Premiership Title Gift-Wrapped For Manchester United

Premiership Title Gift-Wrapped For Manchester United

Manchester United clinched the Premiership title this afternoon, on a day when they were not playing, their head coach was on the golf course, and two other teams tied.

I like the idea of awarding the title to the team that proves themselves the best through the entire season, but ... that's just about the perfect recipe for anticlimactic finish. Chelsea vs. Arsenal was a nice game, sure, but that's no way to cap a season. Now Wednesday's United vs. Chelsea clash has all the intrigue of the Pro Bowl.

So, this brings to an end Chelsea's expensive two-year reign as Premiership champions, and puts the title back in the hands of ... well, another team in the elite tax bracket. The two teams do play on the 19th with the FA Cup in the balance, so there's that to look forward to.

United champions after Chelsea held

ONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United won the Premier League for the first time in four years on Sunday as 10-man Chelsea, needing victory to keep the title race alive, could only draw 1-1 at Arsenal.

The result, coming a day after United beat Manchester City 1-0, left Alex Ferguson's side seven points clear of Chelsea with two games remaining.

Arsenal led with a 43rd-minute Gilberto penalty after Chelsea centre back Khalid Boulahrouz brought down Julio Baptista and was sent off.

Michael Essien's glancing header with 20 minutes remaining gave Chelsea hope and led to a furious late assault.

However, they were unable to find the second goal and now instead of Wednesday's Stamford Bridge meeting with United being a title decider it will become merely a handover ceremony.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho congratulated United and said he was proud of his team, emphasising the season was far from over as they could still win the FA Cup to add to the League Cup they have already won.

"Maybe I'm prouder today than when we were champions ... because my players are heroes. I think they did it brilliantly. The season is not over, we have a final to play. The season for me was magnificent," he told Sky Sports.

Manchester United manager Ferguson said that despite being in the running for other silverware this season, winning the league title had been the priority.
Some years ago I used to always have an obsession with winning in Europe but I think that's been overtaken by the demands of the Premier League because I think it's the highest league in Europe now and to win it is a big big achievement," he told Sky Sports.

The draw leaves Arsenal level with third-placed Liverpool on 67 points but behind on goal difference. Both sides are already assured of a place in the qualifying round of the Champions League.

STORMY FINAL

Chelsea, who beat Arsenal 2-1 in a stormy League Cup final in February, had beaten them away in the league only once in 17 years while the Gunners had suffered only one league defeat at the Emirates Stadium this season, to West Ham United.

However, in a game they had to win they were without 31-goal striker Didier Drogba, a late absentee with an ankle injury, as well as Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.

Without their chief target man Chelsea were forced to play a more intricate build-up as diminutive duo Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole tried to create openings for the often isolated Salomon Kalou.

Arsenal initially took control after the break but Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas missed good chances, allowing Chelsea back into the game.