Arsenal won the 1997/98 Premier League. They finished on 78 points, 1 point ahead of Manchester United, and it was Arsenal's first Premier League title.
How the title race finished
The season ran from 9 August 1997 to 10 May 1998. There were 20 clubs, each playing 38 matches, for a total of 380 matches and 1019 goals, which worked out at 2.68 per match.
The title was decided by a single point. Arsenal ended first, Manchester United second, with Liverpool and Chelsea completing the top four. Arsenal's own league record of 23 wins, 9 draws and 6 defeats, along with a goal difference of +35, was enough to secure the title.
Final Premier League table, 1997/98
The full final table for all 20 clubs is listed below.
| Pos | Club | Played | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 38 | +35 | 78 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 38 | +47 | 77 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 38 | +26 | 65 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | +28 | 63 |
| 5 | Leeds United | 38 | +11 | 59 |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | +5 | 58 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 38 | +1 | 57 |
| 8 | West Ham United | 38 | -1 | 56 |
| 9 | Derby County | 38 | +3 | 55 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 38 | +10 | 53 |
| 11 | Coventry City | 38 | +2 | 52 |
| 12 | Southampton | 38 | -5 | 48 |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 38 | -9 | 44 |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | -12 | 44 |
| 15 | Wimbledon | 38 | -12 | 44 |
| 16 | Sheffield Wednesday | 38 | -15 | 44 |
| 17 | Everton | 38 | -15 | 40 |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | -20 | 40 |
| 19 | Barnsley | 38 | -45 | 35 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 38 | -34 | 33 |
Relegation and the bottom end
Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Crystal Palace finished in the bottom three and went down. All three had been promoted for the 1997/98 season, so each of them returned straight to the lower division after one Premier League campaign.
The line between safety and relegation was narrow. Everton stayed up in 17th place, while Bolton ended 18th on the same points total.
Season awards and statistical leaders
The main individual honours and statistical leaders from the season are set out here.
| Award | Winner | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | Dion Dublin (Coventry City), Michael Owen (Liverpool), Chris Sutton (Blackburn Rovers) | 18 goals |
| Most clean sheets | Peter Schmeichel | 16 clean sheets |
| Most assists | David Beckham | 13 assists |
| Player of the Season | Michael Owen (Liverpool) | - |
| Manager of the Season | Arsène Wenger (Arsenal) | - |
Some award labels used today did not exist yet in official form. The Golden Glove was first awarded in 2004/05, and the Playmaker award did not begin until 2017/18. For 1997/98, the accurate way to state those categories is most clean sheets and most assists.
FAQ
Who was relegated from the Premier League in 1997/98?
Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Crystal Palace were relegated. They occupied the bottom three places in the final table.
Who was the top scorer in the Premier League in 1997/98?
The Golden Boot was shared by three players. Dion Dublin, Michael Owen and Chris Sutton each scored 18 goals, so there was no sole top scorer.
What made Arsenal's title special?
It was Arsenal's first Premier League title. The season also ended with Arsène Wenger taking the Manager of the Season award.
Where did Manchester United finish?
Manchester United finished second. They ended the season just 1 point behind Arsenal, which shows how close the title race was.