The 2025/26 Premier League campaign ended a lengthy title drought and brought managerial upheaval, particularly among several London clubs. But this won’t go down as one of the league’s defining years. There were few matches, moments or storylines likely to stick with supporters for years to come.
Arsenal Finally Get Over the Hurdle
Arsenal had three consecutive second-place finishes, including a couple of years when the title seemed within reach. The Gunners ended a wait of more than 20 years to be crowned champions of England, holding their nerve down the stretch to finish ahead of Manchester City.
It wasn’t a vintage championship side. Mikel Arteta’s squad rarely looked fluid in attack and instead built its success on league-best efficiency from set pieces and a stellar, well-organized defensive unit.
This marks the first time since 2016 and 2017 that there have been consecutive Premier League campaigns without Manchester City atop the table. With a changing of the guard at the Etihad and Liverpool facing some uncertainty under Arne Slot, the Gunners are well-positioned to repeat if they can reinvigorate the attack next year.
An Eruption of Set Pieces
The Premier League averaged 0.73 set-piece goals per game this season, a league record. It also produced the highest share of non-penalty dead-ball goals in history. The previous high over the last 12 years was 13.9% of total scoring coming from corners. Per Opta in early May, that figure had jumped to 17.5%.
There has been a widespread stylistic shift across England’s top flight. Clubs are hiring elite specialists and searching for every possible edge from attacking dead-ball situations. Corners have become a central part of chance creation in a way not seen in recent memory, especially as most sides have become less effective from open play.
It’s not simply about loading the box with big bodies. Teams are designing intricate routines around pinpoint deliveries while embracing every dark art possible to free their strongest aerial threats.
Barring a major officiating change, this trend appears here to stay. English clubs are at the forefront of a tactical shift comparable to the NBA’s explosion of three-point shooting or MLB’s changing approach to basestealing.
End of an Era at the Etihad
A six-time Premier League champion, Champions League winner, and owner of nine domestic cups, Pep Guardiola’s reign of dominance at Manchester City lasted far longer than many expected when he arrived in 2016.
Guardiola’s departure alters the balance of power at the top of English football, even with the highly regarded Enzo Maresca taking over. For the first time in nearly a decade, there is genuine uncertainty surrounding the Etihad, especially with Bernardo Silva and John Stones also saying farewell last Sunday.
City have been a constant presence in title races for the better part of eight years. Guardiola shattered records for points, goals, and countless other benchmarks along the way. His tactical influence on English football has been enormous, and the league will look very different without him.
Fans Craving Fluidity
Part of the dead-ball revolution has been the return of long throws. Unfortunately, this isn’t the quirky novelty of Rory Delap at Stoke City. It has spread throughout the league and only added to the uglier side effects of teams becoming obsessed with restart situations.
Matches had already been slowed down by VAR. At times during 2025/26, the sport resembled a tedious chess match, with both sides constantly maneuvering for the next advantageous opportunity, whether that meant drawing a free kick in a dangerous area or winning a long throw deep in the attacking third.
This was a season with very little heavy-metal football. Instead, it became a campaign defined by industry, whiteboard-waving specialists, and an overall lack of flair.
Sports evolve, and that’s inevitable to some extent, but this trend felt like a move in the wrong direction. Supporters want victories, of course, but entertainment still has to matter too.
Big Six Is No More
Financially, the Big Six still exist in a world of their own. On the pitch, though, Aston Villa and Newcastle now have multiple recent Champions League appearances. Chelsea once again finished in mid-table, while Tottenham found themselves battling near the bottom for the second straight year.
England’s top flight remains unmatched compared to the rest of Europe. The depth of talent is extraordinary, and the financial power dwarfs almost everyone outside the continent’s other superclubs. It also feels as though the traditional divide between the established giants and the chasing pack has narrowed. Some of that stems from the struggles of Chelsea, Spurs and others, while squads lower down the table have simultaneously improved.
Aston Villa, for instance, have regularly finished ahead of multiple traditional powers. This also wasn’t the first season Brighton and Bournemouth pushed for European qualification.
Chelsea and Tottenham still possess enormous financial muscle, but a return to the top seven next season feels far from guaranteed.
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