Arsenal out of Europe, Wenger could pay price
LONDON— Arsene Wenger’s proud record is over: Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Arsenal’s hope of squeezing into the Premier League top four relied on Liverpool or Manchester City slipping up, but they both won easily on Sunday to join Chelsea and Tottenham in entering the Champions League. So even though Arsenal beat Everton 3-1 to complete the league campaign with five successive wins, the resurgence came too late and Wenger had to settle for fifth — the lowest finish since taking charge of the team in 1996.
Whether Wenger is back in charge at the Emirates Stadium next season is yet to be resolved.
The 67-year-old Frenchman won’t discuss his future until after Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Chelsea is chasing a double. Antonio Conte’s side received the Premier League trophy after routing bottomplace Sunderland 5-1 on Sunday, two weeks after securing a second title in three seasons.
Chelsea finished seven points in front of Tottenham, which completed its best league campaign in 54 years in style by beating relegated Hull 7-1.
TERRY FAREWELL
John Terry collected the Premier League trophy for the fifth time in the final act of his 22-year association with Chelsea. The captain had his own personal opportunity to thank the Stamford Bridge faithful earlier in the day.
Sunderland manager David Moyes revealed that his team collaborated with Chelsea to ensure the ball would go out around the 26th minute — matching the shirt number Terry has worn throughout his career — to enable the defender to leave the pitch to a guard of honour.
KANE TOP SCORER
Tottenham missed out on the top team prize, but Harry Kane retained the golden boot by finishing as the league’s top scorer for the second consecutive season with 29 goals despite missing eight of the 38 games through injury.
MAN UNITED’S MISSION
Jose Mourinho entered the final day knowing United was finishing sixth and prioritizing winning the Europa League in Wednesday’s final against Ajax to qualify for the Champions League. Despite United’s lowest finish since Alex Ferguson retired after collecting the Premier League trophy in 2013, the League Cup has already been collected and Sunday’s game offered hope for the future. Four players were given their first league starts by Mourinho and his youthful side beat Crystal Palace 2-0.
SURVIVORS
Leicester was in danger of relegation during its woeful defence of the title it won so unexpectedly a year ago. Craig Shakespeare is now waiting to discover if he’ll keep the manager’s job after a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth secured a 12th place finish.
Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth has done more than just secure a third successive season in the Premier League but finished ninth — the team’s highest placing since being founded in the 19th century.