Manchester City - Premier League champions again.
This wasn't the domination of the Centurions, or the last-day title races that characterised the recent triumphs over Jurgen Klopp's relentless Liverpool side. For a time, it looked like Arsenal would take City all the way, and until the spring it was the Gunners who looked unstoppable.
But you can never write Pep Guardiola or this City side off. A run of 24 games unbeaten in all competitions and 11-game winning run between February and May ensured that Mikel Arteta's men couldn't cope with knowing that the Blues were coming. In the end, City wrapped up the title with three games to spare, although that fact makes this latest title win seem far easier than it was.
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City had to dig deep, and according to Kyle Walker, felt that any further slip-up after an inconsistent run around January and February would spell the end of their title chances.
We've looked back over an eventful season and picked out eight defining games that showed the very best - and sometimes the worst - of Guardiola's latest champions:
Man City 6-3 Man United
City's start to the season had gone as expected. An entertaining draw at Newcastle three games in looks far more impressive considering their form over the rest of the campaign, and back-to-back hat-tricks for Erling Haaland at home to Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest were only scratching the surface on what he could achieve.
Still, recovering points from two-goal deficits against Newcastle and Palace, and only drawing 1-1 at Aston Villa put some doubts into City minds while Arsenal started the season well. When Manchester United rocked up to the Etihad, it was the start of a feeling that the 'real' City was still there.
Phil Foden's early goal set City on the way, before a three-goal blitz in ten minutes saw United fans leaving the Etihad at the break. After Antony's nice consolation, Haaland and then Foden completed their hat-tricks, to become the first City players to score hat-tricks in a Manchester derby in decades.
Two further consolations late on flattered United, as City laid down the law in Manchester and got their form back on track.
Man City 1-2 Brentford
Defeat to Liverpool two games after that derby win felt like the season would be characterised by one step forward and two steps back. Three wins later, and City had the chance to end the first section of the campaign on a high before the six-week World Cup break. The ten-men of City had scored a 95th-minute winner to beat Fulham in the previous outing, prompting joyous scenes and Pep Guardiola called the win his 'best moment' of his entire reign at City.
The highs of that win were erased, though, as a week later City toiled against a brave Brentford side and needed a Phil Foden strike to cancel Ivan Toney's early goal. As it looked as City would have to settle for a point on a poor afternoon, Toney converted in the 98th minute to send the travelling fans wild and send City's international to the World Cup five points behind Arsenal.
Man City 4-2 Tottenham
The post-World Cup form had been inconsistent to say the least. Everton took a draw from City with their only shot on goal, and a controversial derby defeat at Manchester United followed the nadir of the season at Southampton in the Carabao Cup, where Guardiola and captain Ilkay Gundogan had criticised the attitude of the players.
Next up was an out-of-shape Tottenham side, who were gifted two goals in as many minutes at the end of the first half to earn City a handful of boos at the break. The four-goal fightback after the break was brilliant, and could have kickstarted a run of form on its own, but Guardiola still hadn't forgotten the first half.
With a face that hadn't been seen before or after, Guardiola launched an extraordinary tirade against his own club - from the comfortable fans, to the complacent players, and even the hierarchy who decide if he remains in a job. His overall message was that there are too many 'happy flowers' at the club, expecting success rather than trying to earn it. To turn that around required a team effort from top to bottom and in the stands.
Tottenham 1-0 Man City
The initial signs were good, with a comfortable win over Wolves, but a quick return fixture against Tottenham was another case of taking a step back after a step forward. Harry Kane scored to become Spurs all-time record goal scorer after another defensive mistake, and in truth City never looked like getting back into the game.
Guardiola was more positive, having seen the effort from his side, but Arsenal were loving any slip-up from City and extending their lead with their own run of form. Even if City beat Arsenal in their two upcoming fixtures, the title was out of their hands.
A day later, and City woke up to news that the Premier League had charged them with over 100 breaches of financial regulations. City again insisted their innocence and vowed to fight the charges to clear their name. Since then, the Blues have not lost a game.
Arsenal 1-3 Man City
A second trip to North London in 10 days presented a must-win fixture for City. Lose, and Arsenal could establish a six-point gap at the top of the table. Win, and City would go top on goal difference albeit having played a game more. After Kevin De Bruyne's inventive opening lob, Bukayo Saka equalised from the spot, but Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland secured a vital three points for City.
It meant that Arsenal picked up just eight points from their previous six games on their first wobble of the season, and City backed up their recent FA Cup win over the Gunners in the league. The title was still far from being secured, but at least it was still there to fight for.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Man City
After taking such a huge step at Arsenal, it was deja vu at the City Ground as ground was lost again. As Arsenal scored late to beat Aston Villa, City wasted numerous chances - including one glaring Haaland miss - and were again left to rue the opposition scoring with their only shot on target.
Guardiola was more upbeat than normal, insisting that the chances were created to score, and that if they restrict a side to one shot on goal, they will win more games than they lose. Still, it was less than ideal with the return of the Champions League and FA Cup adding more congestion to the schedule.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
Liverpool were well out of the top-four picture by this stage, let alone the title race, but a home fixture against Jurgen Klopp's men was never going to be easy - as they showed in an entertaining 3-2 Carabao Cup win.
The Blues were starting to move through the gears, though, winning three in a row in the league and putting together a run of ten games unbeaten in all competitions - including devastating victories over Leipzig (7-0) and Burnley (6-0). Liverpool were next to get the Etihad treatment, even when Mo Salah opened the scoring on the break.
Julian Alvarez had City level before the break, and by the 53rd minute they were 3-1 ahead thanks to Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan. Continuing his good form, Jack Grealish completed the rout in one of City's most complete performances since the home derby in October.
Man City 4-1 Arsenal
Billed as a winner-takes-all title decider, the reality was that this game would only have a strong sway in the destination of the title, rather than deciding it. With Arsenal brilliant for most of the season, they looked like they had no intention of becoming champions, as City simply blew them away.
Erling Haaland's flick sent Kevin De Bruyne into the Arsenal half to finish brilliantly with his right foot, and John Stones got a deserved second before half time. De Bruyne added another to secure the points ten minutes into the second period, and Erling Haaland got in on the act in the dying seconds, cancelling out Rob Holding's consolation.
From rank outsiders at one point, City now had the title in their hands, and if they won their two games in hand they would win the Premier League title.
The 11-game winning run after the Forest game put the pressure on Arsenal to go on and drop more points after losing at City, but the two victories over Mikel Arteta's side were the games that showed what real champions are made of.
Arsenal simply ran out of steam at the end and couldn't compete with the City machine. Victory at Everton last weekend, coupled with Arsenal's collapse against Brighton, ensured that City would win the title by beating Chelsea.
In truth, the title was won well before that.
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