Arsenal – not Tottenham – will be North London’s representatives in next season’s Champions League after they came out on top of a dramatic final day shootout for fourth spot in the Premier League. However, there will be no play-off against Chelsea for third place after Rafael Benitez’s side secured automatic qualification for Europe’s premier competition.
It was the ultimate must-win scenario for Arsenal, who headed to St James’ Park to face Newcastle knowing any slip-up not only would likely cost them 
Champions League football, but also hand it to their fiercest rivals. Leading the race for fourth spot by a solitary point from Tottenham at kick-off, the Gunners simply had to keep their fate in their own hands, and a second-half goal from Laurent Koscielny secured a crucial 1-0 victory.
Crestfallen Tottenham went into their home clash with Sunderland knowing they needed an almighty favour from Newcastle, but they didn’t get it as a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane was rendered insignificant. Andre Villas-Boas’ side, for the second season running, suffered the agony of narrowly missing out on Champions League football, despite Gareth Bale’s late wonder strike.
Chelsea won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge against David Moyes’ Everton. In Benitez’s last game in charge, strikes from Juan Mata and Fernando Torres assured the Blues of third spot, meaning Arsenal will have to go through Champions League qualifying at the start of next season.
Michael Owen, another to be leaving football to pursue TV opportunities next term, signed off with a 1-1 draw as Stoke held Southampton. The result, which saw both Peter Crouch and Rickie Lambert on the scoresheet, sees Stoke finish 13th while Saints end their campaign a place below.
Relegated FA Cup winners Wigan signed off from the Premier League with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, meaning they ultimately missed out on safety by three points. Emmerson Boyce’s goal cancelled out Darren Bent’s effort at the DW Stadium before Nathan Baker’s own goal handed the Latics the lead, only for Ron Vlaar to equalise to leave Villa to settle for an 15th-placed finish.
This weekends results saw 131-players share the Oracle’s £2,000 prediction pot with each player earning themselves £15.27 apiece (7-players MAXIFIED meaning they will earn £30.54) as the 2012/13 EPL season ended with a BANG!
See you next season … 90-days and counting!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS
| Anthony Adeane |
| Tyler Adegbite-agun |
| Julian Aikins |
| Elliot Ali |
| Nicola Anderson |
| Lee Appleton |
| Adam Atkinson |
| Vedat Avdyli |
| Oliver Avery |
| Yll Azemi |
| Surrinder Bassan |
| Catherine Bedford |
| George Beels |
| Faruk Behrami |
| Krenar Berisha |
| Laurence Beveridge |
| deziree Billing |
| Garth Bolton |
| David Briggs |
| Ben Broadhead |
| Patrick Buckingham |
| Sevdaim Canolli |
| Sevdaim Canolli |
| Jonathan Cartuche |
| Joachim Cassel |
| Dee Caton |
| Nick Clough |
| Andy Collins |
| Dan Cooper |
| Gary Couzin |
| Andy Coy |
| Pete Craig |
| Neil Davies |
| Craig Deakin |
| Dominic Diba |
| James Diba |
| Sophie Dickinson |
| Katya Dimitrova |
| Sarah Dragon |
| Thomas Elvidge |
| Darren Emery |
| Craig Evans |
| Daniel Ferris |
| Richard Field |
| William Finlay |
| Mark Folley |
| Justin Forman |
| Danny Forrest |
| Sarah Gardener |
| Rexhep Gashi |
| Ngadhnjim Gllasoviku |
| Mark Green |
| Neil Green |
| Gaven Grove |
| Kyle Hamid |
| Carole Harris |
| Dan Harvey |
| Cime Hasa |
| Mensur Havolli |
| Kev Hilton |
| Kerri Holman |
| Lewis Honey |
| James Hutchinson |
| Miles Keeley |
| Jay Keith |
| Lucyanne Kelly |
| Karl Kelly |
| Matt Keracher |
| Marc Kleboe |
| Yll Krasniqi |
| Bled Latifi |
| Stephen Leahey |
| Paul Leahey |
| Scott Lee |
| Chris Lloyd |
| Stuart Long |
| Mark McDonald |
| Stephen Mcevoy |
| Christopher Meredith |
| Mark Mills |
| Rob Milton |
| Jimmy Moon |
| Kevin Murphy |
| Les Murray |
| Kelvin Naisbitt |
| Alex Nelson |
| Xhevdet Nuli |
| Isa Obertinca |
| Stefan Orlov |
| Mark Oryang |
| José Parra |
| Besim Pasjaqa |
| Ryan Perry |
| Michael Price |
| Dafydd Pritchard |
| Lisa Quinn |
| Steve Ralph |
| Elliott Rampley |
| Robert Ravenall |
| Stephen Reid |
| Armend Retkoceri |
| Rebecca Richards |
| David Roberts |
| Mark Roberts |
| Marie Robinson |
| mathew rogers |
| Florim Sadriu |
| Ko Saito |
| Ivan Serrano |
| Khilen Shah |
| Khilen Shah |
| Dan Shanahan |
| Hasan Shatri |
| Adrian Sheppard |
| Terry Shoulder |
| Jitender Singh |
| Adam Smith |
| Richard Smith |
| Chay Spreadborough |
| Chris Streety |
| Rhiannon Swatton |
| Edwina Sweeney |
| Graham Tattersall |
| Matt Thacker |
| Darren Thomas |
| Blanca Vivar Rivera |
| Paul Ward |
| Jack Watts |
| Darren Weeden |
| Christine Westcott |
| Ryan Woof |
Predictions In Numbers:
- 4 x Correct Predictions – 23% of players
- 3 x Correct Predictions – 41% of players
- 2 x Correct Predictions – 24% of players
- 1 x Correct Predictions – 10% of players
- 0 x Correct Predictions – 2% of players
Match Outcomes In Numbers:
Chelsea 2 – 1 Everton
(69% of all players predicted a Chelsea win)
Newcastle 0 – 1 Arsenal
(72% of all players predicted an Arsenal win)
Southampton 1 – 1 Stoke City
(33% of all players predicted a draw)
Tottenham 1 – 0 Sunderland
(82% of all players predicted a Tottenham win)
Wigan 2 – 2 Aston Villa
(25% of all players predicted a draw)
Chelsea 2 – 1 Everton
(69% of all players predicted a Chelsea win)
Fernando Torres scored his first Premier League goal of 2013 as Chelsea sealed third place with a victory which saw David Moyes’ 11-year reign as Everton manager end in defeat.
Twelve months to the day since Chelsea’s Champions League win in Munich, Juan Mata put the hosts in front, only for Steven Naismith to swiftly equalise for 
Manchester United-bound Moyes’ visitors.
The Europa League winners were on top in the second half and sealed victory through £50million striker Torres’ first league goal since December 23 as Rafael Benitez’s seven-month spell ended with a 28th win from 48 matches.
Substitute Nikica Jelavic had three good chances for Everton, but Moyes’ men were beaten in his 518th and last game in charge before his move to Old Trafford.
Victory for Chelsea ended the prospect of a play-off with Arsenal to determine the final automatic qualifying place for the Champions League and means they depart for the United States tomorrow for their post-season tour with Benitez’s mission accomplished.
The Spaniard arrived in November with Chelsea in disarray, but he has steered the Blues through the turmoil and departs with both his and the club’s reputation restored before handing over to his successor, who could yet be the returning ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho.
Newcastle 0 – 1 Arsenal
(72% of all players predicted an Arsenal win)
Laurent Koscielny ensured Arsenal of a place in the Champions League qualifiers with the only goal in a tight encounter at Newcastle.
The central defender prodded home from close range seven minutes after the break to ensure that the Gunners could not be overhauled by north London rivals 
Tottenham in the fight for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.
But the result was in doubt until the final kick of the game, with Tottenham’s home win over Sunderland meaning a late equaliser for Alan Pardew’s men would have meant Spurs and not the Gunners getting a shot at Europe’s premier club competition.
Newcastle had motivation of their own, after owner Mike Ashley’s offer of £1million to be shared between the club’s non-footballing staff if they ended a difficult campaign with a victory.
But ultimately, a third successive defeat at St James’ Park, albeit despite a much-improved display, saw the staff go empty-handed and 38-year-old goalkeeper Steve Harper denied the perfect finish to his long career on Tyneside in front of a crowd of 52,354.
Southampton 1 – 1 Stoke City
(33% of all players predicted a draw)
Michael Owen called time on his career today but there was to be no fairy-tale ending, as Stoke were held to a draw at Southampton.
After an illustrious career that has taken him to Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United, the former England striker announced in March that this was to be his last season.
Winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2001, a career that started with such brilliance tailed off in his latter years as injuries took their toll.
The fact Owen has not started a league match for Stoke since joining them last summer only highlights that and he began the final game of his career on the bench.
The clash got off to a blistering start with Adam Lallana hitting the post and Rickie Lambert having a goal chalked off for offside inside the opening 31 seconds.
That was as good as it got in a poor first half, with Stoke returning after the break with a bang as Peter Crouch headed them ahead within two minutes.
Lambert netted the 15th goal of his debut Barclays Premier League season to level and, with 16 minutes remaining, Owen came on to a standing ovation from all four corners of the ground.
There was to be no dream ending, though, as the match ended 1-1, leaving both sides looking forward to another season in the Premier League and the former England striker preparing for a life after football.
Tottenham 1 – 0 Sunderland
(82% of all players predicted a Tottenham win)
Tottenham suffered yet more Champions League heartache as they missed out on a top-four berth to Arsenal despite yet another wonder goal from Gareth Bale.
Referee Andre Marriner denied Tottenham two clear penalties before Bale fired home his 26th goal of the season right at the death to give the home side a 1-0 win over Sunderland.
Villas-Boas and his backroom staff were incensed at Marriner’s decisions. Sebastian Larsson bundled Bale over in the box, but the 23-year-old was booked for diving, while Carlos Cuellar clearly handled Clint Dempsey’s shot in the second half but the referee’s whistle stayed silent.
Despite Bale’s heroics, Tottenham will have to settle for a place in the Europa League again next season, as Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Newcastle ensured that they finished in fourth position.
Viewed with a cold heart, it could be said that Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has failed this season. He was set the target of Champions League qualification but his team have fallen short.
After beating Arsenal here on March 3 Spurs held a seven-point gap over their biggest rivals, but a run of five wins in their remaining nine games allowed Arsenal to finish above their rivals for the 18th consecutive season.
To castigate the Portuguese would be extremely harsh, however, given that he has managed to collect 72 points – a record haul for the club in the Premier League era – despite the departure of key players and injuries to the likes of Sandro and Younes Kaboul.
Wigan 2 – 2 Aston Villa
(25% of all players predicted a draw)
Wigan’s eight seasons in the Barclays Premier League came to an end with an entertaining draw against Aston Villa.
Darren Bent took advantage of a rare start to put the visitors ahead less then five minutes in but Emmerson Boyce levelled in the 21st minute before an own goal from Nathan Baker just before half-time put the FA Cup winners ahead.
Wigan pushed for a third at the start of the second half but they were pegged back in the 61st minute by Ron Vlaar’s brilliant volley, and that was the way it stayed.
For much of the season it looked like this game could be crucial in the relegation battle but Wigan’s defeat by Arsenal on Tuesday meant their fate was already decided.
FORM: DDLLD FORM: LWWDL
The Oracle’s Prediction: DRAW
The Saints are five matches without a win and finish the season against Tony Pulis’ side, who ended a New Year slump in April with successive wins to secure Premier League safety
SOUTHAMPTON  Boruc Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Shaw Schneiderlin, Cork Davis, Lallana, Rodriguez Lambert |
STOKE Begovic Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson Walters, N’Zonzi, Whitehead, Etherington Jerome Crouch |
Southampton are without the suspended Danny Fox so Luke Shaw is set to continue at left-back, while Mauricio Pochettino has named Jose Fonte at centre-back alongside Jos Hooiveld of late, with Maya Yoshida on the bench.
Playmaker Gaston Ramirez is suspended, so Steven Davis, Adam Lallana, and Jay Rodriguez are set to start in attack behind target-man Rickie Lambert, although Jason Puncheon could feature at some point.
Stoke have named a settled back line in recent weeks and Ryan Shotton could again start at right-back with Geoff Cameron on the bench.
Charlie Adam is suspended while fellow midfielder Glenn Whelan (groin) is doubtful, so forward Jon Walters could feature on the right flank opposite Matthew Etherington on the left, with striker Cameron Jerome coming into the team alongside Peter Crouch.
- Both teams are safe from relegation but either could finish anywhere between 10th and 17th.
- Southampton appeared to have secured their Premier League status with a run of three successive victories beginning in March, but after a run of five matches without a win, they were only mathematically safe after Wigan’s relegation was confirmed.
- Mauricio Pochettino’s side have scored 48 goals so far this season, more than every team below eighth placed West Brom, but have now scored just two from their last five matches in a run of three draws and two defeats.
- The south coast club have dropped the most points (29) from winning positions in the Premier League this season.
- The Saints’ 23-year-old midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has made both more tackles (144) and more interceptions (138) in the Premier League this season than any other player.
- Rickie Lambert (pictured) has scored 14 league goals this season, more than any other English player except Frank Lampard (15) and Theo Walcott (14), but the striker has now gone six matches without finding the back of the net.
- Stoke secured their Premier League safety after back-to-back wins in April followed a run of six defeats in seven matches, but they have still collected the fewest Premier League points in 2013 so far (12).
- Stoke City have committed the most fouls (478) and been given the most yellow cards (76) in the Premier League this season, while only Arsenal (5) have been given more red cards than the Potters (4).
- The Potters have won just two of their last 27 away matches in the Premier League, scoring just 12 away goals this season and netting just 33 in total, fewer than all but bottom-placed QPR (30).
- When the clubs last met, however, Stoke came back from two goals down to draw 3-3 at the Britannia Stadium with an outstanding late goal from Cameron Jerome, and the last three league meetings between Southampton and Stoke have seen 16 goals scored.
FORM: LDWLL FORM: DLWWL
The Oracle’s Prediction: WIGAN
Aston Villa will be without suspended striker Christian Benteke for Sunday’s final match of the season against relegated Wigan at the DW Stadium.
The 19-goal forward has a ban to serve following his dismissal for two bookings in last weekend’s defeat by Chelsea, possibly handing Darren Bent a rare start.
Right-back Matthew Lowton could return following a thigh problem while midfielder Karim El Ahmadi (also thigh) is back in contention, but defender Ciaran Clark (foot) misses out.
Wigan winger Callum McManaman will miss the game after suffering an ankle injury in the 4-1 defeat by Arsenal on Tuesday that condemned the Latics to relegation.
McManaman has damaged ankle ligaments and, although he does not need an operation, manager Roberto Martinez expects him to be out for up to three months, meaning he will also miss the European Under-21 Championships in Israel next month.
Martinez has concerns over a couple of knocks and niggles while wing-back Jean Beausejour will hope to return from a hamstring problem.
Teams:
Wigan (from): Robles, Boyce, Alcaraz, Scharner, Gomez, Watson, Espinoza, McArthur, McCarthy, Maloney, Kone, Al Habsi, Henriquez, Golobart, Caldwell, Di Santo, Fyvie, Beausejour.
Aston Villa (from): Guzan, Given, Lowton, Vlaar, Lichaj, Stevens, Baker, Bennett, Sylla, Ireland, Gardner, Westwood, Dawkins, N’Zogbia, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Holman, Agbonlahor, Bent, Bowery, Weimann.
FORM: WDWDW FORM: WWLDD
The Oracle’s Prediction: TOTTENHAM
Emmanuel Adebayor could cap off an amazing transformation on Sundayunday as he looks to be the key to Tottenham’s UEFA Champions League bid.
Tottenham will host Sunderland at White Hart Lane on the final day of the 2012-13 Premier League, knowing victory is their only option if they are to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League ahead of arch-rivals Arsenal.
With 90 minutes remaining in this campaign, Tottenham sit fifth in the table with 69 points and plus 19 goal difference, while Arsenal (70 points, plus 34) hold fourth spot and its accompanying berth in the qualifying stages of the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League.
Tottenham must defeat 17th-placed Sunderland on Sunday and hope Arsenal fail to win away to Newcastle United if they are to claim fourth position and, surprisingly, Adebayor may be the main man for manager Andre Villas-Boas.
The 29-year-old Togolese striker has generally been a target of scorn for Tottenham fans this season as they have ripped into Adebayor for his lack of endeavour and goals.
While Adebayor was brilliant for Tottenham during Harry Redknapp’s tenure, scoring 18 goals last season, the striker has only hit the back of the net eight times under Villas-Boas.
But in a fantastic finish to his season, Adebayor has scored five of those goals in Tottenham’s past 10 matches in all competitions, including one in each of the past two games.
Adebayor scored a brilliant solo goal in his side’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea on May 7 before setting up the decisive equaliser, while the former Arsenal forward struck the winner last week in Tottenham’s 2-1 victory away to Stoke.
Tottenham have not lost in seven Premier League games, including three draws, but cannot afford anything less than a win against Sunderland, who have little to play for this weekend after Wigan were relegated on Tuesday.
In a bonus for Villas-Boas, Sunderland manager Paolo di Canio will have to do without Benin international Stephane Sessegnon, who was sent off in last week’s 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Aston Villa.
Villas-Boas should also take confidence from Sunderland’s away form, as Di Canio’s side have picked up just three points from their past six Premier League games on the road.
FORM: LDLDW FORM: DWDWW
The Oracle’s Prediction: ARSENAL
Arsenal will be looking for a rare win at St James’ Park against Newcastle to secure a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
With fourth position in the English Premier League yet to be decided heading into the final day of the season, Arsenal need a victory on Sunday to be assured of a top-four finish ahead of arch-rivals Tottenham, who host Sunderland.
Arsenal sit fourth on the Premier League table with 70 points and plus 34 goal difference, while Tottenham (69, plus 19) are in fifth position.
To wrap up a spot in the qualifying stages of next season’s UEFA Champions League, Arsenal will need to achieve something they have only managed once since 2004 – win at St James’ Park – or leave their fate in the hands of rivals Spurs.
Since Arsene Wenger took charge as the London club’s manager in 1996, Arsenal have only won five of 15 games away to Newcastle and if they fail to claim three points on Sunday, Tottenham could leapfrog them into fourth position.
While Newcastle have only one of their past five games, Wenger will be wary of the home form of Alan Pardew’s side, as the north-east club have triumphed in four of their past six matches at St James’ Park.
Wenger’s team have won eight of their past 10 Premier League fixtures and will most likely look to Theo Walcott for goals against Newcastle.
Walcott has scored in Arsenal’s past three games to move to the top of the club’s Premier League goal-scoring charts with 14 for the season, two ahead of Santi Cazorla.
Last week, Newcastle broke a run of five games without victory in all competitions, beating Queens Park Rangers 2-1 to secure Premier League football for next season and moving up to 13th in the standings.
Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran hit the back of the net for Pardew’s team.
Gouffran has been handy for Newcastle since Pardew signed him in the January transfer window with last week’s goal his third since arriving from Bordeaux, while he has created two others in the Premier League.
FORM: DWWDW FORM: DLWDW
The Oracle’s Prediction: CHELSEA
Rafael Benitez and David Moyes bid farewell to their respective clubs on Sunday and will look to end their tenures on a high.
Chelsea are looking for a victory at Stamford Bridge to avoid the prospect of a play-off with Arsenal for third place in the Premier League.
Benitez’s side know three points will guarantee them third place but if they draw 0-0 and Arsenal beat Newcastle United by more than one goal, Arsene Wenger’s men would overhaul them.
If Chelsea were to draw 0-0 and Arsenal win 2-1 the two teams will be level on points, goal difference and goals scored which would mean a third-place play-off match for the first time in Premier League history.
For Everton and their Manchester United-bound boss, they know victory would give them their best points record in the Premier League, one more than the 65 they achieved in 2007-08.
Moyes has never guided his side to victory at Stamford Bridge, in fact Everton have not won there in the league since November 1994 when a Paul Rideout goal handed them all three points.
Everton come into the game with just two defeats in their last 10 games but their recent record is bettered by Benitez’s side, who have only lost once in the league in that time.
Eden Hazard, John Terry and Ryan Bertrand all missed out in Amsterdam and they look unlikely to make this clash due to hamstring, ankle and knee injuries respectively.
Everton’s only concern is around Phil Neville, the 36-year-old has not played for the club since March and a knee injury means he will not recover in time to make one final appearance before leaving the club at the end of the season.
