Spurs would have 'bitten your hand off' for Everton scenario
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Danny Murphy
Former Liverpool midfielder on MOTD
They showed some resilience, some fight, they did have better energy, they finished the game strongly and they'll be disappointed.
The overall performance wasn't too bad from Tottenham, they started the game really well, looked really energetic, that goal set them back a little bit.
It's a big one now at the end of season against Everton.
The mentality at Tottenham has to be, four or five weeks ago we were written off.
If you'd said to Tottenham fans and players it's going to go down to the last day and you've got to get a draw or a win at home to Everton, they would have bitten your hand off.
That's the positivity, you've got to think of it that way.
The dilemma you have when you know a draw will suffice is that plays on your mind, and you really can't let it.
They're at home against an Everton side who have petered out a little bit at the end of the season, they've got to be on the front foot and try to win the game, rather than be cautious and protective of that 0-0.
'We have a final on Sunday' - Palhinha
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs midfielder Joao Palhinha, spoke to Sky Sports after the defeat at Chelsea: "We have to [use the defeat as fuel for final game]. That's the reality. We cannot think too much about the result.
"We more than played well. We needed the result to finish this thing that we have been living for a long time. This team needed a different result today. I think we deserved it.
"It's been a tough season for us with a lot of things happening inside the club. The reality is we have a final on Sunday. We want to keep Tottenham in the Premier League and we will go with everything.
"I don't think I need to speak too much about this game because we wanted to win. I think we deserved more. It's a big frustration.
"We will have Tottenham in the Premier League next season, I don't have any doubt about that because it's where the club belong. Let's go with everything."
Why Spurs didn't get a penalty
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
A foul - or in this case a penalty - can only be awarded if the ball is in play.
If the offence happens before the corner is kicked then the referee can't give a foul, they can only take disciplinary action - in this case a yellow card to Marc Cucurella.
The VAR will then check to make sure the ball has not been kicked while there is foul contact. If the attacker has already been pulled down there is no route for the VAR to initiate a review.
But two weeks ago, Everton were wrongly denied a penalty against Manchester City when Merlin Rohl was dragged the the floor by Bernardo Silva.
The VAR decided the holding had stopped before a corner was taken, but the Premier League's key match incidents panel ruled that to be incorrect
The crucial split-second call that could deny Spurs safety
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
The fine margins that may yet condemn Tottenham Hotspur to the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history could be measured in seconds at Stamford Bridge.
Richarlison had given Roberto de Zerbi's disappointing side hope, after Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos gave the hosts a deserved two-goal advantage, when Chelsea's combative left-back Marc Cucurella unceremoniously dragged Spurs defender Micky van de Ven to the floor.
It came as Mathys Tel prepared to take a corner and Spurs demanded a penalty that never came, their disbelief doubled when Cucurella was cautioned over the incident.
Video assistant referee (VAR) checks detected his foul came seconds, maybe even one second, before the ball came into play, meaning a penalty could not be awarded.
Referee Stuart Attwell could only take action against Cucurella with a yellow card, and once VAR confirmed the ball had not been kicked there was no room to initiate a review and subsequent spot-kick.
Former Chelsea and England striker Daniel Sturridge told Sky Sports: "One second difference and it is a guaranteed penalty. Cucurella is so lucky."
It was the tightest of calls.
De Zerbi's side did not produce enough despite penalty anger
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer
Tottenham's incentive could not have been greater as they travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Premier League survival was in their own hands.
They faced a Chelsea side whose form had been indifferent, and who had just suffered the disappointment of losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City.
Spurs started brightly, but once Chelsea went ahead through Enzo Fernandez there was a lack of urgency until it was too late, namely after Andrey Santos had put them two goals in arrears.
Santos' goal came just as head coach Roberto de Zerbi was about to make three substitutions, including James Maddison, who led lengthy Spurs protests to referee Stuart Attwell at the final whistle.
The point of contention was that penalty incident when Marc Cucurella clearly dragged Micky van de Ven to the floor, but the ruling was that the ball was not yet in play - a decision that infuriated Spurs.
In reality, despite a late flurry, Spurs did not produce enough creation or threat when the stakes were so high.
Now it all rides on Sunday's meeting with Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - with Spurs' top-flight status hanging in the balance.
Spurs know a point will almost certainly be enough to keep them in the Premier League, but nerves will be jangling after such poor form at home this season.
Arsenal reveal parade plan
Arsenal
Bring on the victory parade indeed.
Arsenal have confirmed the date and time, with the full details to follow in due course.
"We are delighted to announce that we will come together with our supporters and community for a special parade around our home borough of Islington, starting from 2pm on Sunday 31 May, to celebrate our title," reads a statement on the Arsenal website.
"This follows our Uefa Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday 30 May, at 5pm (UK time). Should we be successful in this game, our parade will also celebrate this historic triumph.
"This will be a major public event, and we anticipate large numbers of supporters will turn out in the local area.
"We hope you are able to join our celebrations on the day."
The wobbles, fire and belief
Mikel Arteta clearly has a thing about fire.
Just last month, with his team on a poor run of form that briefly threatened to scupper their title quest, he asked his players to metaphorically throw their negative thoughts into a fire that had been lit at the club's training ground.
In the longer term, Arteta has shown his penchant for hosting barbecues for his players, staff and their families at the club's London Colney headquarters - showing the importance he places on nurturing bonds.
And the fire continues to burn - with the title won, the Gunners will now target Champions League glory when they face Paris St-Germain on 30 May.
Victory in Budapest and this Arsenal team can call themselves the greatest ever in the club's history.
This isn't necessarily a story of a single all-conquering season, but rather the culmination of a meticulously plotted six-year project.
"Trust the process," said Arteta in June 2020. In the fullness of time, he was right.
Arteta is the red arrow - the force of nature who has steered and shaped the team into one of the most impressive in European football.
He and sporting director Andrea Berta will deservedly be praised for getting Arsenal over the line this season. But, in truth, success has been built over multiple years.
