Five things learned from the Premier League weekend

1. Fellaini condemns Wenger to a sadly fitting end at Old Trafford

For the second time in four days, it felt sadly fitting for Arsene Wenger. Defensive mishaps have pockmarked his final few years at Arsenal and another, courtesy of Laurent Koscielny, cost Arsenal a first-leg lead in their Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid. A frailty against the aerial ball and direct teams has been their undoing on many an occasion and, just when it looked like Wenger’s weakened team would take a point on their last trip to Old Trafford, Marouane Fellaini headed in Ashley Young’s cross.

It was all too typical. Wenger may have faced Jose Mourinho for the last time. If so, he ends with a mere two wins in 19 meetings. The Portuguese has been his nemesis and a more pragmatic winner roused Manchester United in a low-key affair by introducing Fellaini.

AS IT HAPPENED: Man Utd v Arsenal

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The giant Belgian had already made his mark when Marcus Rashford had a goal disallowed. Then he got the winner that ensured United qualify for the Champions League and that Wenger still has not claimed three points on a ground where he once won the league since 2006.

2. Wingers take record-equalling City into 100 club

The record-breaking occasion should come against Huddersfield next Sunday. Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over West Ham proved a record-equalling day. City now have 102 league goals, just as they managed under Manuel Pellegrini in 2013-14, and 30 wins, the total Chelsea mustered last season. While striker Gabriel Jesus got the pick of their goals, it was fitting that, as City became centurions, their wings played prominent roles.

While Leroy Sane’s opener took a hefty deflection off Patrice Evra, he became the first player in double figures for both Premier League goals and assists this season. Raheem Sterling then joined him in an elite club as he played a part in three goals. Much of Guardiola’s attacking ethos has revolved around two players who have been more potent than in any previous season.

AS IT HAPPENED: West Ham v Man City

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The improvement of Sterling and Sane is a triumph of the Catalan’s coaching. Their finishing has got better but the most pertinent elements are how often they get into scoring positions and how many chances their colleagues create for them.

3. Chelsea reopen the top-four race

The race for the top four was over. After West Ham drew at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were 10 points adrift of the top four. They had only won once in five league games and there was little to suggest they were capable of mounting the sort of run that would enable them to catch in-form teams. Now, with their rivals dropping points, they are only two behind Tottenham, albeit with Spurs playing on Monday, and know that, if they beat Liverpool and Huddersfield at home, they will go into the final day level on points with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

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It is a comeback that was created by a comeback, Olivier Giroud’s brace in a cameo setting up the turnaround at Southampton. Victor Moses then produced his most influential display of the season to deliver victory at Burnley. Then Cesc Fabregas secured the early winner at Swansea, which also owed something to the defiant defending of Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta.

That furthered the sense that Chelsea are rediscovering their resolve. The drama-free victory in Wales felt like a result plucked out of last season. It also suggests that, with an FA Cup final still to come, Antonio Conte has two chances to bow out on a high; assuming, that is, that he leaves in the summer.

4. Liverpool show why they need another winger

When their front three have 88 goals between them this season, Liverpool needed no reminders of the importance of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. They got one anyway as, with the semi-fit Mane rested and Salah failing to score for the first time when starting at Anfield since Boxing Day, they drew against Stoke.

Danny Ings looked a decent deputy for Firmino as a striker seven days earlier but, while he had a goal disallowed against Stoke, he was less effective when standing in for Mane and is not a natural left winger.

AS IT UNFOLDED: Liverpool v Stoke

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And while Liverpool have gained strength in depth since last season, where Mane’s absences tended to come at a cost, the positions where two of their finest players operate are also where their lack of alternatives is most marked.

They ended up with Nathaniel Clyne, a right-back with eight goals in 339 games in his career, playing on the right wing. While that may not have been the case had Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain been fit, each is a more natural midfielder in Jurgen Klopp’s team.

For once, they missed Philippe Coutinho’s ability to operate in the forward line as it underlined why a winger should figure prominently on the summer shopping list to give them an insurance policy against injuries to Salah and Mane next season.

5. Moore shows how poorly Pardew did with West Brom

For the second successive weekend, West Bromwich Albion could have been relegated. For the second, they were not. After drawing with Liverpool, they beat Newcastle. Include their victory over Manchester United and the caretaker Darren Moore has defeated two Champions League-winning managers, in Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez; perhaps, in Klopp, he has held a third. Moore is averaging two points a game, just as Albion’s other caretaker, Gary Megson, also went unbeaten.

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If it makes Albion wish they had sacked Alan Pardew even a few weeks earlier, it also underlines how badly their two permanent managers did this season. Tony Pulis’ return of 10 points from 12 games was underwhelming, Pardew’s record of eight from 18 was disastrous. And Albion’s efforts under two stand-in managers also underline how much this group of players, many of whom will be targeted by top-flight clubs after they do go down, had the potential to do better.

It amounts to a failure of management, because they should never have been as hapless as they appeared before Moore’s appointment.