The end of the Premier League 2024/25 season is nigh, but something feels amiss compared to previous campaigns.
To make this clear, let’s take a trip down memory lane – one that shows just how much this season contrasts with the thrilling conclusions of the past.
When Premier League Final Days Were Pure Chaos
Wigan’s Great Escape (2010/11)
The 2010/11 Premier League season, final gameweek – and Wigan Athletic found themselves stranded in 19th place, staring down relegation.
They say pressure makes diamonds, and Wigan certainly lived for that pressure, holding their nerve as Stoke piled on attack after attack, defending with grit and resilience.
In the end, they found their inconceivable treasure: Wigan grabbed a winner against Stoke just 12 minutes from stoppage time, lifting them to 16th and out of the relegation zone.
Emotions erupted.
The relegation survival specialists had done it again. It was the game to watch, especially with little to no drama at the top of the table.
The Day Manchester City Broke Football (2011/12)
It didn’t take long for Premier League fans to witness another dramatic final day.
In the 2011/2012 season, United and City were level on points, and everything came down to the final 90 minutes. A day forever etched in Premier League folklore.
While United were doing their part with a win, Manchester City found themselves trailing 2-1 to QPR.
But Mancini’s men struck a deal with the devil to avoid disaster.
And the devil, it seemed, accepted the offer. In the dying embers of stoppage time, Edin Džeko equalized and Sergio Agüero completed the comeback, both goals arriving deep into injury time, sealing a finale that felt almost scripted by fate itself.
Words can’t truly capture the earthquake that shook England that day. The noisy neighbours of Manchester United had, at last, shoved them off the throne.
Where’s That End-of-Season Drama Now?
There have been many moments like these – final gameweek thrillers – even in recent years. The last two seasons offered more tension than what we’re seeing now.
This season? It doesn’t seem to be heading that way.
Here’s why.
A Stuttering Arsenal and a Long-Faded Title Race
Historically, Arsenal haven’t exactly mastered the art of chasing down a title from behind, and once again, that familiar story continues.
For the third consecutive season, Arsenal have lacked the championship grit needed to truly crank up the pressure on the league leaders.
How do you call yourself a title contender when you drop points at the very moment your rivals do the same?
Sure, unfortunate circumstances have played their part, but when you look at the broader pattern, the Gunners haven’t done enough to justify the sympathy
A Crisis Among the ‘Big Six’ and a Dull Relegation Battle
On top of that, several teams are either stuck in crisis mode or have recently fallen into it.
Traditional heavyweights like Manchester City, Chelsea, and much of the so-called ‘Big Six’ haven’t exactly lived up to their plaudits this season.
Meanwhile, the relegation battle has lacked its usual drama, largely due to the new trend of promoted teams struggling to stay afloat from the very start.
All Eyes on the Champions League Chase
The reality is, the only real tension left isn’t at the top of the table, nor at the bottom. It’s in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification – and for once, that’s where all the drama lives.
With UEFA’s new format and English teams performing well in Europe this season, five Premier League teams will now earn a golden ticket to Europe’s most prestigious competition.
That tweak has turned a usually predictable top-four battle into a fierce, five-horse race. Teams that might have otherwise settled for Europa League ambitions are now throwing everything into a final push.
Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Newcastle are all scrambling to lock down their spots, knowing that missing out could define their entire season.
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The Last Battleground
It’s not quite the same as a neck-and-neck title race or a desperate relegation scrap, but make no mistake, this Champions League chase has rescued the Premier League’s final weeks from feeling utterly bland.
It’s the last real battleground – and it’s every bit as ruthless as you’d expect.
Personally, I’m eager to see where Nottingham Forest finish. Can they complete the decades-long awakening and return to the limelight of European football?
It would be a shame to see them end up anywhere other than in the Champions League next season.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus
Recording Date: 27.04.2025