Chelsea Wins English Premier League With 8-0 Win Over Wigan

Three years after the Blues were last crowned champions of England, Chelsea has secured its fourth English title after an 8-0 win over Wigan, holding off Manchester United to end the Red Devils’ three year reign atop the Premier League.

Chelsea opened the scoring within six minutes with a goal from Nicolas Anelka and were soon handed victory when Gary Caldwell was sent off in the 31st minute for a pulling down a man in the Wigan area. Frank Lampard converted the penalty kick to put Chelsea up two goals, playing 11-on-10 with an hour left.

Chelsea would add goal another goal from Anelka, one from Salomon Kalou, three from Didier Drogba, and one from Ashley Cole.

Drogba’s three goals ensure he wins the league’s Golden Boot as its top scorer, finishing the season with 29 goals. His Golden Boot chase temporarily took center stage when Frank Lampard took the penalty kick for the second goal, the Ivorian visibly upset that he was not allowed to take the kick that could have distinguished him from Wayne Rooney atop the league’s list of goal scorers.

Drogba would eventually get his 27th on a second half header, adding a penalty kick a few minutes later before a far post tap-in completed his hat-trick.

Chelsea finishes the season having won eleven matches by three or more goals. Their 86 points were one more than Manchester United, while their +63 goal difference was 13 better than United’s, helped by the Blues’ 103 goals scored. It was the first time in 47 years a team had scored more than 100 goals in an English top-flight season.

Chelsea needed their three points, with United winning 4-0 over Stoke at Old Trafford. Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, and Park Ji-Sung had goals for the runners-up, with Stoke’s Danny Higginbotham adding an own goal.

By the same score, Arsenal secured third place, holding off Tottenham Hotspur with a 4-0 win at the Emirates over Fulham. Arshavin, van Persie and Carlos Vela had goals, while Fulham’s Chris Baird added an own goal.