Arsenal top, Chelsea eighth and Watford survive: The 2015 calendar year Premier League table
Arsenal head into the new season top of the Premier League table, but the picture was different 12 months ago.
After defeat to Southampton on New Year's Day, the Gunners were sixth in the Premier League table, behind bitter rivals Tottenham and 13 points off the title pace.
An impressive second half to the season saw Arsene Wenger's men clamber into third place despite their usual autumn blip and familiar calls for Wenger's head ahead of the Christmas period.
This year, however, Arsenal have taken advantage of others' inconsistencies and look primed to challenge for a fourth Premier League title of Wenger's reign.
Combining their strong form from the back-end of last term and this season's charge to the top, Wenger's side emerge as the best Premier League team in 2015.
Indeed, from their 38 games this year, the Gunners have won eight points more than closest challengers Manchester City, while Tottenham are the third best team in the country this year.
Leicester, who were bottom on New Year's Day 2015, would snatch a Champions League spot were the season to run from January to December. Title winners Chelsea finish behind Crystal Palace in eighth.
But perhaps more staggeringly, Watford would survive the clutches of relegation despite playing half as many Premier League games as Aston Villa.
From the 19 top flight games the Hornets have played in 2015 they have gathered 29 points, while Aston Villa, who have played 38 games this year, have registered just 25.
Below them, Bournemouth and Norwich would drop out on 20 points.
Check out the full Premier League table below
| Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 38 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 70 | 31 | 39 | 81 |
| 2 | Man City | 38 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 79 | 41 | 38 | 72 |
| 3 | Tottenham | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 67 | 44 | 23 | 68 |
| 4 | Leicester | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 66 | 49 | 17 | 67 |
| 5 | Man United | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 51 | 34 | 17 | 64 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 48 | 45 | 3 | 64 |
| 7 | Palace | 38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 50 | 37 | 13 | 63 |
| 8 | Chelsea | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 55 | 47 | 8 | 61 |
| 9 | Stoke | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 47 | 41 | 6 | 58 |
| 10 | Everton | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 54 | 47 | 7 | 52 |
| 11 | Southampton | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 48 | 41 | 7 | 51 |
| 12 | West Brom | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 38 | 47 | -9 | 50 |
| 13 | Swansea | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 38 | 50 | -12 | 47 |
| 14 | West Ham | 38 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 42 | 47 | -5 | 45 |
| 15 | Sunderland | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 34 | 64 | -30 | 30 |
| 16 | Newcastle | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 37 | 69 | -32 | 30 |
| 17 | Watford | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 29 |
| 18 | Aston Villa | 38 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 35 | 69 | -34 | 25 |
| 19 | Norwich | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 32 | -10 | 20 |
| 20 | Bournemouth | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 34 | -12 | 20 |
ArticleWhere do Arsenal and Chelsea finish in the 2015 calendar year table?Premier LeagueArsene WengerArsenalAston VillaWatfordTottenhamChelseaArsenal top, Chelsea eighth and Watford survive: The 2015 Premier League table by calendar yearImagePublishedMedium width4Thursday, December 31, 2015 - 14:51Title dreams: Arsenal were the best Premier League team in 2015On