The excitement level of Matchday 38 of the English Premier League won’t be anywhere near as high as last year’s once in a lifetime finish, but there’s still a couple of lines of the script for season 2012-13 left to be written. Join us from 01.00am AEST for all the action.
Manchester United will be premiers, but will Sir Alex go out on top in his last ever game as manager?
Manager-less reigning champs Manchester City have locked up second, and Wigan, Reading and Queens Park Rangers are all heading down to the Championship.
The only thing left of intrigue is which two London clubs will join the Manchester duo in next season’s Champions League. Europa League winners Chelsea will finish third or fourth, and arch-rivals Arsenal and Tottenham sit just below the Blues.
Arsenal have their fate in their own hands – win against Newcastle and they’re in. They could go third if Everton beat Chelsea.
And even more intriguingly, if Chelsea were to draw 0-0 and Arsenal win 2-1, we would see a playoff between the two for third spot.
Tottenham need help from a Newcastle side with nothing to play for, and will need to win against Sunderland and have that Arsenal result go in their favour to make an appearance in Europe’s biggest club competition – and maybe, that will be the only thing that could entice Gareth Bale to stay.
It’s unfortunate that Wigan were soundly beaten by Arsenal mid-week to seal their fate, as had the Latics been able to cause an upset, every team from 13th down would be looking over their shoulder tonight, including Newcastle and Sunderland, who are involved in that chase for the fourth Champions League spot.
Throughout the night I’ll keep you updated with what’s happening in all the important games. Join me just before 12.45am AEST for any late news, and don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts in the space below.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
So it was a Fernando Torres goal that clinched third for Chelsea, a Laurent Koscielny effort that locked Arsenal into fourth and an absolute rocket from Gareth Bale was not enough to see Tottenham into the Champions League. West Brom came from 5-2 down to force an astonishing 5-5 draw with United, City lost 3-2 at home to Norwich and there were draws between Southampton and Stoke and Wigan and Aston Villa. Fulham cruised to a 3-0 win over Swansea, QPR ended their torrid time in the Premier League with a 1-0 loss to Liverpool, who farewell Jamie Carragher. a 4-2 loss for Reading against West Ham is how the Royal end their time in the top flight. So that's that. Bale gave us some late excitement but it wasn't enough as Newcastle were really flat throughout. It will be very interesting to see where Gareth Bale is playing come August. And now, no Premier League for three months!! No A-League either and once the Champions League final takes place in a few days time, it's going to be a rough time until August. Thanks for following along tonight, not as crazy as last year but it never could have been, Feel free to send me a tweet at @TheMattBungard with your thoughts. Cheers.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Arsenal will finish fourth. Spurs fifth. Devastation for Tottenham and their fans.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Newcastle have struggled to get a shot away at all in this one - and it looks to be all over as Arsenal have a corner in the 94th minute
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
WALCOTT MISSES FROM 6 YARDS!!!!! OFF THE POST!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
An absolute screamer from 30 yards!!! Now they need some help from Newcastle!! And West Brom are 5-5 against United!!!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
BALE!!!! WHO ELSE!!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
West Ham have pulled back ahead of Reading, 3-2 now
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Tottenham are absolutely bombarding Sunderland but can't buy a goal!!! Looks to not matter though as Newcastle still trail. West Brom fighting back against United, 5-4 now!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
10 to go, as it stands Arsenal will finish 4th... Chelsea have gone 2-1 up and look to have third secured
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Sunderland down to ten men as Spurs continues to pressure!!! Vaughan shown red for the Mackems
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Ben Arfa goes wide for Newcastle!!! Spurs running out of time here. United are sending Fergie off in style, it's 5-2 now!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Spurs go close again - first off a corner and then the follow up shot is blocked by a Spurs player. Just not their night.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Newcastle almost equalise through Gouffran but Koscielny denies him!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
And Norwich are back ahead against City, 3-2 through Jonny Howson. Please come back to Leeds. :(
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
HOW ON EARTH DID SPURS NOT SCORE THERE?!?!?!?!? The first shot was cleared off the line, open goal to aim at, takes a deflection off the inside of the post and cleared away!!! high drama!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
And van Persie restores United's two goal cushion, 4-2 now. City have made it 2-2 as Rodwell gets his second
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Ron Vlaar just scored an absolute screamer for Villa to make it 2-2. Try and youtube it later if you can.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Reading have come from 2-0 down to level it at 2-2, through McCleary and Le Fondre in the space of three minutes!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
3-2 to United now as Lukaku pulls another back for West Brom!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
ARSENAL SCORE!!!!!!!!! 1-0 to Koscielny. What an awful two minutes for Spurs!!! A scrappy free kick effort and nodded home from a yard out