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Chelsea thrash Wigan to claim Premier League title

Chelsea are on course to claim the league and cup double © Getty Images

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Chelsea sealed their first Premier League title since 2006 by thrashing Wigan Athletic 8-0 at Stamford Bridge.

There was disappointment for Manchester United, who needed Chelsea to drop points to stand any chance of claiming the championship, despite a 4-0 win against Stoke City.

Stamford Bridge boss Carlo Ancelotti has emulated Jose Mourinho by winning the Premier League in his first season in charge, while his side remain on course for the first league and cup double in their history.

Nicolas Anelka soothed any nerves by giving Chelsea an early lead, before the match was effectively killed as a contest when Gary Caldwell was sent-off for fouling Frank Lampard in the box. Lampard picked himself up to double Chelsea's advantage - much to the displeasure of Didier Drogba, who was desperate to take the spot-kick.

Drogba's disappointment was short lived, however, as he went on to claim a second-half hat-trick that put him ahead of Wayne Rooney scoring charts - handing him this season's Golden Boot.

Strikes in the final 45 minutes from Salomon Kalou, Ashley Cole and Anelka added to the Ivorian's treble as Chelsea became the first Premier League team to score over 100. Next Saturday they will look to add more to their prolific tally as they take on Portsmouth in the FA cup final.

United were denied a fourth successive Premier League title despite a comfortable triumph at Old Trafford. Their goals came from Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Ji-Sung Park and Danny Higginbotham - who put through his own net.

Arsenal guaranteed themselves a place in the group stage of next year's Champions League by breezing past Fulham 4-0. The Gunners, who were in danger of losing out on third place to arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur if they failed to win, raced into a two-goal lead through Andrei Arshavin and Robin van Persie. Carlos Vela's second-half strike and an own goal from Chris Baird made sure of the three points.

Already-relegated Burnley came back from two goals down against Tottenham Hotspur to leapfrog Hull and claim 18th place with a 4-2 win. Goals from Jack Cork, Wade Elliott, Stephen Thompson and Martin Patterson completed the turnaround after Gareth Bale and Luka Modric had given Spurs a 2-0 lead. At the KC Stadium, Hull drew 0-0 with Liverpool - a disappointing game emblematic of a season that both sides will be glad to see the back of.

West Ham set an unwanted club record for the fewest wins in a top-flight season after drawing 1-1 against Manchester City. Luis Boa Morte put the Hammers on course for a ninth win, but they were denied when Shaun Wright-Phillips netted.

A late Richard Dunne own goal handed Blackburn Rovers a top-ten finish as they defeated Aston Villa 1-0. Despite the defeat, Martin O'Neill's side managed to cling on to sixth place - the third successive season they have finished in that spot.

Wolves claimed their first victory in seven games as they edged past Sunderland 2-1 at Molineux. Kenwyne Jones put Sunderland ahead early in the first-half, but goals from Kevin Doyle and Adlene Guediora completed the turnaround.

Bolton Wanderers ended their campaign with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City - Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies netted for The Trotters, before James McFadden netted a consolation strike.

At Goodison Park, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov scored the final goal of the Premier League season to hand Everton a 1-0 victory against Portsmouth.

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