"IF YOU'RE into your data, it's the most competitive title race ever," said Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, in a pitch-side interview from Emirates Stadium ahead of Sunday's final round of fixtures.
Masters was likely referring to the average gap between the top two-just 1.51 points across the season, the lowest in Premier League history - but, for most observers, the competitiveness of the title race felt like a mirage once Arsenal and Liverpool had lost at home on April 14.
Manchester City, to no one's surprise, took full advantage, winning their final nine matches by two clear goals to clinch a fourth consecutive championship.
Somewhat fittingly, the drama and tension of the final day lasted barely two minutes for Masters and everyone else at Arsenal, as news of Phil Foden's 79-second opener for City filtered through.
There was a brief moment when Arsenal fans believed they were back in contention, as a rumour spread that West Ham had equalised at the Etihad but, like the title race itself, it was an illusion. No one seriously expected City to falter.
Which begs the question why Masters was at Arsenal rather than City in the first place? And there is, of course, a very good reason. Or 115 very good reasons.
This story is from the May 21, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the May 21, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
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