On six occasions in Premier League history, a title race has been decided by either a single point or goal difference.

With just one point presently separating Arsenal and Manchester City might a seventh go right to the wire?

Let’s hope so, because as these unforgettable conclusions remind us, when a league crown remains up for grabs on the final day the drama is incredible. 

Blackburn Rovers (1994/95)

All of the Premier League predictions had Manchester United down to win a third consecutive title, this despite newly-minted Blackburn coming strongly to the fore.

By the spring however, a reassessment was required, with Shearer and Sutton scoring goals for fun as Rovers racked up a healthy advantage.

Their lead slipped down the home straight but still, a victory at Anfield on the final day would have been enough, an opportunity they spurned. 

The relief was palpable therefore, when United only drew at West Ham, a result that made Jack Walker’s wildest dream come true at Ewood Park.

Manchester United (1998/99)

The betting markets were a chaotic affair at the tail-end of this unmissable season, with the Premier League winner odds changing week on week. 

With just a handful of fixtures left to play, Chelsea were seriously in the running but four draws in their last seven ultimately scuppered their chances.

This left just Manchester United and Arsenal to duke it out for the second year in a row, these two behemoths separated once again by just a single point.

The previous campaign saw the Gunners prevail but here United had the advantage, needing a final-day victory over Spurs at Old Trafford to ensure a fifth Premier League title. 

They had to come from behind to do it, an Andy Cole winner securing the first of three gleaming trophies to take into the next century. 

Manchester City (2021/22)

Liverpool were just two games shy of winning an unprecedented quadruple last term, their vintage campaign eventually undermined by a Vinicius strike in the Champions League final and a thrilling second-half comeback at the Etihad.

These are the fine lines that determine history.

Needing to beat Aston Villa at home to fend off the relentless Reds, Pep Guardiola’s men promptly conceded twice, leaving themselves just 20 minutes to pull of a second last-day miracle in the last decade.

In a whirlwind few minutes they did it, scoring three times in quick succession and leaving one half of Merseyside with the scant solace of two domestic cups. 

Arsenal (1988/89)

Anyone who witnessed Arsenal’s last-gasp title success at Anfield would have been absolutely certain no subsequent title race could ever top it for late drama. This was as good as it got. This was as surreal and crazy as it ever could get. 

At the home of their nearest rivals, the Gunners needed to win by a two-goal margin to pip them on goal difference and few teams scored in L4, never mind twice-over. It was a Herculean task.

But then, shortly after half-time, Alan Smith flicked a free-kick into the far corner and 1-0 it stayed until the 90th minute when, in a stadium ringing out to a chorus of nervous whistles, Michael Thomas went charging through the midfield. 

In front of a Friday night audience of millions, the final few pages of Fever Pitch played out, stranger than fiction. 

As title climaxes went, nothing could ever beat this. Could it?  

Manchester City (2011/12)

We are all excessively familiar with Martin Tyler’s commentary, that accompanied the goal.

We know all-too-well the build up to the main event, that saw Nigel De Jong ferry the ball forward, before Mario Balotelli fell to ground, assisting in unorthodox fashion Sergio Aguero.

If we close our eyes, we can vividly hear the ball rippling the back of QPR’s net and that moment of stunned silence before the Etihad stadium exploded into utter bedlam.

With Manchester United believing they had won yet another title, their noisy neighbours secured a first league crown for nearly half a century in a manner that still defies belief on every watch.


*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.