Watkins scores against ArsenalImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal played 18 league games in 2024 and won 16 of them. They also drew 0-0 at Manchester City, and - crucially, lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa in mid-April.

    On that afternoon the Gunners looked completely off it, conceding late goals through Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.

    It meant Arsenal missed a chance to return to the top of the table and ended the day two points off City.

    Arsenal's disappointing result rounded off a fine weekend for Guardiola's City side, after they won 5-1 against Luton and Crystal Palace shocked then title-chasers Liverpool 1-0.

    With two points separating Arsenal and City at the end of the season, was the Premier League actually decided on 14 April?

    The Premier League table after Arsenal lost to Aston Villa
  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 20 May

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    Crystal Palace could have finished as low as 14th on the final day, but ended up 10th. Can you explain the earnings per league position and therefore how much that win was worth?

    Paul, Surrey

    Well, this information for the 2022-23 season was published by the Premier League in a report in February. This season's payments will not be published until next year, but are expected to be roughly the same as last season.

    So based on last season's "merit payments", finishing 14th would've earned £21.8m and 10th would've earned £34.3m.

    So finishing 10th rather than 14th would've been a £12.5m difference.

    Of course, merit payments are only one slice of the pie. Clubs will also get earnings from their share of the league's TV deal and facility fees.

    Last season even bottom club Southampton collected over £100m.

  11. Postpublished at 10:14 British Summer Time 20 May

    Crystal Palace ended the season with six wins from seven - the other match ending in a draw. They're final three games were:

    • Crystal Palace 4-0 Manchester United
    • Wolves 1-3 Crystal Palace
    • Crystal Palace 5-0 Aston Villa
    Crystal Palace players celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 20 May

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    Title Race. 4 in a row. So close for Arsenal blah blah blah all very interesting and all, but can we just take a second to appreciate and applaud how Crystal Palace finished the season. Next season’s Leverkusen?

    Tom in London

  13. Arsenal need a number ninepublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 20 May

    Nigel Reo-Coker
    Former West Ham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It is that simple [that Arsenal need a number nine].

    You can see why they have been linked with Alexander Isak from Newcastle because they need that.

    When you think they lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Arteta says 'we don't have a striker who is going to score 25 goals' - there is your answer. He knows it. The top teams need that in their side.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 20 May

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    As an Arsenal fan, this season has been frustrating. We need to see some silverware next year. Winning the community shield isn’t good enough for how much money we have spent. I hope we can have a slight clear out of players: Jesus, Zinchenko… However, I wonder how close to PSR we are ourselves.

    Guy in Nottingham

  15. 'It's not the Man City players' fault'published at 10:00 British Summer Time 20 May

    Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright on Match of the DayImage source, BBC Sport

    Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker asked pundits Alan Shearer and Ian Wright in Sunday's show whether the 115 Premier League charges “hanging over” Manchester City “takes anything away from the achievements of the players?”

    Both agreed that it was unfair on the club's players that their achievements on the pitch could be undermined by the impact of the charges for their club's alleged breaches of financial rules.

    Shearer said: “Not for these players no, it’s not their fault. They go out and have to perform on the football pitch. The club will have to answer those charges. Those players have been superb and you can’t take anything away from what they have achieved.”

    Wright agreed: “It’s unfair - the uncertainty that comes. It’s unfair on the legacy that these players are building. I watched them again on the Treble documentary, and the drive and determination to try and do what they have done is unbelievable. It is unfair that they have all this wrapped around them. The sooner they can get this resolved, the better.“

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 20 May

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    That’s twice in two years that Arsenal and Arteta have been ‘close’ to winning the PL. I can’t help but feel that Arteta needs to win something significant and soon before fans and the board get irritable and frustrated. People won’t remember these seasons in a few years.. only an overloaded trophy cabinet at the Etihad.

    Rob

  17. The stats behind Arsenal's title challengepublished at 09:52 British Summer Time 20 May

    It was a title challenge that Arsenal kept going right to the bitter end. Here are some of the stats that underline how close they came:

    • Arsenal set a new club record for the most Premier League wins in a season (28) and the most Premier League goals in a season (91).
    • Only their 2003-04 title winning campaign saw them win more points (90) than their 89 this season
    • Mikel Arteta's side had the most expected goals in the league (77.4)
    • They also had the best defensive record, conceding just 29 goals and keeping 18 clean sheets
  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:47 British Summer Time 20 May

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    Where do Arsenal go from here?

    One of their best ever Premier League seasons and they still fell agonisingly short.

    Do they need a proper 30-goals-a-season striker, or is it squad depth that they should prioritise in the summer?

    Let us know!

  19. 'Sometimes it isn't fair in football'published at 09:42 British Summer Time 20 May

    Arsenal 2-1 Everton

    Kai Havertz applauds Arsenal fansImage source, Getty Images

    Kai Havertz has promised fans Arsenal will be "even better" next season, after failing in their bid to win the Premier League title.

    Speaking after scoring the winner in Sunday's 2-1 win over Everton, Havertz told TNT Sports: "I feel sorry for all of the Arsenal fans - for us - we gave our best, but it wasn't enough.

    "Maybe in two or three months we can say 'it was a good fight', but right now I feel like we deserved more.

    "It wasn't enough in the end, but we go again next year. Sometimes it isn't fair in football, but we have to accept it.

    "Football is hard, but hopefully we can go again next year and give the Arsenal fans what they need and what they are all here for."

    Havertz also had a message for the Gunners faithful: "When you see all of the fans here, it is tough. But I can tell them that next year we are going to be an even better team and we are going to give everything again."

  20. The other side of the title racepublished at 09:37 British Summer Time 20 May

    Martin OdegaardImage source, Getty Images
    Mikel ArtetaImage source, Getty Images
    Declan RiceImage source, Getty Images
    Kai HavertzImage source, Getty Images