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#3 Aston Villa survive by the skin of their teeth as Bournemouth leave on a high
Similar to the top four race, three teams were battling to avoid the drop on the final day of the campaign. Aston Villa were 17th, just ahead of Watford on goal difference, while Bournemouth started the day three points adrift of the above two.
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It was especially a tough ask for the Cherries as not only they had to win but also hope that West Ham and Arsenal did them a favour. Eddie Howe’s men did their bit on the day as goals from Josh King, Dominic Solanke and Junior Stanislas handed them a brief lifeline, inflicting Carlo Ancelotti’s first home defeat as Everton boss.
Watford, away at Arsenal, were blitzed by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as his brace gave the Gunners a 3-0 lead within 35 minutes. Although the Hornets put in a valiant effort to make a comeback, it was too little too late as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat.
Aston Villa, who took on West Ham at the London Stadium, knew they had to avoid defeat to stand any chance of survival. The game was a pretty dull affair with the Hammers in holiday mode after having secured their place in the Premier League for next season.
The game came into life in the last ten minutes as Jack Grealish and Andriy Yarmolenko traded blows to finish the game 1-1 and secure safety for the Villans - a remarkable effort from Dean Smith’s men that saw them pick up 10 points from their last four games.
#2 Sheffield United and Wolves lose on the final day but they can hold their heads high
Most pundits at the start of the season tipped Sheffield United to go straight back to the Championship, while Wolves were predicted to struggle after a fantastic first season back due to added European constraints.
Both teams have blown the predictions out of the water, as both finished the Premier League closer to the top four than to relegation places. Chris Wilder especially has done a fantastic job with a team that consisted mostly of the players who were integral during their promotion push. To be in the reckoning for a European spot in their first season of Premier League football has been a fantastic achievement.
Wolves, on the other hand, still have the chance to qualify for Europe if Chelsea beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final. Not to forget, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are still in the Europa League and could yet win the competition to qualify for the Champions League.
No wonder both managers are in the reckoning for the Premier League's Manager of the Year award, behind only Jurgen Klopp.
#1 The race for the Premier League's individual awards is settled
Apart from the Champions League and relegation spots, individual accolades were also there to be decided on the final day of the Premier League season. On the Golden Boot front, Jamie Vardy came into the weekend with a 2 & 3-goal advantage over Danny Ings and Aubameyang respectively.
While Vardy blanked against Manchester United, both Ings and Aubameyang got themselves on the scoresheet. Aubameyang, in fact, had notched up a brace in the first half itself, meaning he only needed a goal to equal Vardy. That goal was not forthcoming.
Thus, Vardy became the oldest player ever to win the Premier League Golden Boot award at 33 years of age – a truly remarkable effort by a top-class player.
The Man City duo of Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne walked away with the Golden Glove and Most Assists awards, with 16 and 20 respectively.
The Belgian international pulled level with Thierry Henry as the player with the most assists in a single Premier League campaign, while his teammate grabbed the Golden Glove for the first time in his career.
