The 2001-02 English Premier League title was received by Arsenal, clinching the title at Outdated Trafford within the closing phases of the season to convey Manchester United’s run of victories to an finish.
The Gunners have been convincing and worthy winners, ending seven factors forward of Liverpool and 10 away from United.
CHANGES
Manchester United, after three seasons of being too good domestically however falling quick in Europe, determined to double down on their dominance by spending giant sums on a duo they believed might take them to a different stage.
Juan Sebastian Veron’s £28m signing from Lazio shattered their earlier membership file, whereas the switch of Ruud van Nistelrooy, one that ought to have occurred the earlier yr just for a cruciate ligament harm to postpone the deal, lastly went by with a cheque for £19m written to PSV Eindhoven. Veteran Laurent Blanc and promising ahead Diego Forlan have been additionally added in a transparent message to the remainder of the division that they must considerably increase their sport to compete.
The opposite golf equipment could have struggled to compete with that spending, however they have been additionally capable of make some shrewd additions. Arsenal made Sol Campbell probably the most high-profile Bosman signing so far, shifting from rivals Tottenham on an enormous wage, whereas the versatile Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was a helpful addition from Rangers.
Liverpoo,l in the meantime added in quite a few departments; they solved their ongoing goalkeeper drawback by bringing in not one, however two stoppers within the type of Chris Kirkland and Jerzy Dudek. Czech ahead Milan Baros and full-back John Arne-Riise have been additionally introduced in and they’d assist Liverpool develop right into a pressure to be reckoned with.
Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich spending was nonetheless a couple of years away however they have been nonetheless lively, including Frank Lampard from West Ham in addition to William Gallas, Emmanuel Petit and Bolo Zenden.
Newcastle additionally appeared good – Laurent Robert value £11m from Paris Saint-Germain whereas Craig Bellamy would ultimately type a fruitful partnership with Alan Shearer following his transfer from Coventry Metropolis.
Lastly, got here Leeds’ final roll of the cube. With their monetary downfall nonetheless to come back, they spent £11m on Robbie Fowler from Liverpool in a bid to return to the Champions League. It might, in the end, be a bet that did not repay.
SEASON SUMMARY
Regardless of so many new additions, no aspect might discover any consistency within the first half of the season, with all the foremost contenders dropping factors frequently. Champions Manchester United went on a dreadful run in October by to November, dropping 5 matches in seven, together with defeats away to Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, conceding 9 objectives in these matches.
Arsenal in the meantime slowed flashes of their potential however they too did not win a league match for a month, dropping in uncharacteristic trend to Charlton after which, in a controversial encounter, to Newcastle at Christmas.
Liverpool, after a sluggish begin, have been the workforce who proved most tough to beat, happening a 12-game unbeaten run which was resulted in complete trend by Chelsea, and from that second, their season imploded. Defeat to Arsenal adopted instantly, and as soon as the Reds had awoke from their stupor in mid-January, they’d received simply as soon as in eight matches and had fallen from first to fifth within the desk.
And but, the highest of the desk remained as congested because it had been for years. With fourteen video games remaining simply two factors separated the highest 4 of Manchester United (48), Arsenal (47), Newcastle (46) and Liverpool (46).
It is simply implausible to win it right here as they’re the workforce we need to beat, the workforce who’ve dominated English soccer for the previous three years.Arsene Wenger after successful the league at Outdated Trafford
Newcastle, who had negotiated their method into the dialog so effectively, misplaced essential matches to Arsenal and Liverpool back-to-back, and an additional 2-2 draw at dwelling to Ipswich City successfully ended their problem.
However after faltering so typically, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all launched into very good runs of type and, ultimately, only some dropped factors determined the vacation spot of the title. Liverpool dropped simply 5 factors of their closing fifteen video games, Michael Owen discovering a wealthy vein of type, however their mid-season hunch left them with an excessive amount of floor to make up.
Equally, United have been scoring a plethora of objectives (4 versus Sunderland, Bolton and Tottenham and 5 in opposition to West Ham), however the margins have been positive. A draw at Derby coupled with a house loss to Middlesbrough gave Arsenal the sting.
And the Gunners accepted it with gusto. Wenger’s aspect received their closing 13 video games of the season, and Sylvian Wiltord’s winner at Outdated Trafford within the penultimate spherical of video games ultimately topped a deserved champion in probably the most carefully contested Premier League seasons of all of them.
On the backside, Leicester Metropolis, Ipswich City (so robust the season earlier) and Derby County have been consigned to the drop, with Sunderland and Bolton simply surviving.
AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
ROBERT PIRES
The French playmaker proved to be an important member of Arsenal’s title-winning midfield.
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
ARSENE WENGER
For masterminding a implausible end-of-season run that proved decisive within the closing reckoning, Wenger was the worthy winner.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON
CRAIG BELLAMY
The Newcastle ahead was an instantaneous hit at St James’ Park, making a formidable partnership with Alan Shearer.
TOP GOALSCORER
THIERRY HENRY – 24 GOALS
The Frenchman struck 24 instances in Arsenal’s title-winning marketing campaign, simply edging out Van Nistelrooy, Alan Shearer and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
GOAL OF THE SEASON
DENNIS BERGKAMP scored probably the most mind-bending aim in Premier League historical past, flipping the ball spherical Nikos Dabizas earlier than sliding nonchalantly into the web.
MOST EXPENSIVE TRANSFER
Juan Sebastian Veron
Lazio to MANCHESTER UNITED
£28m
KEY MOMENT OF THE SEASON
United nonetheless held out hope of successful the title for the fourth season in a row, however Sylvain Wiltord’s memorable aim despatched the trophy to Highbury as an alternative.
