The 2026/27 Premier League season has concluded, offering much to reflect upon. Arsenal finally ended their 22-year wait for the title, with Mikel Arteta transforming three consecutive second-place finishes into a trophy lift. At the other end of the table, Wolves, Burnley, and West Ham were relegated to the Championship. Bournemouth, Sunderland, and Brighton celebrated European qualification, while Chelsea and Newcastle were left disappointed.
Arsenal (A+)
After knocking on the door for three years and enduring accusations of being 'bottlers,' Arsenal finally crossed the line. The summer transfer window saw Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, and Martin Zubimendi arrive, adding depth and giving Arteta the tools to build on previous work. The Gunners boasted the best defence, the best goalkeeper, and the best set-piece record, finishing seven points clear of Manchester City with five straight wins. A Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain awaits.
Aston Villa (A+)
Villa's players were feeling the effects of their Europa League celebrations but still managed a 2-1 win at Manchester City on the final day. A first trophy in 30 years and a first European trophy since 1982 highlighted their season. They finished fourth in the league, thanks largely to 15 points taken from matches against the top five.
Bournemouth (A+)
Andoni Iraola leaves Bournemouth as a club legend after continually improving the team despite losing key players each window. After a slow start, the Cherries went on an 18-game unbeaten run to finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League. Their recruitment has been exceptional, and Iraola leaves a strong platform for successor Marco Rose.
Brentford (A)
Brentford were tipped for relegation after losing Thomas Frank to Spurs and selling Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, but Keith Andrews guided them to ninth place. Igor Thiago scored 22 goals, finishing as the league's second-top scorer, and the team ended the season disappointed to draw at Anfield and miss European football.
Brighton (B)
Brighton endured a poor run of one win in 13 games over December and January, but a brilliant March and April saw them finish eighth and qualify for the Conference League. Danny Welbeck's 13 goals were a highlight, and despite eight fewer points than last season, European football delighted fans.
Burnley (F)
Hopeless from start to finish, Burnley were relegated in April but effectively doomed much earlier. Their Championship-best defence became the Premier League's leakiest, and Scott Parker never found solutions. Zian Flemming's 11 goals were the only bright spot.
Chelsea (F)
An absolute shambles from the top down, Chelsea finished 10th after a season of instability. Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior, and Callum McFarlane all managed the team, but none inspired. Scattergun recruitment, lack of team spirit, and negative interviews from key players summed up a mess that Xabi Alonso must now fix.
Crystal Palace (C)
Palace's season hinges on the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano. A 15th-place finish with eight fewer points than last season is disappointing, but winning the trophy would change everything. The Marc Guehi transfer saga and Oliver Glasner's early departure announcement dominated the campaign.
Everton (D)
Mid-table obscurity in their first season at the new stadium. David Moyes did what was expected with a limited squad, but a seven-game winless run ended the season flat. Everton actually finished with one more point than the previous campaign, highlighting a lack of progress.
Fulham (C)
Marco Silva guided Fulham to 11th place, continuing their pattern of mid-table finishes. Harry Wilson's goal of the season and Harrison Reed's late winner against Liverpool provided highlights, but Silva is likely to leave after a solid but unspectacular tenure.
Leeds (B+)
Daniel Farke survived constant speculation to steer Leeds to 14th place, comfortably clear of relegation. An FA Cup semi-final at Wembley was a highlight, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 14 goals proved a successful signing.
Liverpool (D)
The drop-off from winning the league was immense. Arne Slot went from hero to near-zero, with Mohamed Salah's shadow looming. Liverpool lost 19 games across all competitions, with Alisson's fitness, defensive form, and midfield intensity all declining. Alexander Isak was a major flop.
Manchester City (B+)
Two trophies (Carabao Cup and FA Cup) marked a decent end to Pep Guardiola's era, but failing to win the league again counts as a failure. Bernardo Silva and John Stones leave alongside Guardiola, and Enzo Maresca is set to take over with major investment expected.
Manchester United (B+)
United's season split into two halves. Ruben Amorim's first half was dreadful, but Michael Carrick's arrival in January sparked a turnaround. They finished third, with a +29 points difference from 2024/25. Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Senne Lammens, and Benjamin Sesko settled well, bringing positive signs.
Newcastle (D)
Eddie Howe faced questions after a 2-0 defeat to Fulham confirmed their lowest finish under his management. Lack of squad depth hindered them, and nine defeats in 12 league games between January and April saw the campaign unravel. A major overhaul is needed.
Nottingham Forest (C)
Forest had another chaotic season with four managers, finishing 16th and reaching the Europa League semi-finals. Morgan Gibbs-White starred with 15 goals and four assists, unlucky to miss England's World Cup squad.
Sunderland (A+)
Sunderland timed their run perfectly, jumping from 10th to seventh on the final day with a 2-1 win over Chelsea to qualify for the Europa League in their first season back. Regis Le Bris oversaw a major summer overhaul with 18 arrivals, and Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey became heroes.
Tottenham (E)
Spurs were a disgrace for most of the season, finishing 17th for the second consecutive year. Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor failed, and Roberto De Zerbi took 11 points from seven games to keep them up. Major work is needed.
West Ham (F)
Graham Potter started the season but Nuno Espirito Santo could not keep them up. Despite 39 points, which would have been enough in most seasons, they were relegated. Anger was directed at David Sullivan, and Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes will likely be sold.
Wolves (F)
Wolves looked the worst side from the start and finished with just 20 points and 27 goals. Rob Edwards' arrival in November made little difference, and four players shared the top-scorer honour with three goals each.
