By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
In the most unpredictable of seasons, the fairytale has
occurred. Leicester City are the Premier League champions and it is a reality,
not a dream. Leicester are deserved title winners but as with every campaign,
there are challenges from other teams which ultimately whittle away.
Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City were the
teams this season that launched the best bids to derail Leicester but each fell
short for a number of reasons. This is my selection of the 10 games that
ultimately cost these teams the chance of title glory.
Tottenham
Hotspur 2-2 Stoke City – Saturday 15 August 2015
Tottenham had played well on the opening weekend but were
beaten by a Kyle Walker own goal at Manchester United. This though was two
points simply thrown away early on in the season. They dominated the first half
and led 2-0 courtesy of goals from Eric Dier and Nacer Chadli. Stoke are made
of sterner stuff these days though and came back in the second half. Marko
Arnautovic’s penalty and Mame Biram Diouf’s header in the last 12 minutes
ensured they left White Hart Lane with a surprising point. Tottenham wouldn’t
win a Premier League game until early September away to Sunderland.
Manchester
City 1-2 West Ham United – Saturday 19 September 2015
Manchester City had steamrolled the opposition in the first
five games of the season, winning them all and scoring freely. 11 goals
registered and Joe Hart hadn’t been beaten by an opposition player. That
changed when West Ham arrived and did an away job on Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
They scored twice inside the first half hour and despite a brilliant individual
Kevin De Bruyne display, which included a goal on his home debut, the Hammers
held on for a third successive away win. This was the first sign that the usual
fortress that is the Etihad Stadium would not be so feared this season by
visiting sides.
Aston
Villa 0-0 Manchester City – Sunday 8 November 2015
It is strange to think that despite their rotten campaign,
Aston Villa managed to take points off both Leicester City and Manchester City.
Remi Garde’s first game of his disastrous five-month reign in the Villa post
was expected to be walkover for Manchester City. Missing Sergio Aguero through
injury though, the Citizens never seriously threatened a creaky backline. It
turned into a sterile encounter that ended goalless and definitely two points dropped
by Pellegrini’s outfit.
Arsenal
0-1 Chelsea – Sunday 24 January 2016
 |
| Per Mertesacker is shown the red card by Mark Clattenburg as Arsenal lose to Chelsea |
Having thrown away a winning position at Anfield in the
dying stages, then playing out a forgettable 0-0 draw at Stoke City, Arsenal’s
momentum after Christmas had been checked. Surely though they would regain it
by beating a Chelsea side that were getting accustomed to the bottom half of
the table? It turned into a contest which Diego Costa won for the Blues. Fouled
by Per Mertesacker inside 20 minutes, the German was dismissed (pictured) and Costa scored
the only goal of the game shortly afterwards. The Gunners lacked ideas and
inspiration on the day and this was the first sign that the title would elude
the Emirates Stadium again.
Manchester
United 3-2 Arsenal – Sunday 28 February 2016
Having beaten league leaders Leicester City a fortnight
earlier with a stoppage time winner from Danny Welbeck, Arsenal arrived at Old
Trafford for a game that looked a formality given Manchester United’s injury
woes. This was the day though where the Premier League was introduced to Marcus
Rashford. He scored twice in quick succession on his debut. Rashford terrorised
the Arsenal backline all day and assisted the decisive goal in the 3-2 win for
Ander Herrera. Off the back of a defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League,
strong questions were once again appearing against Arsene Wenger.
West Ham United
1-0 Tottenham Hotspur – Wednesday 2 March 2016
Wednesday 2nd March would turn out to be the most
decisive date in this Premier League season. The night before, Leicester had
dropped points at home to West Bromwich Albion. By the time they next played,
they could have been usurped from top spot in the table by Tottenham Hotspur
but they failed to take their chance. Spurs slipped to only their fourth defeat
of the season at Upton Park, beaten by Michail Antonio’s early header.
Arsenal
1-2 Swansea City – Wednesday 2 March 2016
On the same night, Arsenal blew their latest opportunity
with a 2-1 home defeat to their bogey team in Swansea City. The hosts started
in control and led through Joel Campbell’s strike but Wayne Routledge equalised
for the Swans who had Alan Curtis in charge on the night. Ashley Williams
bundled home a surprise winner for the Welsh side and the Gunners’ title
challenge was in tatters after two damaging defeats in the space of four days.
Liverpool
FC 3-0 Manchester City – Wednesday 2 March 2016
If Arsenal still believed they had a chance, all hope of the
title was extinguished for Manchester City with a feeble display at Anfield. In
a repeat of the Capital One Cup final, City froze on Merseyside and although
they had taken the silverware at Wembley less than 100 hours earlier, it was
Liverpool FC who took the points. Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Adam
Lallana were all on target as the Reds completed the league double over Manuel
Pellegrini’s side. All three title rivals to Leicester had lost on the same
night and the championship was now Leicester’s to lose.
Tottenham
Hotspur 2-2 Arsenal – Saturday 5 March 2016
Their bid to become Premier League champions was improved
greatly when the two North London rivals played out an entertaining draw which
didn’t help either title cause. Arsenal led at half-time through a cute Aaron
Ramsey finish before Francis Coquelin was sent off for two needless bookings.
Tottenham took charge and the lead with a Toby Alderweireld header and Harry Kane
stunner. It was their opportunity to finish Arsene Wenger’s side off, but
Alexis Sanchez found an equaliser to check Spurs’ charge. Leicester won later
that day at Watford and the gap was now a healthy five points.
Tottenham
Hotspur 1-1 West Bromwich Albion – Monday 25 April 2016
 |
| Craig Dawson's equaliser at White Hart Lane all but ended Tottenham's title bid |
With Arsenal fading badly, Tottenham became Leicester’s
prime and only challengers. Although they were held by Liverpool FC at the
start of April, that result was cancelled out by the Foxes’ 2-2 draw with West
Ham a fortnight later. Leicester had won the day earlier against Swansea so the
gap was now eight points. Tottenham’s response was disappointing on the night
their title bid all but ended. They dominated the first half at home to West
Bromwich Albion, but only had Craig Dawson’s own goal to show for their
efforts. Tony Pulis’ side improved after the break and got a deserved equaliser
with 15 minutes to go, as Dawson (pictured) found the net at the right end. The reaction
of the Spurs players at the full-time whistle said it all.
For Arsenal and Manchester City, this was a badly missed
opportunity in a campaign where the top teams all underachieved on their
promise. Tottenham’s challenge was brave and gutsy, although they might be
rueing the slow start to the season which meant they were always playing
catch-up.
All of these were chances missed by their rivals, but it is
easy to forget about Leicester’s part in this too. They won the league more
than it was lost by others. In every season though, there are bound to be
regrets for every team that didn’t quite manage their goals.
Comments
Post a Comment