David Platt's late header helped Arsenal defeat Manchester United 3-2, but after that, Ferguson's team won six straight games and was in first place at the time of Christmas, with Arsenal in sixth place and 13 points behind. At this moment, Chelsea, led by Ruud Gullit, was in third place, followed by Blackburn.

After parting ways with Gullit in February 1998, Chelsea was inspired by player-manager Gianluca Vialli, age 33, who guided them to victories in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and League Cup as well as a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

At the beginning of the year, Spurs were in danger of being relegated, but Jurgen Klinsmann's return, who had blazed through the Premier League during his first stint at White Hart Lane in 1994/95, helped to get them out of trouble as he scored nine goals in 15 games. His total includes four goals in a 6-2victory at Wimbledon as part of a five-match winning streak that kept Spurs out of last place.

Due to the Spurs' comeback, the relegation fight was between Everton, Bolton Wanderers,Crystal Palace, and Barnsley instead of the three promoted teams.By the last day,Palace and Barnsley were losers.

Everton defeated Coventry City 1-0, and when Chelsea defeated Bolton 1-0 thanks to Vialli, things were looking better for Everton. However, Dion Dublin's equalization in the 89th minute placed Everton in jeopardy because another goal from Coventry would have eliminated them. 

However, the Toffees fought hard to hold on for a draw, while at Stamford Bridge, Bolton's Trotters were doomed to relegation thanks to a late sucker-punch goal from Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris as they piled playersforward in search of an equalizer.

It implied that the three promoted teams all saw a decline.

Man Utd was 12 points ahead of Arsenal at the top of the table at the beginning of March despite having played three more games, but the Gunners' 1-0victory at Old Trafford through Overmars proved to be the turning point in the championship battle. Thereafter, Arsenal defeated United to win the Premier League title, sparking the start of an epic rivalry that would last for several years at the top.