Premier League big six 20-21 season review

Big six club ratings - Chelsea/Tottenham/Arsenal

Chelsea

Expectations - to challenge for the title and win a trophy

Reality - European Champions

With club legend Frank Lampard as manager, and over £200m spent in the brief inter-season window, hopes were high of a PL challenge.

This didn't materialise however, and bad form in the mid-season led to Lampard's dismissal. It was a difficult decision, given his legendary status as a player, but he did not cut it and had to be dismissed. Club owner Roman Abramovich himself expressed in a statement his sorrow in doing so, but results were results and it had to occur.

Abramovich replaced him with German boss Thomas Tuchel, who previously managed PSG and Borussia Dortmund. He immediately brought defensive and attacking improvements, and Chelsea soon recovered their top four league position.

But signings such as Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, along with Hakim Ziyech, didn't really prosper as intended. Christian Pulisic, the star American wide-man, also hasn't shone as anticipated.

Losing the FA Cup final to Leicester was undoubtedly a blow.

But this was rectified in a big way via defeating Man City in the CL final in Porto, Portugal.

This was Chelsea's second CL in their history and a fine way to end the season. Summer signing Kai Havertz got the winner, despite average PL form, to down Guardiola and company.

With more investment over the summer, a title challenge could well materialise in the 21/22 season.

Rating - 9/10

Tottenham

Forelorn Spurs players after losing the League Cup final

Expectation - to finish in the top four and win a trophy

Reality - Europa Conference league football via 7th place finish

Jose Mourinho, whom Spurs hired to win trophies, ultimately failed and was sacked a few days before Spurs' League Cup final with Man City.

Spurs lost the final 1-0, and despite the narrow scoreline were thoroughly outplayed. Whether Mourinho's presence, and record of success, would have boosted them is forever moot.

Mourinho suffered more of the man-management issues he faced at Chelsea and Man United. He annoyed players due to abrasiveness, and his playing style was again in the "park the bus" mold. There were also rumours of him not getting on with club chairman Daniel Levy over numerous issues.

Moreover, Harry Kane has been touted strongly as leaving Spurs, and if he does leave a strong rebuild is in order. Kane is a world-class striker, and to replace him with a like-for-like would be difficult. He also won both the PL Golden Boot and Playmaker of the Year awards, proving his quality at the elite level.

Tottenham finished above Arsenal again, which would only bring scant consolation. They beat Leicester City 4-2 in the PL Round 38, finishing seventh, one place above their arch-rivals. This secured them Europa Conference League football for the 21/22 season.

The low point of the season, bar the League Cup loss, was defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League. After being 2-0 up in the first leg, Spurs folded 3-0 in the second, in part contributing to Mourinho's dismissal.

At the time of writing, Daniel Levy had not yet found a replacement for Mourinho. There were strong links to Antonio Conte, though this broke down due to alleged negotiating differences. It is an interesting time for Spurs, as much needs to be done to regain a top four place, let alone win big trophies.

Rating - 4/10

Arsenal

Expectations - to get top four in the PL and win a trophy

Reality - Finished 8th place in PL

Fan angst towards Mikel Arteta rose during the season as his inexperience cost the side majorly.

This culminated in the Europa League semi-final defeat to Villareal, a side led by former manager Unai Emery. Arteta played unique and speculative formations in both legs, which strongly contributed to the loss. This was perceived by many fans as arrogant and needless, and played into Emery's own game-plan.

The FA Cup defence ended via a loss to Southampton in the fourth-round. Eventual League Cup winners Man City dispatched Arsenal with ease in their quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium.

Star forward and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang didn't prosper as much as in previous seasons. But Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe emerged as prime youth talents in the side. Despite being only 19, many fans view Saka as the outstanding Arsenal player of the season. He also made the England Euro 2020 squad and is likely to feature prominently in the forthcoming tournament.

Thomas Partey was a star signing on transfer deadline day, though due to injury and the side's poor performance he did not get a chance to shine. Record signing Nicolas Pepe performed well. With two seasons under his belt at Arsenal, the 21/22 season could be a major one for him.

At one point, Arsenal were 15th in the league, and there was a genuine and near unthinkable fears of relegation. It took a run of wins around Christmas/New Year vs. Chelsea, West Brom, Brighton and Newcastle to attain a more respectable position.

Arsenal, too, were part the Super League debacle. Club owner KSE apologised at a fans' forum, with protests occurring at various home games. With two 8th place finishes in a row, more fans are directing attention to KSE for Arsenal's woes. Eighth place also cost Arsenal UEFA competition in 21/22, for the first time since 1995/96. With less revenue incoming consequently, fans are increasing the heat on KSE accordingly.

Overall, it was a poor season, and way below the expectations for a club of Arsenal's size. Much needs to be done to get the Gunners back into the top four, let alone win their first league since 2004.

Rating - 3/10

Edited by S Chowdhury