A total 36 goals were scored in the last 10 matches as the
2012-13 Barclays Premier League graced its final day across football grounds in
England.
And as the dust settles in yet another season that had all
the drama; brilliant strikes and ridiculous own goals, dubious red cards and those
not given, missed penalties and broken legs, last minute winners and drab
draws, joyful tears and ones that expressed depression, the average premier
league fanatic must be one of the gloomiest lads out there, at least until August.
The final day of any season is always one to remember and
this was no different both for clubs, fans, players and managers. And while
some like Jamie Carragher bowed out with a win, others like Sir Alex Ferguson
witnessed something he never had in his 27 years at Manchester United as the
champions drew 5-5 with West Brom in what was his and Paul Scholes’ final game
with the Old Trafford club.
Everton came into terms with the fact that they will be
without their manager for 12 years, David Moyes, who joins Manchester United with
immediate effect. The Toffees lost Moyes’ last game in charge 2-1 to Chelsea, a
result that saw the London club fend off Arsenal’s challenge as they finished 3rd
and automatically qualified to Champions League group stages next season. The other
person who will be out of the Everton lineup is Phil Neville.
The biggest battle of the day, however, was for who will
finish in the top four. With Chelsea winning, Arsenal needed to beat Newcastle and
avert the challenge of Tottenham who were just a point behind. The Gunners held
their nerves and won 1-0 at St. James’ Park even as Gareth Bale scored yet
another goal-of-the-season contender at White Hart Lane to give Spurs a 1-0 win
against Sunderland.
The Gunners would not be denied though and Spurs were left
cursing yet another season when they failed to finish above their bitter London
rivals who they led by 7 points just three months ago.
In Merseyside, Jamie Carragher played his final match in
Liverpool colours as he captained the club in their 1-0 win over Queens Park
Rangers at Anfield. The legendary defender could have even grabbed an unlikely
goal but his 30yard strike rattled the post. Philippe Coutinho scored the only
goal feeding off a Jordan Ibe assist.
Aston Villa played to a 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic, Darren
Bent and Gabriel Agnolahor scoring for the Villans whose captain Stiliyan
Petrov also exited the football stage following his struggle with acute
leukemia. Emmerson Boyce scored for the relegated Latics with the second goal
coming courtesy of a Nathan Baker own goal.
The other Premier League player to bow out on the day was
Michel Owen who stepped in for Jonathan Walters in the 74th minute
as Stoke City drew 1-1 with Mauricio Pochettino’s Southampton at St. Mary’s in
Hampshire.
And so after 380 games were played and 1062 goals scored, curtains
came down on yet another exciting 2012-13 Barclays Premier League campaign
where money failed to save some teams from dropping down (read QPR), where the
stocks of one player shoot the skies (read Gareth Bale), where yet more
controversy dogged the campaign of a football gem (read Luis Suarez), where a
man departed the dry cabinet at the Emirates and got a Premier League medal at
first attempt (read Robin Van Persie), leaving his teammates to celebrate a top
four ‘trophy’ (read Arsenal), where a legendary manager and players of almost equal
status (read Alex Ferguson, Carragher, Scholes, Owen), exited the stage, and
where perhaps, perhaps, the stage was set for one of the most competitive
seasons yet in Premier League history, next season.
It’s been real!!
And That's thesteifmastertake!!
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