It often takes something special to clinch English football's most prestigious trophy – as Arsenal and Manchester City both know only too well
All eyes will be on the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday as Premier League leaders Arsenal take on reigning champions Manchester City in a clash that could well decide the final destination of the title.
The Gunners are in danger of letting an eight-point lead slip after a run of three successive draws, but that will be forgotten if they can come out on top against Pep Guardiola's all-star City side.
The odds are stacked against Mikel Arteta's men, though. City are hunting down their fifth title in the last six seasons, and as always, have saved their best form for the finishing stretch. Arsenal want to end their dominance, but haven't been in this position for almost 20 years, and experience could end up being the difference between the sides.
At this stage of the season, players have the chance to write their names into the history books. A superb team performance or moment of individual brilliance can often tip the scales, and there have been so many to marvel at down the years.
So, as we edge towards a defining contest in Manchester, GOAL takes a look at the most memorable title-clinching occasions the Premier League has ever seen…
Getty2011-12: Aguerooooo!
Manchester United had a 13th Premier League title in the palm of their hand heading into April 2012, despite losing 6-1 to eternal rivals City at Old Trafford in an extraordinary derby clash earlier in the season.
But they managed to let an eight-point lead slip, suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat at Wigan before drawing 4-4 with Everton at home and losing to City again in the reverse fixture at the Etihad.
That sequence of results set up a final day that would change the face of English football forever.
United once again put themselves in a position to lift the trophy after winning their last outing against Sunderland 1-0, but they had to wait for full-time in City's encounter with QPR before any celebrations could begin.
When the final whistle blew at the Stadium of Light, the scoreline was 2-2 at the Etihad, with Edin Dzeko having drawn City level in the 92nd minute.
Three minutes later, Mario Balotelli picked up the ball on the edge of the box, and then managed to poke it into the direction of an on-rushing Sergio Aguero despite being off balance.
The Argentine then skipped past a QPR defender before smashing the ball into the bottom of the corner – cue absolute delirium.
Martin Tyler's iconic commentary added even more weight as he let the 'o' in Aguero roll off his tongue for what seemed like an eternity.
He added after finally drawing breath: "I swear you'll never see anything like this ever again. So watch it, drink it in.
“They've just heard the news at The Stadium of Light. Two goals in added time for Manchester City to snatch the title away from Manchester United.”
Three years later, Ferguson reflected on the moment that the balance of power in Manchester finally shifted towards the blue half.
"We were champions for 30 seconds," he told . "It was a devastating moment; it was incredible. You have to say we did throw the league away."
AdvertisementGetty1994-95: Blackburn lose at Anfield but pip Man Utd
The Premier League title has been decided on the final day nine times in total, with the first instance coming in only the third year after the competition's inception.
Manchester United had won the first two Premier League crowns, but they were two points behind Blackburn Rovers heading into their last fixture in 1994-95.
United had a superior goal difference and knew a win over West Ham would give them a third successive title if Kenny Dalglish's side slipped up against Liverpool at Anfield.
Rovers took the lead on Merseyside, but the Reds came back to steal all three points, with Jamie Redknapp crashing in a stoppage-time free-kick to hand United the initiative.
News of the final result quickly filtered through to the Boleyn Ground, where West Ham were holding Ferguson's men to a 1-1 draw.
United reacted by throwing the kitchen sink at the Hammers, but they just couldn't find that all-important winner, and Rovers were crowned champions by a single point after the referee finally blew his whistle.
Blackburn's triumph was an underdog story for the ages, and the mood was captured perfectly by a voiceover from on the most famous night in the club's history.
“For this former cotton town, which has been in decline for most of the century, the success of Blackburn Rovers means everything.”
Getty Images2015-16: Battle of the Bridge sparks a Vardy party!
"The fans, the club, the players – we don’t want Tottenham to win the Premier League."
Eden Hazard spoke for the entire Chelsea squad when asked about their motivation ahead of a meeting with Spurs at Stamford Bridge in May 2016.
Tottenham hadn't won at the Blues' home stadium since 1990, but they were favourites heading into the latest London derby match-up, with 22 points separating the two sides in the table.
Chelsea only had pride to play for after a disastrous season that had seen Guus Hiddink called back to steady the ship after Jose Mourinho's sacking, but Spurs needed a victory to stay in the hunt for their first title since 1961.
Leicester City, meanwhile, were watching on knowing that they could clinch the trophy with two games to spare if the Blues were able to stop Tottenham in their tracks.
Mauricio Pochettino's side showed no signs of nerves in a superb first-half showing that saw Harry Kane and Son Heung-min fire them into a two-goal lead.
But Gary Cahill struck early in the second period to lift Chelsea, and Hazard stepped up seven minutes from time to curl an unstoppable shot into the top corner and level proceedings, capping a game that truly had everything.
Spurs broke the record for the most yellow cards in a single match (nine), Pochettino raced off the touchline to break up an altercation between Willian and Danny Rose, and Moussa Dembele appeared to eye-gouge Diego Costa as tempers flared in west London.
When the dust finally settled, the Leicester squad were free to celebrate from the comfort of Jamie Vardy's eight-bedroom house in Melton-Mowbray.
The Foxes were 5,000-1 outsiders to lift the title at the start of the campaign, with the odds reflecting the fact that they had never previously won the league in their 132-year history.
Leicester pulled off the greatest footballing miracle ever under former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, while Tottenham were left wondering what might have been after another predictable collapse. Spursy.
Getty Images2004-05: Lampard double inspires Mourinho's Chelsea to glory
After 50 years of hurt, Chelsea finally stood on the cusp of domestic glory when making the trip to Bolton Wanderers in April 2005.
Just two years on from Roman Abramovich's takeover at Stamford Bridge, the Blues had become the dominant force in English football, and needed only one more win to seal the title.
Led by a Jose Mourinho at the peak of his powers, Chelsea didn't disappoint.
Frank Lampard took his tally of goals for the season to 18 with a superb brace at the Reebok Stadium, giving the Blues an unassailable 14-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table.
Lampard's second goal was a thing of beauty, as he finished off a quick-fire counter-attack by rounding Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and firing into the back of the net.
The England midfielder then took the opportunity to hit back at Chelsea's critics after the celebrations got underway, telling reporters: "We’ve proved that the best team wins the league. There have been some harsh words spoken about us not being entertaining and that the best two teams in the Premier League are in the final of the FA Cup [Manchester United and Arsenal].
"But the best team wins the league and we have done that. It’s time for the others to take a look and know that we are definitely the best."
Mourinho, who 11 months earlier had introduced himself as "The Special One" following his arrival from Porto, echoed Lampard's sentiments.
"Our group is a special group, they deserve this – nobody can say we don't deserve this. We were absolutely magnificent," he said. "The players deserve this more than anybody, but I am very happy for the fans, especially those that have not seen a title win.
"We met for the first time in July and from that moment we have built something special. When we have to fight, we fight; when we have to play, we play; when we have to suffer, we suffer. And always together."
By the end of the campaign, the Blues had broken the records for the most away wins (15), most clean sheets (25), fewest goals conceded away (nine), most wins (29) and fewest goals conceded (15) in a single Premier League season.
Special indeed.
