Which side were remarkable? Who were a shambles? Phil McNulty's season review

Champions: Arsenal

Prediction: 2nd

Arsenal can proudly claim their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season.

This season served as a significant litmus test for manager Mikel Arteta and his squad. The pressure was on to transcend previous near-misses and achieve success.

While some critiques focused on playing style and reliance on set-pieces, the essence of the Premier League is that the most effective teams prevail. Arteta finally discovered the winning combination, culminating in an upcoming Champions League final against Paris St-Germain.

Arsenal's triumph was built on a robust defensive structure, exemplified by the exemplary performances of goalkeeper David Raya alongside central defenders Gabriel and William Saliba. Declan Rice emerged as my player of the year.

With this title secured, Arsenal has established a solid foundation for future endeavors.

2nd: Man City

Prediction: 3rd

Pep Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City concluded with victories in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, but they fell short in their pursuit of the Premier League title as Arsenal surged ahead.

City may be considered the finest footballing side in the country, yet the history books will reflect Arsenal’s championship win, which is entirely warranted.

City’s season was marred by too many matches where they settled for draws rather than securing necessary wins, ultimately undermining their title aspirations.

Guardiola departs leaving behind a revitalized squad with immense potential for the future, even if he himself won’t be present in the race for next season's title; City will.

3rd: Man Utd

Prediction: 7th

This represents a significant achievement, especially under the management of Michael Carrick, who adeptly navigated the remnants of Ruben Amorim's tumultuous reign, leading Manchester United back to the Champions League.

Bruno Fernandes was the pivotal force for the team, a player they simply could not afford to lose, while the impact of new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo bolstered the attacking options.

The acquisition of Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens has proven to be a masterstroke, and Carrick’s efforts to rehabilitate Kobbie Mainoo deserve recognition.

4th: Aston Villa

Prediction: 5th

Unai Emery’s exceptional work at Aston Villa cannot be overstated. The club has made a triumphant return to the Champions League and achieved its first accolade since 1996 with his fifth Europa League title.

Emery’s perfectionism transformed Villa into a finely-tuned machine steeped in work ethic, organization, and talent - qualities that define a first-class team.

Morgan Rogers is central to their accomplishments, but it is ultimately Emery’s vision that shapes this club, positioning him on a path to legend status at Villa.

5th: Liverpool

Prediction: champions

It is challenging to encapsulate the disappointment of Liverpool’s season, especially following their previous title-winning campaign in Arne Slot's first season after Jurgen Klopp.

The context of this decline must consider the tragic passing of beloved forward Diogo Jota in July, a loss that deeply affected the club and its community.

Few anticipated finding the season ending with a growing sense of discontent among Liverpool supporters directed towards Slot.

Despite spending an unprecedented £450m last summer, the team’s performance saw a stark decline, which included an unexpected dip in form from Mohamed Salah, further exacerbated by public disputes with Slot.

The question now looms regarding whether Slot will remain to oversee a revival. Many fans express their dissent, yet the ownership group FSG seems resolute in their stance.

Overall, it has been a profoundly disappointing season.

6th: Bournemouth

Prediction: 15th

Andoni Iraola has led Bournemouth to a remarkable milestone, securing a spot in Europe for the first time in their 127-year history.

This achievement is further underscored by the significant losses of three first-choice defenders last summer and the winter transfer of main striker Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.

In spite of this, the team showcased resilience, managing an impressive 18-match unbeaten run in the league, with standout performances from Alex Scott and promising youth talent Junior Kroupi. They were even contenders for Champions League qualification until the season's final day.

7th: Sunderland

Prediction: 19th

Sunderland's journey from relegation candidates to European qualifiers is truly remarkable, defying numerous predictions, including my own.

Under the astute guidance of Regis le Bris, Sunderland enjoyed an incredible season following their return to the Premier League, earning him a rightful spot in conversations about manager of the season.

Their successful transfer strategy last summer, designed to ensure their survival in the Premier League, has notably paid off. Tremendous credit goes to everyone involved for this exhilarating accomplishment.

8th: Brighton

Prediction: 11th

Midway through the season, the outlook for Fabian Hurzeler's tenure at Brighton appeared precarious as fan discontent surfaced. However, this driven and competitive young German coach orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, guiding Brighton into European competition while securing a contract extension until 2029.

Having navigated a turbulent period, this excellently managed club is now well-positioned to pursue further success on both European and domestic stages.

9th: Brentford

Prediction: 16th

Despite narrowly missing out on Europe, Brentford should be commended for their performances this season.

The decision to promote Keith Andrews from within after Thomas Frank's departure was considered a gamble, yet he has successfully maintained stability even amid departures of key forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively.

Igor Thiago emerged as one of the standout players in the Premier League this season. The experience brought by Jordan Henderson in midfield and the quality exhibited by Caoimhin Kelleher in goal also added to Brentford's commendable showing.

10th: Chelsea

Prediction: 4th

Chelsea's disappointing season culminated in a further setback on the last matchday, suffering defeat to Sunderland, meaning they will face a season without European competition under new manager Xabi Alonso.

Starting as Club World Cup champions with Enzo Maresca at the helm, he departed in January amid escalating conflicts with the club's management.

Liam Rosenior's brief tenure lasted only three months in a climate of discontent before Calum McFarlane took over, leading Chelsea to the FA Cup final, which they ultimately lost to Manchester City.

What a disappointing campaign for a club that appears to be adrift.

11th: Fulham

Prediction: 14th

Fulham finds themselves in a stable position within the Premier League, neither rising nor plummeting but established under the capable management of Marco Silva.

While Silva has been instrumental, his future remains uncertain as he approaches the conclusion of his contract. The same goes for Harry Wilson, whose contributions to the team have been invaluable at Craven Cottage.

12th: Newcastle United

Prediction: 6th

A season marked by disruption for Newcastle United, exacerbated by the last-minute transfer of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

Eddie Howe remains at the forefront to steer the club through what promises to be a transitional summer, especially as speculation mounts over the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.

It has been a season fraught with dissatisfaction, a stark contrast to the joy experienced following their Carabao Cup triumph in 2025.

13th: Everton

Prediction: 12th

This season for Everton was peculiar. They were in contention for European qualification just weeks before the season concluded, yet a late collapse frustrated supporters concerning both manager David Moyes and the players.

Jack Grealish contributed positively until he sustained a season-ending foot injury, while the increased burden on Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ultimately proved detrimental.

It was an average season without the relegation fears of previous campaigns, but home form remained disappointing at Everton's impressive new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

One of the biggest enigmas was the sudden disappearance of 20-year-old Tyler Dibling, following his high-profile £40m transfer from Southampton.

14th: Leeds United

Prediction: 17th

Even though Leeds seemed destined for a challenging season, manager Daniel Farke successfully reversed the trajectory, earning commendations for both him and his players.

The signing of Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton proved astute, and the atmosphere at Elland Road played its part in their revival.

A potential disappointment came in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, where their performance fell short at Wembley. Nevertheless, they accomplished their primary objective of securing Premier League safety.

15th: Crystal Palace

Prediction: 9th

Crystal Palace underwent a tumultuous season under manager Oliver Glasner, transitioning from the loss of star players to the brink of potential glory.

A mid-season downturn resulted in an embarrassing FA Cup exit in the third round to non-league Macclesfield. The departure of Marc Guehi to Manchester City compounded their challenges, and Glasner announced he would depart at season’s end.

Nonetheless, Palace retained a sense of class across all facets and now have an opportunity for further success as they prepare to face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday.

16th: Nottingham Forest

Prediction: 10th

It is surprising that Nottingham Forest found themselves embroiled in a relegation battle until the final stages of the season, given the presence of talented players like Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.

This predicament arose from the instability caused by four managerial changes throughout the season.

The appointment of Ange Postecoglou to replace Nuno Espirito Santo initiated a stylistic overhaul, yet he was dismissed after just 39 days. Sean Dyche, touted as a pragmatic choice, lasted merely 114 days.

Ultimately, Vitor Pereira managed to restore a semblance of stability, allowing the team's performance to better reflect the quality of the squad.

17th: Tottenham

Prediction: 8th

Tottenham's season can only be described as a comprehensive debacle, both on and off the field, culminating in a last-day celebration of Premier League survival with a win over Everton.

For Thomas Frank, navigating the challenges of Tottenham proved overwhelming compared to the stability he experienced at Brentford.

Things took a turn for the worse with the perplexing appointment of Igor Tudor, raising significant questions about the judgment of CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.

Tudor's tenure was brief and unsuccessful, losing five out of seven matches before his departure after only 44 days, paving the way for Roberto de Zerbi to step in.

Tottenham's last-minute escape from relegation was founded on luck rather than sound management.

18th: West Ham - relegated

Prediction: 13th

A season that began with such promise ultimately concluded in disappointment for West Ham supporters, leading to relegation and a return to Championship football.

The London Stadium, often criticized in comparison to their beloved Upton Park, will now host lower-tier matches.

Graham Potter's dismissal in September came after just eight months, and while Nuno Espirito Santo occasionally provided glimpses of hope, the squad ultimately lacked the quality to stave off relegation.

An immediate return to the Premier League may elude this club, which is in dire need of a fresh start.

19th: Burnley - relegated

Prediction: 20th

Burnley’s season was devoid of joy as they faced relegation with Scott Parker at the helm, who was dismissed well before their fate was sealed.

Despite ambitions in the transfer market, including the acquisition of seasoned players like Kyle Walker, the decision to invest in Armando Broja, with his injury history, was a misstep that could have been avoided.

20th: Wolves - relegated

Prediction: 18th

Wolves' campaign can only be described as grim from the outset, their relegation sealed following the loss of key players Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City early in the season.

Vitor Pereira was shown the door after a dismal start, failing to achieve any wins in his first ten league matches. Although Rob Edwards brought a glimmer of hope during his tenure, the season ultimately remained a disheartening experience.

While teenager Mateus Mane demonstrated potential, the question remains: will he remain at the club?