The Final Countdown - Football History's stories of glory and heartbreak in the biggest finals

The Special One is back for more. Arsenal's Invincibles are fading. And Manchester United are desperate to stop Chelsea turning the Premier League into their own personal playground.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 2005/06, as José Mourinho's Chelsea attempt to defend their title — and immediately threaten to leave the rest of English football trailing in their wake.With Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and a resurgent Joe Cole, Chelsea begin the campaign in devastating form, winning their opening nine league matches. Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson faces growing questions at Old Trafford, with Roy Keane's explosive departure and United's struggles threatening to derail another title challenge.Arsène Wenger's Arsenal are also entering a period of transition, with Patrick Vieira gone and the club preparing to leave Highbury. But while the old rivalry falters, a new battle for supremacy is emerging between Mourinho and Ferguson.We revisit the games that shaped the season — from Manchester United ending Chelsea's 40-match unbeaten league run with a 1–0 victory at Old Trafford, to United's remarkable late-season charge and Chelsea's emphatic 3–0 victory over their closest challengers at Stamford Bridge that finally secured a second successive championship.With Chelsea finishing eight points clear, was Mourinho's title won during that extraordinary opening run, or did United's late resurgence make the decisive meeting at Stamford Bridge the defining moment?So which game really decided the 2005/06 Premier League title?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

The Special One arrives. Abramovich's millions begin to pay off. And the balance of power in English football is about to change forever.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 2004/05, as José Mourinho arrives at Stamford Bridge determined to break the dominance of Arsenal and Manchester United — and immediately transforms Chelsea into an unstoppable force.Arsène Wenger's Invincibles begin the campaign looking to extend their remarkable unbeaten run, while Sir Alex Ferguson's United are desperate to reclaim their crown. But Chelsea, inspired by Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and a defence that simply refuses to concede, are about to rewrite the Premier League record books.We revisit the games that shaped this extraordinary season — from Manchester United ending Arsenal's 49-match unbeaten run at Old Trafford, to Chelsea's crucial victories over their title rivals and the afternoon at Bolton when Lampard's double secured Chelsea's first league championship in 50 years.With a record 95 points and just 15 goals conceded, Mourinho's Chelsea didn't just win the league — they changed the standards required to compete at the very top.So which game really decided the 2004/05 Premier League title? Was it the end of Arsenal's Invincibles, Chelsea's relentless consistency, or the moment Mourinho proved that a new era had truly begun?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

A Russian billionaire arrives in West London. Ferguson's Manchester United begin to falter. And Arsène Wenger's Arsenal are about to achieve something that hasn't been done in English football for over a century.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 2003/04 — the year Arsenal became The Invincibles.Roman Abramovich's takeover transforms Chelsea overnight, with Claudio Ranieri handed a fortune to build a title-winning side. Meanwhile, Ferguson's attempts to rebuild Manchester United following David Beckham's departure fail to deliver, with questionable transfers and Rio Ferdinand's suspension leaving the reigning champions vulnerable.But it's Wenger's Arsenal who steal the show. Inspired by Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pirès and Dennis Bergkamp, they embark on an extraordinary unbeaten campaign that will define a generation.We revisit the games that shaped this remarkable season — from Ruud van Nistelrooy's dramatic penalty miss at Old Trafford, to Arsenal's crucial victory at Stamford Bridge and the unforgettable afternoon at White Hart Lane when the Gunners clinched the title on Tottenham's own ground.Was this the greatest Premier League team of all time? Could Chelsea's newfound wealth have derailed Arsenal's ambitions? And which game really decided the 2003/04 Premier League title?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

Eight points clear. The reigning champions seemingly cruising towards another title. But Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United weren't finished yet.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 2002/03, as Arsène Wenger's Arsenal look to retain their Premier League crown — only to find their greatest rivals mounting one of the most relentless comebacks in title race history.With Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès and Patrick Vieira leading the charge, Arsenal appear destined for back-to-back championships. But Ferguson's United, inspired by Ruud van Nistelrooy's extraordinary goalscoring form, refuse to go away.We revisit the games that turned the title race on its head — from United's crucial victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford, to the explosive 2–2 draw at Highbury, and Arsenal's devastating collapse against Bolton that handed the initiative to United.We also explore the growing bitterness between Wenger and Ferguson, the emergence of a rivalry that was becoming increasingly personal, and the remarkable consistency that saw United finish the season with 18 wins from their final 21 league games.So where was the 2002/03 Premier League title really won and lost? Was it United's relentless pursuit, Arsenal's failure to hold their nerve, or the moment Ferguson once again proved he was the master of the title run-in?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

Three titles in a row. A manager preparing to walk away. And an Arsenal side determined to end Manchester United's dominance.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 2001/02, as Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United chase an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title — but with uncertainty hanging over Old Trafford following his announcement that he intends to retire.With United distracted and struggling for consistency, Arsène Wenger senses his opportunity. Arsenal are building something special, with Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp spearheading a serious challenge. But they're not alone, as Gérard Houllier's Liverpool emerge as genuine contenders in a fascinating three-way title race.We revisit United's extraordinary defensive problems, Ferguson's dramatic retirement U-turn and the key games that shifted the balance of power — culminating in Arsenal's famous victory at Old Trafford, where Sylvain Wiltord's goal secured the championship on their greatest rivals' own ground.Was Ferguson's retirement announcement the beginning of United's downfall? Could Liverpool have broken the duopoly? And which game really decided the 2001/02 Premier League title?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

Manchester United had won the Treble. They’d followed it by winning the league by 18 points. Surely they couldn’t get even better?They could.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 2000/01, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United chase a third successive Premier League title — and proceed to blow away almost everyone who tries to stop them.Arsenal remain their closest established rivals, while Liverpool and a hugely exciting Leeds side continue to develop. But by the middle of the season, United are disappearing into the distance.We revisit the games that demonstrated just how far ahead Ferguson’s side had become — culminating in the extraordinary 6–1 demolition of Arsenal at Old Trafford, when United were 5–1 up before half-time and effectively ended any lingering hopes of a title race.With Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Keane, Cole, Yorke, Sheringham and Solskjær, this was a United squad overflowing with attacking options — and seemingly capable of destroying opponents from anywhere.United eventually secured the title with five games still to play, becoming only the fourth club in English football history to win three consecutive league championships.So was the 6–1 destruction of Arsenal the game that decided the 2000/01 Premier League title — or had Ferguson’s champions already broken the chasing pack long before then?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

The Treble winners returned. Arsenal came again. And a fearless young Leeds side announced themselves as the Premier League’s next great challengers.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 1999/2000 — a campaign that ultimately became one of the most dominant title victories in Premier League history.David O’Leary’s exciting young Leeds United emerge as genuine contenders, while Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal look to reclaim the crown. But standing above them both is a Manchester United side that, once it finds its stride, simply destroys everything in its path.We revisit the moments when the title race began to unravel for United’s challengers, including Arsenal’s damaging winter run and Leeds’ attempt to turn youthful promise into a genuine championship challenge.And we look at the extraordinary finish from Ferguson’s side: 11 consecutive Premier League victories to end the season, as United disappear over the horizon and eventually finish a staggering 18 points clear of Arsenal.After the drama of 1998/99, this time there was no final-day shootout. So when did the 1999/2000 title race really end — and which game made everyone else realise Manchester United were simply too good?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

The Treble. The comeback in Barcelona. Giggs against Arsenal. But before all of that, there was a Premier League title race that went right down to the final day.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we return to 1998/99, as Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal attempt to defend their title against a Manchester United side about to embark on the greatest season in their history.United and Arsenal trade blows throughout the campaign, with barely anything separating them as the season reaches its climax. We revisit the key moments that shifted the balance — including Arsenal’s emphatic 3–0 victory over United at Highbury, the psychological shift in the FA Cup semi final, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s goal for Leeds that finally handed the advantage back to Ferguson’s side.With one game remaining, United still had to come from behind against Tottenham at Old Trafford to make absolutely certain.So where was the 1998/99 Premier League title really decided? And how close did Arsenal come to stopping the Treble before anyone even knew there was going to be one?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

A new manager. A new philosophy. And the beginning of the greatest rivalry the Premier League has ever seen.The 1997/98 season was the year Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal went head-to-head with Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United — and English football would never quite be the same again.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we revisit a title race that appeared to be United’s to lose. The champions had opened up a commanding lead and, with Arsenal seemingly out of contention, another Ferguson title looked inevitable.Then everything changed.We look at Arsenal’s remarkable late-season charge, powered by Bergkamp, Overmars, Vieira and a defence inherited from the old Arsenal — and focus on the afternoon at Old Trafford when Marc Overmars scored the goal that transformed the title race.But was that really where the league was won? Or had the momentum shifted earlier, when Arsenal beat United 3–2 at Highbury? And how did a side that had looked beaten suddenly become champions with games to spare?Most importantly, this was about more than one title. Wenger had proved Manchester United could be beaten — and Ferguson had finally found an opponent who could challenge him season after season.This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.

The Entertainers are back. Manchester United are champions. And somehow, Liverpool and Newcastle are about to do it all over again.The 1996/97 Premier League season began with Newcastle desperate to finish the job after the heartbreak of the previous year. But halfway through the campaign, Kevin Keegan suddenly walked away — leaving behind a title challenge and one of the great mysteries of the Premier League era.In this episode of The Games That Decided the Season, we ask where the title was really won.Was it United’s response to an extraordinary autumn collapse, when Ferguson’s champions suffered three consecutive league defeats — conceding 13 goals along the way — including that infamous 5–0 humiliation at Newcastle?Or was it another extraordinary night at Anfield, when Liverpool and Newcastle somehow produced another 4–3 classic, almost exactly a year after the first?We revisit Keegan’s shock departure, United’s ability to recover when seemingly in crisis, Newcastle’s attempt to keep their challenge alive without the man who had transformed the club, and a title race in which nobody seemed particularly keen on taking control.So which game really decided the 1996/97 Premier League title?This is The Final Countdown — football history and nostalgia, as we look back at the games where an entire season changed.