Champions: Arsenal Top Scorer (Golden Boot): Dion Dublin (Coventry City), Michael Owen (Liverpool), Chris Sutton (Blackburn Rovers) – 18 goals each Relegated Teams: Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley, Crystal Palace
European Qualification: Champions League: Arsenal, Manchester United UEFA Cup (Europa League): Liverpool, Leeds United, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers Cup Winners’ Cup: Chelsea and Newcastle
The Premier League 1997-98 Season
Season Overview:
The 1997/98 Premier League season saw Arsenal claim their first league title since 1991, securing a historic league and FA Cup double under Arsène Wenger. The Gunners finished one point ahead of Manchester United after an incredible second-half surge, winning 45 points from a possible 51 after Christmas. Wenger became the first non-British manager to win the English top flight as a result, forever writing himself into the history books.
Arsenal’s win was made even more impressive by the fact that Manchester United led by 12 points at one stage, but still didn’t manage to win the league. A loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford in March proved to be decisive.
At the bottom, Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley, and Crystal Palace were relegated. Bolton’s fate was sealed on goal difference, finishing level on points with Everton, who survived by a margin of just five goals.
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Arsenal
38
23
9
6
68
33
35
78
2
Manchester United
38
23
8
7
73
26
47
77
3
Liverpool
38
18
11
9
68
42
26
65
4
Chelsea
38
20
3
15
71
43
28
63
5
Leeds United
38
17
8
13
57
46
11
59
6
Blackburn Rovers
38
16
10
12
57
52
5
58
7
Aston Villa
38
17
6
15
49
48
1
57
8
West Ham United
38
16
8
14
56
57
-1
56
9
Derby County
38
16
7
15
52
49
3
55
10
Leicester City
38
13
14
11
51
41
10
53
11
Coventry City
38
12
16
10
46
44
2
52
12
Southampton
38
14
6
18
50
55
-5
48
13
Newcastle United
38
11
11
16
35
44
-9
44
14
Tottenham Hotspur
38
11
11
16
44
56
-12
44
15
Wimbledon
38
10
14
14
34
46
-12
44
16
Sheffield Wednesday
38
12
8
18
52
67
-15
44
17
Everton
38
9
13
16
41
56
-15
40
18
Bolton Wanderers
38
9
13
16
41
61
-20
40
19
Barnsley
38
10
5
23
37
82
-45
35
20
Crystal Palace
38
8
9
21
37
71
-34
33
Total Goals Scored
1,019
End
Month-by-Month Breakdown
August 1997 – Season Kicks Off
Manchester United and Arsenal made strong starts. Dennis Bergkamp produced a memorable hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Leicester City. Barnsley won their first-ever Premier League match but were soon humbled by a 6-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Player of the Month: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
September 1997 – Early Contenders Emerge
Manchester United topped the table with a winning run, while Michael Owen continued what would go on to be his breakthrough season. Arsenal stayed close behind. Newcastle and Tottenham struggled, while Crystal Palace and Barnsley faced early relegation fears, which ended up being well founded.
Player of the Month: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
October 1997 – United’s Dominance
Manchester United recorded the season’s biggest win, beating Barnsley 7-0, with Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs scoring a hat-trick and brace respectively. Sheffield Wednesday sacked David Pleat, with Ron Atkinson returning to the club as caretaker manager.
Player of the Month: Paulo Wanchope (Derby County)
November 1997 – Arsenal’s Statement Win
Arsenal defeated Manchester United 3-2 at Highbury, reducing United’s lead at the top of the league, with Teddy Sherringham’s brace not enough to stop the Gunners winning on their own patch. Again on the managerial front, Tottenham’s Gerry Francis resigned as manager, replaced by Christian Gross.
Player of the Month: Andy Cole (Manchester United) and Kevin Davies (Southampton)
December 1997 – United Extend Lead
Manchester United ended the year 12 points clear at the top, with big wins over Wimbledon and Sheffield Wednesday in which they scored 11 goals. Arsenal struggled but won a crucial Boxing Day match against Leicester City.
Player of the Month: Steve McMannaman (Liverpool)
January 1998 – Arsenal Begin Fightback
Arsenal won all but one of their January fixtures, sparking a remarkable comeback. Spurs continued to struggle despite Gross’s arrival, while Everton’s relegation fears increased.
Player of the Month: Dion Dublin (Coventry City)
February 1998 – Chelsea Sack Gullit
Ruud Gullit was sacked by Chelsea, replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who won his first match in charge. Arsenal kept winning, setting up a crucial showdown with Manchester United in March.
Player of the Month: Chris Sutton (Blackburn Rovers)
March 1998 – The Turning Point
Arsenal beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, thanks to Marc Overmars’ winner. This result changed the title race, bringing Arsenal within a point of the leaders and with momentum on their side.
Player of the Month: Alex Manninger (Arsenal)
April 1998 – Arsenal Take Control
Arsenal overtook Manchester United and clinched the title with two games to spare, beating Everton 4-0 at Highbury.
Player of the Month: Emmanuel Petit (Arsenal)
May 1998 – Final Day Drama
Bolton Wanderers were relegated on goal difference, despite drawing 0-0 with Chelsea. Everton survived by just five goals. Arsenal completed the Double, beating Newcastle 2-0 in the FA Cup Final.
Key Results
Major Matches & Moments
Biggest Upset: Leicester 3-3 Arsenal (August 27, 1997) – Bergkamp’s iconic hat-trick in one of the greatest Premier League matches ever that didn’t end up costing the Gunners in the title race, which some feared it would.
Best Match: Manchester United 7-0 Barnsley (October 25, 1997) – United’s biggest win of the season as they thumped Barnsley at Old Trafford with goals from Scholes, Giggs and co.
Most Dramatic Match: Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United (November 9, 1997) – Arsenal laid down a marker in the title race in their first of two wins over the Red Devils this season.
Best Goal: Dennis Bergkamp in Leicester 3-3 Arsenal – The third of Bergkamp’s goals saw the Dutchman beautifully control a long pass from David Platt before flicking it over the defender and slotting it past the keeper.
Home Team/ Away Team
ARS
AST
BAR
BLB
BOL
CHE
COV
CPA
DER
EVE
LEE
LEI
LIV
MNU
NEW
SHW
SOT
TOT
WHU
WDN
Arsenal
0–0
5–0
1–3
4–1
2–0
2–0
1–0
1–0
4–0
2–1
2–1
0–1
3–2
3–1
1–0
3–0
0–0
4–0
5–0
Aston Villa
1–0
0–1
0–4
1–3
0–2
3–0
3–1
2–1
2–1
1–0
1–1
2–1
0–2
0–1
2–2
1–1
4–1
2–0
1–2
Barnsley
0–2
0–3
1–1
2–1
0–6
2–0
1–0
1–0
2–2
2–3
0–2
2–3
0–2
2–2
2–1
4–3
1–1
1–2
2–1
Blackburn Rovers
1–4
5–0
2–1
3–1
1–0
0–0
2–2
1–0
3–2
3–4
5–3
1–1
1–3
1–0
7–2
1–0
0–3
3–0
0–0
Bolton Wanderers
0–1
0–1
1–1
2–1
1–0
1–5
5–2
3–3
0–0
2–3
2–0
1–1
0–0
1–0
3–2
0–0
1–1
1–1
1–0
Chelsea
2–3
0–1
2–0
0–1
2–0
3–1
6–2
4–0
2–0
0–0
1–0
4–1
0–1
1–0
1–0
4–2
2–0
2–1
1–1
Coventry City
2–2
1–2
1–0
2–0
2–2
3–2
1–1
4–0
0–0
0–0
0–2
1–1
3–2
2–2
1–0
1–0
4–0
1–1
0–0
Crystal Palace
0–0
1–1
0–1
1–2
2–2
0–3
0–3
3–1
1–3
0–2
0–3
0–3
0–3
1–2
1–0
1–1
1–3
3–3
0–3
Derby County
3–0
0–1
1–0
3–1
4–0
0–1
3–1
0–0
3–1
0–5
0–4
1–0
2–2
1–0
3–0
4–0
2–1
2–0
1–1
Everton
2–2
1–4
4–2
1–0
3–2
3–1
1–1
1–2
1–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
2–1
0–0
Leeds United
1–1
1–1
2–1
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–3
0–2
4–3
0–0
0–1
0–2
1–0
4–1
1–2
0–1
1–0
3–1
1–1
Leicester City
3–3
1–0
1–0
1–1
0–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
0–1
1–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
1–1
3–3
3–0
2–1
0–1
Liverpool
4–0
3–0
0–1
0–0
2–1
4–2
1–0
2–1
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–2
1–3
1–0
2–1
2–3
4–0
5–0
2–0
Manchester United
0–1
1–0
7–0
4–0
1–1
2–2
3–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–0
0–1
1–1
1–1
6–1
1–0
2–0
2–1
2–0
Newcastle United
0–1
1–0
2–1
1–1
2–1
3–1
0–0
1–2
0–0
1–0
1–1
3–3
1–2
0–1
2–1
2–1
1–0
0–1
1–3
Sheffield Wednesday
2–0
1–3
2–1
0–0
5–0
1–4
0–0
1–3
2–5
3–1
1–3
1–0
3–3
2–0
2–1
1–0
1–0
1–1
1–1
Southampton
1–3
1–2
4–1
3–0
0–1
1–0
1–2
1–0
0–2
2–1
0–2
2–1
1–1
1–0
2–1
2–3
3–2
3–0
0–1
Tottenham Hotspur
1–1
3–2
3–0
0–0
1–0
1–6
1–1
0–1
1–0
1–1
0–1
1–1
3–3
0–2
2–0
3–2
1–1
1–0
0–0
West Ham United
0–0
2–1
6–0
2–1
3–0
2–1
1–0
4–1
0–0
2–2
3–0
4–3
2–1
1–1
0–1
1–0
2–4
2–1
3–1
Wimbledon
0–1
2–1
4–1
0–1
0–0
0–2
1–2
0–1
0–0
0–0
1–0
2–1
1–1
2–5
0–0
1–1
1–0
2–6
1–2
Home Team/ Away Team
ARS
AST
BAR
BLB
BOL
CHE
COV
CPA
DER
EVE
LEE
LEI
LIV
MNU
NEW
SHW
SOT
TOT
WHU
WDN
Total Games Played: 380
Home Wins: 184
Draws: 95
Away Wins: 101
Total Goals: 1019
46.32%
28.14%
25.54%
Average goals/game:2.65
Top Scorers, Assists, and Clean Sheets
Golden Boot Winners:
Dion Dublin (Coventry City) – 18 goals
Michael Owen (Liverpool) – 18 goals
Chris Sutton (Blackburn Rovers) – 18 goals
Most Assists:
David Beckham (Manchester United) – 13 assists
Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) – 11 assists
Eyal Bergkovic (West Ham) – 10 assists
Most Clean Sheets:
Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United) – 16 clean sheets
Kasey Keller (Leicester) – 14 clean sheets
Mart Poom (Derby County) – 13 clean sheets
Place
Player
Club
Goals
1
Dion Dublin
Coventry City
18
2
Michael Owen
Liverpool
18
3
Chris Sutton
Blackburn
18
4
Dennis Bergkamp
Arsenal
16
5
Kevin Gallacher
Blackburn
16
6
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Leeds United
16
7
Andrew Cole
Man Utd
15
8
John Hartson
West Ham Utd
15
9
Darren Huckerby
Coventry City
14
10
Paulo Wanchope
Derby County
13
11
Francesco Baiano
Derby County
12
12
Nathan Blake
Bolton
12
13
Paolo Di Canio
Sheffield Wed
12
14
Marc Overmars
Arsenal
12
15
Dwight Yorke
Aston Villa
12
16
Duncan Ferguson
Everton
11
17
Tore Andre Flo
Chelsea
11
18
Matt Le Tissier
Southampton
11
19
Steve McManaman
Liverpool
11
20
Egil Ostenstad
Southampton
11
21
Gianluca Vialli
Chelsea
11
Managerial Changes
Sheffield Wednesday – David Pleat sacked (November 3, 1997) – replaced by Ron Atkinson (caretaker)
Tottenham Hotspur – Gerry Francis resigned (November 19, 1997) – replaced by Christian Gross
Chelsea – Ruud Gullit sacked (February 12, 1998) – replaced by Gianluca Vialli
Aston Villa – Brian Little resigned (February 24, 1998) – replaced by John Gregory
Crystal Palacde – Steve Coppell promoted to Director of Football (March 13, 1999) – replaced by Ron Noades and Ray Lewington (caretakers)
Key Transfers
Stan Collymore (Liverpool to Aston Villa) – £6m
Les Ferdinand (Newcastle to Tottenham) – £6m
Graeme Le Saux (Southampton to Chelsea) – £5m
Awards & Honors
Premier League Manager of the Season: Arsène Wenger (Arsenal)
Premier League Player of the Season: Michael Owen (Liverpool)
PFA Young Player of the Year: Michael Owen (Liverpool)
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