Power ranking the 11 best Premier League seasons ever

Updated at 9.54

11. 1997/98

(Arsenal’s Ian Wright, Marc Overmars, Martin Keown and Dennis Bergkamp celebrate winning the league – John Marsh/EMPICS Sport)

ARSENAL WON THEIR first-ever Premier League title, overcoming Man United by a single point, and garnering much praise in the process for the entertaining and innovative style of football which they had adopted. One of the most memorable moments of their triumph came when, fittingly, their long-serving captain Tony Adams scored a classy goal against Everton to effectively confirm their success.

Chelsea claimed the then-record for the fewest draws ever in a season, with just three. This ostensible all-or-nothing philosophy proved relatively effective, as they ultimately finished the season in fourth place.
It also remains the only season in which all three promoted sides have been subsequently relegated in their first season in the top flight.
It was the first season in which Frank Lampard would score at least five goals — a feat which he would emulate for the next 16 consecutive campaigns (and counting).

10. 2001/02

(Leicester City’s Ade Akinbiyi celebrates – Nick Potts/PA Archive/Press Association Images)

Despite having won the Premier League for the previous three seasons and spending £45 million on players of the calibre of Juan Sebastián Verón and Ruud van Nistelrooy, Man United finished in their lowest position ever, third, as Arsenal claimed their second double under Arsene Wenger. To compound Alex Ferguson’s woe, the Gunners confirmed their title win in the second last game of the season at Old Trafford, beating them 1-0 courtesy of a Sylvain Wiltord goal.

Arsenal also became the first-ever Premier League team to go the entire season unbeaten away from home.
The Gunners also remain the only team to score in every Premier League game over the course of the season.
Peter Schmeichel became the first-ever goalkeeper to score in the Premier League, netting in Aston Villa’s 3-2 loss to Everton.

9. 1998/99

(Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates – Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport)

Another dramatic final-day title finish, Arsenal had to rely on rivals Tottenham beating Man United in order to win the league. Despite Spurs going ahead, a classy David Beckham strike helped inspire a United fightback. The now legendary side also won the FA Cup and Champions League, becoming the first side to win that particular treble in the process.

It was United’s fifth league title in seven seasons, and the first of their (at the time) unprecedented PL three-in-a-row.
Arsenal failed to win the league despite achieving the rare feat of going the entire season unbeaten at home.
Blackburn suffered what remains officially the joint biggest decline in league position, coming 19th, having finished 6th the previous season.

8. 2009/10

(Blackburn Rovers’ Paul Robinson cleans his boots as the weather gets worse – Clint Hughes/PA Archive/Press Association Images)

An enthralling title race ended with Chelsea triumphing in a relatively straightforward manner, handing Carlo Ancelotti a trophy in his first season in charge as manager. Moreover, it was one of the most exciting sides to ever grace the league, as they scored a record of 103 goals over the course of the season.

Portsmouth became the first-ever Premier League club to go into administration.
United failed to win the title for a fourth successive season, with most critics pointing to the £80million departure of Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the main reasons for their disappointment.
Jermain Defoe broke the record for the most goals in one half, as he scored five in Tottenham’s 9-1 defeat of Wigan. He also holds the joint record for most goals in a single game.

7. 2003/04

(Thierry Henry celebrates – Sean Dempsey/PA Archive/Press Association Images)

Not the most exciting season to watch from a title race perspective, given that Arsenal won the league by a clear 11 points, but unforgettable for the manner in which they won it, going the entire season unbeaten — a feat that will surely never be repeated and one that was replicated only once by an English team (Preston in 1889).

Arsenal signed a young player by the name of Robin van Persie from Feyenoord for a mere £2.75million, while United bought the similarly prodigious Cristiano Ronaldo for £12.24million, replacing David Beckham, who left the club for Real Madrid.
After six years in charge, Gérard Houllier was sacked as Liverpool manager and replaced by Rafael Benítez.
Roman Abramovich took over as owner of Chelsea, though failed to win a trophy despite spending over £100 million on players in his first season.

6. 2002/03

(Everton’s Wayne Rooney celebrates – Nick Potts/PA Archive/Press Association Images)

Another remarkable season in which United won the league for the eighth time in 11 seasons despite being eight points behind Arsenal in early March. The campaign was also memorable for the unforgettable debut of a 16-year-old Wayne Rooney, during which he scored a superb late winner, as Everton beat Arsenal 2-1.

Leeds sacked David O’Leary, after he had failed to win a trophy after four years in charge, despite spending over £100million in transfers.
United bought Rio Ferdinand from Leeds for £29 million, breaking the British transfer record in the process.
Mick McCarthy’s Sunderland acquired the unfortunate distinction of being the worst Premier League team ever, having registered just four wins and 19 points all season.

5. 1992/93

(Brian Clough waves to the crowd before his last game as a manager – Ross Kinnaird/EMPICS Sport)

Though they managed to win the league by a clear ten points in the end, Man United and Fergie’s first Premier League title win seemed an unlikely triumph at the time. They had not won the league since the days of Matt Busby at the time and had blown it the previous season, losing out to Leeds having been top of the table for much of the campaign.

Paul McGrath won the PFA Player of the Year award, while Ryan Giggs notched the Young Player of the Year accolade.
Brian Clough retired from football management.
Manchester United broke the British transfer fee record, paying £3.75million for Roy Keane.

4. 2013/2014

Britain Soccer Premier League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

(A sign is flown above the ground during Manchester United’s English Premier League soccer match against Norwich City at Old Trafford Stadium)

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting title races ever, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City all looked like strong contenders until close to the end of the season. Ultimately, Manuel Pellegrini’s side prevailed after the Reds’ dropped points against Chelsea and Crystal Palace towards the dying stages of the season proved costly.

Chelsea earned the most clean sheets — 18.
The fastest goal was scored after just 12 seconds by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
The manager of the season was Tony Pulis after successfully guiding Crystal Palace away from relegation having taken over earlier in the season with the club sitting at the bottom of the table.

3. 1994/95

(Manchester United's Eric Cantona attacks an abusive Crystal Palace fan having been taunted following his sending off - Steve Morton/EMPICS Sport)

Another season in which the league went down to the final day, made all the more dramatic by the fact that Blackburn lost to Liverpool but still triumphed, as Man United failed to beat West Ham. Given the (at the time) considerable riches of Blackburn owner Jack Walker, which played a significant role in propelling them towards their first and only PL title, and the manner in which they stumbled over the line, their success was remarkably similar to City’s 17 years later.

Kenny Dalglish became just the third manager to win the league with different clubs.
George Graham was sacked as Arsenal manager, after it was revealed that he had received £425,000 in illegal payments from a Scandinavian agent.
The FA banned Eric Cantona for eight months after he infamously kung-fu kicked a Crystal Palace supporter who was taunting him after he had been sent off. He also had to be bailed from jail after being sentenced to 14 days in prison.

2. 1995/96

(Liverpool's Stan Collymore celebrates scoring the winning goal in the last minute as Newcastle United's Philippe Albert despairs)

The 95/96 season featured another incredible title race, with Newcastle ultimately surrendering a 12-point lead to enable Man United to win the league. It also included what many regard as the most exciting Premier League match ever, with Liverpool beating the Magpies 4-3 and jeopardising their title prospects in the process.

It remains the last season in which an English manager -- Newcastle’s Kevin Keegan -- has finished in the top two.
The distinctive youth of the United side prompted Alan Hansen to make his infamous “you’ll never win anything with kids” comment.
Alan Shearer and Steve McManaman both broke league records with 31 goals and 25 assists respectively.

1. 2011/12

(Manchester City's manager Roberto Mancini celebrates -- Peter Byrne/PA Archive/Press Association Images)

2011/12 was widely regarded as one of the most thrilling and least predictable title races ever, culminating in a hugely dramatic final day in which a Sergio Aguero late winner against QPR handed Man City their first-ever Premier League trophy.

Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th goal in the league, receiving £20,000 to give to a charity of his choice as a result.
It was the first occasion in which a team who finished fourth (Tottenham) did not gain access to the Champions League since the rule was introduced, after sixth-placed Chelsea won that year’s Champions League and qualified for the competition at their rivals’ expense.
It was the first time all three promoted clubs avoided relegation since the 2001-2002 season.

A version of this post appeared on 5 August 2013