The end of the 2023/24 Premier League season is upon us as Arsenal and Manchester City take the title race to the wire.
Arsenal welcome Everton to the Emirates while City host West Ham on the final Sunday of the campaign with both still eyeing the crown.
Pep Guardiola is chasing a fourth consecutive title while Mikel Arteta and co are eager to end City’s stranglehold on the English top-flight.
The Gunners must win and hope their rivals slip up and we are no doubt set for an afternoon full of drama.
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp will say his Liverpool farewell after a glorious nine years as the Reds face Wolves at Anfield.
Liverpool, who have already secured a third-place finish, have nothing to play for but will be eager to send Klopp on his way on a high.
Arsenal have been near flawless themselves in 2024, with 15 wins and one draw, away to City, in 17 league matches.
However, the Gunners’ costly 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa last month looks set to be decisive in a thrilling title race that also involved Liverpool until their recent stumbles.
Arsenal, who finished second last year, must beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium and hope City fail to win if they are to end their 20-year wait for the title.
Guardiola doesn’t expect a favour from Everton, who have nothing to play for, and will instead focus on ensuring his players finish the job themselves.
Not for the first time, City have been at their relentless best in the intense heat of the run-in.
Guardiola’s men have dropped just six points since mid-December, in draws against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.
As City close in on a sixth title in seven seasons under Guardiola, the competitiveness of the world’s most-watched league has been questioned.
But the Catalan coach has hit back at suggestions the Premier League has become boring and that City’s dominance is thanks purely to the financial muscle of their Abu Dhabi-based owners.
Manchester United travel to Brighton, Chelsea host Bournemouth and Tottenham are at Sheffield United in the final day’s other big games.
The Champions League and relegation places have already been confirmed before the final day.
City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa will be playing in UFEA’s elite competition next season while Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United have gone down to the Championship.
In the title race, City know victory over West Ham will guarantee them the Premier League title regardless of what Arsenal do.
City have an inferior goal difference to Arsenal, meaning should they draw and the Gunners win, the title will head to north London.
The Etihad outfit can also still lift the trophy with a draw or defeat providing Arsenal fail to beat Everton.
Spurs will secure fifth with a point at Sheffield United while Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United are battle for the remaining European places.
If Man City win the FA Cup next weekend, sixth will become a Europa League place and the Europa Conference League spot will drop to seventh.
Chelsea look set to finish sixth but Newcastle or Manchester United could catch them if they win and the Blues fail to get three points.
Premier League final day: What has been said?
Guardiola is preparing his City players for another nerve-shredding finish to the title race.
He said: “If you ask all the Premier League teams at the start of the season, what would be the best position for the last game of the season – we are in the best position. That’s for sure.
“One game left, destiny in our hands, we need to win one game to be champions. Everyone would love to be in our position.
“But it won’t be easy. It’s win or win, otherwise Arsenal will be champions. It is not more complicated than that.
“I have the feeling it will be an Aston Villa game. We would love to be 3-0 up after 10 minutes – but it isn’t going to happen.
“We’ve seen enough West Ham games (to know) they have a few things we have to control.
“They will be ready to beat us. That happened with Aston Villa – they didn’t play for anything – in the same position, two years ago.
“I know what happened, it’s going to happen the same. Ourselves and our people have to come here to be ready from the first minute, to do it together.”
Arsenal counterpart Arteta, meanwhile, is dreaming of snatching the title.
“I’m really excited and I can’t wait for Sunday to be in front of us,” Arteta said.
“Obviously I’m very optimistic as well with the possible outcome.
“The hope is there. It didn’t happen (Spurs failing to beat Manchester City on Tuesday) we have to do our job. We will have to prove again that we are better than our opponent and we have to wish that West Ham have a really good day and help us to fulfil our dream.
“We have the possibility to live a beautiful day on Sunday where the dream is still alive and it’s still possible. It’s football, we have to live the moment.”
