'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Monday night's clash between Wolves and Newcastle brought an end to quite an extraordinary round of Premier League football.
The Premier League is one competition that always promises drama and competitiveness in equal measure and matchweek 26 did not disappoint.
The game of the weekend was the visit of Sarri's Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium. It is fair to say that the Blues went home with tails tucked firmly between their legs. It was another statement victory from Pep Guardiola's team as they continually refuse to give up the title easily.
The Cityzens remain top on goal difference having played one more game than Liverpool in second. Tottenham's victory ensured they remain in with a title chance while Chelsea's dismal showing ensured Manchester United leapfrogged them into the fourth position.
Arsenal and Chelsea are one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United with the Gunners ahead of the Blues on goal difference. Huddersfield, Fulham and Southampton make up the bottom three.
Here's a look at five things we learned from match-week 26 of Premier League action:
#1 Manchester City are a class apart
If there ever were any doubts about Pep Guardiola's managerial greatness, he has erased all of it with this City side. Some fans questioned his resume because he coached at clubs with the best players that already had a culture of winning.
The Premier league, known to be feistily competitive, was supposed to be the acid test for the Spanish tactician. The ex-Barcelona and Bayern boss has passed the test in flying colours and is undoubtedly the best coach in the business.
Yes, Manchester City has backed him to the hilt in the transfer market and he has addressed any player problem with high-quality replacements. However, teams with far better individual players play far worse than Guardiola's team. Quality is therefore not the issue.
Manchester City are one of the best-coached teams in the world and the gap in coaching was shown against Chelsea. Ever the perfectionist Guardiola has removed inefficiency from the City play. They know exactly what is required of them.
Each action on the field seems like it has been planned. There is rarely any unnecessary dribbling, passing for the sake of passing, rash decisions or poor giveaways.
The efficiency of Guardiola's team is a sight to behold and when they are on it they can pose problems to any team in the world.
The 6-0 mauling of Chelsea was a game that ruthlessly displayed the difference in efficiency of two sides that share very similar coaching ideologies. Sarri''s Chelsea could not cope with the accuracy and efficiency of the City play.
They remain firmly in title contention and must not slip up again to avoid Liverpool running away with it.
#2 Sarrri must take the blame for Chelsea's struggles
Chelsea's last two away games to Bournemouth and Manchester City has seen them equal and overtake the record defeats in The Blues' history.
The mauling at the Etihad showed once again that there is something not quite right with Sarri's Chelsea and the coach has to take responsibility.
"It seems to me they have an issue with having a sufficient amount of determination and being mentally solid".
Maurizio Sarri came out after the league defeat to Arsenal to cast doubts over the mentality of his players. Criticism of the player's mentality and application also swiftly followed after the defeats to Bournemouth and City.
However, it is time for Sarri to stand up and take responsibility for the poor results and performances of his side. He has been as culpable or even more for Chelsea's debacles this season than any player.
Sarrri's stubbornness and refusal to adapt his team to face different opposition has cost Chelsea valuable points in their hunt for a top-four spot.
Tactically, Chelsea has started and ended games in all competitions this season with the same 4-3-3 formation irrespective of the balance of play and result.
Antonio Conte had lost two consecutive games against Liverpool and Arsenal in his first season as boss.
The ex-Juventus manager switched things up tactically and ended up with the league in his first season and a FA Cup in the next season.
Sarri seems too stubborn to change personnel, tactics or formation and it could cost the Blues in the race for UEFA champions league places.
#3 Arsenal cannot buy a clean sheet
Four clean sheets. Arsenal have kept only four clean sheets in 26 rounds of fixtures. Only relegation-threatened Fulham, with two, have kept less clean sheets than the Gunners.
The club has not been helped with injuries to key players and even some season-ending injuries in defence. Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal and Mustafi have all suffered niggles all season while Holding and Bellerin have suffered possible season-ending injuries.
Against the Terriers, it seemed that Arsenal will get the much craved clean sheet. Huddersfield had scored only 13 goals all season and was on a long run without a goal.
As it is in Arsenal's nature this season, they conceded yet another goal. Kolasinac flicked the ball into his net while trying to clear the ball.
This season, Arsenal have been outscored by Tottenham and Liverpool by one goal and six goals respectively.
However, their points tally doesn't match up as a result of their inability to keep clean sheets. This considerably puts their top four chances in jeopardy. The Gunners are the only Premier League club without an away clean sheet this season.
#4 Paul Pogba is in the form of his life
It was yet another awesome performance from the World Cup winner. And for Paul Pogba, it has been that way every match week since Ole Gunnar Solksjaer arrived at the club.
Pogba has scored eight goals and assisted five since Solskjaer's arrival and is on course to absolutely shatter his previous goal return for a club in a single season. His 11 league goals has already surpassed his highest ever tally before this season.
For a player that was being projected to leave Old Trafford as a result of a falling out with Jose Mourinho, it is a remarkable turn around in form.
The Portuguese boss had stripped the Frenchman of vice-captaincy and was even benching the French international towards the end of his spell at the club.
Manchester United will now be hoping that Pogba can maintain his red hot form and lead them to a top-four finish and a serious shot at a cup triumph.
#5 The Golden Boot race may be as hot as the title challenge
Mohammed Salah, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Harry Kane, Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero have all been top or joint top scorers at one point or another this season.
Sergio Aguero has suddenly become the favourite for the much coveted individual award after his hattricks against rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea.
However, Aubameyang, Kane, Hazard and Sterling are only a few goals behind and cannot be written off in the race for the Golden Boot.
Kane limped off in Tottenham's loss to Manchester United at Wembley and has been unable to add to his tally since then.
However, Salah and Aubameyang have not pulled very far ahead of the Spurs man in line to make his comeback soon.
With Kane returning ahead of schedule, Aubameyang, Aguero and Salah all in red hot form, we are in for one of the most keenly contested Golden Boot races in recent memory.
