So, how did the capital’s clubs perform this season?
Some teams had standout campaigns, celebrating two trophies and two promotions. Others failed to live up to expectations. Here’s our rating of all 14 clubs:
5 stars – sensational,
4 stars – outstanding,
3 stars – very good,
2 stars – below par,1 star – poor.
See if our assessments match your own.
AFC Wimbledon ***
From a waterlogged, torn-up pitch to promotion glory—AFC Wimbledon can now set their sights on League One after three seasons in League Two. Despite Matt Stevens losing form late in the campaign, the ex-Forest Green Rovers forward still netted 21 goals, playing a key role in their promotion push. At one stage, automatic promotion seemed within reach, but a late-season goal drought meant the Dons had to hold their nerve in the play-offs. They overcame Notts County and then saw Myles Hippolyte emerge as the Wembley hero in the final against Walsall. Meanwhile, Owen Goodman, on loan from Crystal Palace, provided a steady presence in goal throughout the season. The club’s trademark resilience shone through—especially after flooding from the River Wandle damaged a corner of their pitch, threatening to derail their campaign.
Arsenal **
Finishing second for the third consecutive season reflects a strong level of consistency, but no one at the Emirates will be celebrating this outcome. There were moments of brilliance—like the 5-1 thrashing of Man City, the seven-goal performance in Eindhoven, and the 3-0 dismantling of Real Madrid led by Declan Rice—but a wave of injuries to key players such as Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel proved costly. They dropped too many points from winning positions and were held to too many draws. The lack of a proven goalscorer also hurt them, with no player reaching double digits for goals. Spurs’ trophy win only adds to the disappointment for Mikel Arteta’s side, and early, uninspired cup exits to Manchester United and Newcastle have left a lingering sense of regression heading into the summer.
Brentford ***
Thomas Frank continues to work wonders at the Gtech. With Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo forming the most lethal partnership in the league—combining for 39 goals—Brentford became one of the most entertaining teams to watch, averaging nearly four goals per game at home. They scored four or more goals in a match on eight occasions, showing no signs of missing Ivan Toney. Their push for European qualification highlights just how firmly they’ve settled into Premier League life after four seasons. Frank has clearly cracked the code for keeping the Bees competitive at this level. True to form, the club remains ahead of the curve—already lining up a replacement in case goalkeeper Mark Flekken moves on. Their recruitment strategy continues to be nothing short of exceptional.
Bromley ***
While finishing mid-table might not have matched the lofty ambitions of no-nonsense manager Andy Woodman, 11th place is still an impressive achievement for Hayes Lane’s side in their debut Football League season. Michael Cheek adapted seamlessly to the step up, netting 25 goals in League Two and playing a crucial role in the team’s overall success. Even during a tough spell early in the campaign—when the Ravens went nine games without a win—there was no panic, and Woodman’s belief in his squad never wavered. A memorable FA Cup trip to Newcastle added to the excitement for fans. With 16 clean sheets and only one match missed, goalkeeper Grant Smith was a reliable presence all season. The club will be eager to build on this solid foundation in the next campaign.
Charlton Athletic ****
The odds were always in Nathan Jones’ favor to guide the Addicks back up, though the season started off rather slowly. Things began to shift after a key post-Christmas victory over promotion-chasing Wycombe, marking a turning point. From then on, Charlton became increasingly difficult to break down, relying on a solid defense and grinding out narrow wins to secure promotion to a division that feels more appropriate for the club. They lost just twice at home all season and suffered only three away defeats from late January onward during a strong finish. While Matty Godden’s 18 goals were important, it was the defensive strength that truly laid the foundation for success. Key contributions came from Josh Edwards and Lloyd Jones, and fittingly, it was defender Macauley Gillesphey who sealed the deal with a free-kick winner against Orient in the play-off final at Wembley.
Chelsea ***
Enzo Maresca remained confident and unapologetic after his youthful squad clinched Champions League qualification with a final-day 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. However, it was somewhat surprising to hear him take aim at “the doubters,” especially since earlier in the season, he was the one cautioning against overhyping his promising players when they looked like potential title challengers. This young side will mature even further with the test of playing in Europe’s top competition next season. Their dominant Conference League campaign—capped by a 4-1 triumph over Real Betis in Wroclaw—was largely unchallenged, though their squad depth gave them a clear edge over other clubs. Still, Maresca has every reason to be proud of how the season unfolded. Cole Palmer was outstanding, Moises Caicedo consistently dependable, and Enzo Fernandez offered steady influence. All signs point to a promising year ahead.
Crystal Palace *****
What a remarkable season. This was the moment Eagles supporters of all generations had long dreamed of — their first-ever trophy, paired with a team that inspired pride and excitement. Eberechi Eze shone from the moment he joined, and with a strong supporting cast, he helped deliver unforgettable memories, including a thrilling FA Cup final at Wembley and the emphatic semi-final victory over Aston Villa. It’s hard to believe there were concerns earlier in the campaign when Palace struggled to recapture the strong finish from the previous year. But trust in Oliver Glasner paid off handsomely. The Austrian manager has built a fantastic core squad that barely missed a beat after Michael Olise’s move to Bayern Munich. While Dean Henderson, Adam Wharton, Maxence Lacroix, Ismaila Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Marc Guehi were all superb, Daniel Muñoz was exceptional — arguably matching Eze as the season’s standout. The passionate Eagles faithful, who turned Wembley red and blue, will be hoping this exciting group sticks together to create even more unforgettable moments.
Fulham ***
It wasn’t quite the top-half finish they were hoping for, but Fulham can still reflect on a positive campaign. A club-record Premier League points tally, some thrilling derby victories — take a bow, Harry Wilson — and a memorable win over champions Liverpool made this a season that felt more than just satisfactory. Supporters will be eager for Marco Silva to remain at the helm to preserve the stability and progress seen in recent years. However, that will depend on smart recruitment this summer, especially with several seasoned players nearing the end of their time at the club. The absence of Aleksandr Mitrović is still felt, though Raúl Jiménez stepped up admirably with 12 goals. João Palhinha’s departure meant a loss of steel in midfield, but Saša Lukić did well in a similar role. Fans also cherished what might be the final glimpses of Tom Cairney’s trademark poise and precision, even if only in brief cameos.
Leyton Orient ***
Richie Wellens did a fantastic job leading Leyton Orient to the play-off final at Wembley. Finishing sixth with such limited financial resources was a major achievement. He made excellent use of the loan market, with QPR’s Charlie Kelman contributing crucial goals, while Spurs loanees Jamie Donley and goalkeeper Josh Keeley were also key — Keeley especially shone in the FA Cup with standout performances against Oldham and Derby County. Ultimately, they fell short against Charlton’s rock-solid defence, but the strong finish to the season was unforgettable. The challenge now will be to rebuild without those loan stars and try to recapture the momentum needed to mount another top-six push.
Millwall ***
Once again, they exceeded expectations this season. It’s a familiar story for the club—consistently outperforming their perceived limits. Against the odds, Alex Neil guided the Lions close to a play-off spot, despite most thinking a mid-table finish was the best they could hope for. A strong finish, winning five of their last six games, kept their hopes alive until the final day, when Burnley proved too strong. Their FA Cup run ended controversially in the fifth round against Crystal Palace, after Liam Roberts was sent off early for a dangerous challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta. Still, Lions fans embraced that moment, turning their goalkeeper into a cult figure as part of their trademark resilience. Jake Cooper remained a dependable presence in defense, while young Serbian striker Mihailo Ivanovic quickly won over supporters, finishing as top league scorer with 12 goals.
QPR **
It was a very unusual season at Loftus Road. Despite clear signs of progress after previous relegation scares, fans were left stunned when Marti Cifuentes, the man behind the turnaround, was put on gardening leave amid rumors of interest from West Brom—echoing the Ian Holloway situation from years ago. Finishing 15th, the same as the previous season, wasn’t exactly impressive, but most supporters stood by the Spanish manager. The team found some rhythm following a tough start of 13 games without a win and stabilized after a crucial victory in Cardiff in late November. Scoring goals remained a major issue, highlighted by defender Jimmy Dunne finishing as the second top scorer with just five goals. Michael Frey’s eight goals were underwhelming as well.
Tottenham ***
Ange Postecoglou described Tottenham’s season as “outstanding,” which is a bold statement considering they suffered 22 league defeats—the most ever for a Premier League team to avoid relegation. However, he’s right that winning trophies is what truly matters, and ending a 17-year wait for silverware with their Europa League final victory over Manchester United in Bilbao gave Spurs fans a unique sense of joy. Many supporters grew frustrated with Daniel Levy, with calls for his removal throughout what was nearly a disastrous season. This summer, the big question is whether Levy feels the same way about Postecoglou, who ended the trophy drought. Key performers included Dejan Kulusevski, until injury struck, and Cristian Romero, who is expected to leave in the summer. Still, many players underperformed, and while the trophy win offers fans some satisfaction, it shouldn’t hide the season’s underlying struggles.
Watford **
Tom Cleverley has become the latest manager to be dismissed at Vicarage Road following another disappointing season for Watford. The team’s form dipped badly, managing just one win in their final nine matches. Despite a strong start with five consecutive victories and an impressive 6-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday, Watford ultimately finished a lackluster 14th, never seriously challenging for a play-off spot. Vakoun Bayo scored four goals in that Sheffield Wednesday game but only added five more all season. A poor run of just five league wins after the New Year led the club’s owners to once again make a change in management. This pattern has become all too familiar for Watford fans, who long for the stable, family-club atmosphere reminiscent of the Graham Taylor era. The sole bright spot for supporters was witnessing Luton Town suffer their second consecutive relegation, as well as a 2-0 home victory over their rivals.
West Ham *
This season was a real letdown for Hammers fans—an abrupt end to the excitement of recent years, which had been boosted by long European runs and the Conference League victory. Graham Potter’s arrival hasn’t sparked much optimism, as there was no immediate uplift following his takeover from the equally uninspiring Julen Lopetegui. Often, it seemed like only Jarrod Bowen’s passionate performances offered any relief from the disappointment. Although they finished ahead of both Man United and Spurs, there was no memorable cup run to excite the fans. The team also had to cope with the shock of Michail Antonio’s car accident. Lucas Paqueta’s form appeared affected by betting allegations, while Mo Kudus showed moments of brilliance but ultimately faded. Niclas Fullkrug’s biggest impact was a public outburst against his teammates after a draw with struggling Southampton. The Irons will be relieved to put this season behind them and look forward to a fresh start.
