It's the one you've all been waiting for : Our annual end of season club ratings

That was the season that was : Picture by @YTJourno

AFC Wimbledon 4

Not the greatest of seasons for the Dons, who fell too close to the trapdoor for comfort towards the business end of the season. Johnnie Jackson's men finished only four places above the dotted line after losing nine of their last 11 matches and they managed only two goals in their last eight games. Only Marcus Browne (with 12) managed to get into double figures for goals. And home form was a concern, with only bottom of the table Northampton Town registering more home defeats than the 11 recorded by Wimbledon. Although four players posted 40 plus appearances - Ryan Johnson, Isaac Ogundere, Ali Smith and keeper Steve Seddon - there were 35 players used throughout the campaign as the Plough Lane outfit struggled for form.

Arsenal 8.5

There was so much controversy about the way they played, with the big reliance on set pieces and an outstanding defence. But Mikel Arteta's team delivered a first club title in 22 years to end years of frustration and came so close to a maiden Champions League success. Those thousands of fans who gathered for the end of season parade party were not among the critics. David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba and Declan Rice were exceptional. It will be fascinating to see whether this turns out to be a springboard to more silverware and whether a more expansive style of play can develop. The key to success was a solid summer recruitment programme which ensured there would always be cover for injured players and the previous over-reliance on Bukayo Saka was no longer a factor. Viktor Gyokeres did just about enough to justify his arrival but still seems limited. Max Dowman's cameos gave everyone a lift, as did the team's ability to dig in in the face of adversity - in particular after those defeats to Man City in the League Cup final and at the Etihad, which looked so damaging.

Barnet 7

The mini-Bees have to be happy with this first season back in the EFL, even if they couldn't quite grab a play-off place that their shoestring budget suggests should be well out of reach. Dean Brennan's team finished just two points behind seventh-placed Grimsby as they won five on the bounce to end the season with a flourish (and seven in an unbeaten run of nine games). Callum Stead top scored with 13, and Kabongo Tshimanaga bagged 12. The form of the one ever-present, Ryan Glover, was key to the team's creativity but the midfielder seems destined for higher things.

Brentford 7

What a great first season in charge for the unheralded Keith Andrews. A season of toil was widely forecast after the exit of Thomas Frank and the loss of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa in the summer. They made light of it all, with Igor Thiago making up for a previous season hit by injury to earn himself a Brazil call in, so good was his form. The Bees were so close to qualifying for Europe for the first time but their form and results faded when the final push was on. The excellent recruiters continue to punch above their weight and delight us with characters like Michael Jayode and Thiago, while Mikel Damsgaard and a surprisingly good Jordan Henderson added class to the midfield.

Bromley 8

What a magnificent job done by Andy Woodman and his no-nonsense team. Champions of League Two, having barely got their feet under the table in the EFL and now already pushing on to the unchartered territory of League One. The Ravens forged an uncomplicated identity and style of play that kept the wins coming and a lengthy unbeaten run in mid-season made promotion look odds-on way before the end. Finishing the season unbeaten at Hayes Lane was a superb achievement, even they had to settle for nine draws in their 23 home games. Michael Cheek was again top marksman with 16, and Nicke Kabamba weighed in with 13, but the success also owed much to the consistency of Mitch Pinnock on the wing, Grant Smith in goal and the towering Omar Sowunmi at the back.

Charlton Athletic 4.5

The limitations became more apparent as the season wore on. A side well organised by Nathan Jones found goals hard to come by and as the results began to suffer, a slow slide down the table threatened late involvement in the relegation dogfight. They won only one of the last nine in the run-in. In the end, the men from the Valley did just enough to avoid that calamity but the fans will be anxious to see more from the Addicks next term. This season, they ended in 19th place - seven points above the drop zone. No one reached double figures for goals. An incredible 45 different players were called upon in all competitions. Lloyd Jones at the back and Sonny Carey in midfield were the stalwarts who kept heads just above water. Not even their Scotland international striker Lyndon Dykes could make much of an impression in the 20 or so games in which he featured.

Chelsea 3

Is a score of three bring too generous? The Blues made it to the FA Cup final but couldn't even qualify for Europe after a campaign full of promise fell off a cliff. Liam Rosenior's appointment after a falling out with Enzo Maresca was disastrous. Too many players downed tools. Too many players, like Cole Palmer, faded from view. The only bright spot at the end of an embarrassing campaign was the hiring of Xabi Alonso. An elite coach. But does he realise what he's letting himself in for? Fans have been voicing their discontent with BlueCo. Many still hanker for the Abramovich years when their team carried all before them and they are not used to the mediocre fare they often saw at the Bridge. Dressing room discontent, with some players like Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella going public about possibly moving on, has done little to galvanise a young squad in need of experienced guidance.

Crystal Palace 7.5

Another year, another bit of silverware for the Eagles. They are spoiling themselves. A year on from Wembley, Leipzig was the venue for their unbridled joy as they sealed a Conference final win in their first serious tilt at European competition. League form may have been patchy at times, with resources stretched, but Oliver Glasner kept them on course for that trophy. Fans will be grateful he saw out the campaign to cement his legendary status when he looked set to bail following the departure of Marc Guehi. He will be sorely missed but the hope is that the likes of Adam Wharton, Maxence Lacroix and Dean Henderson can stay on to continue the advanture in next season's Europa League.

Fulham 6

This was a season that was decent without ever bring earth-shattering and ended with the Whites falling just shy of European qualification and in need of a new head coach. The will-he won't-he saga over whether Marco Silva would sign a new deal dragged on for too long but his eventual defection to Benfica came as no surprise. Fulham's 11th place finish - just two points shy of last season's total - points to stability or stagnation, depending on which way you look at it. The Whites could have done with a better showing in their FA Cup tie with Southampton to give the Cottage a bit of an energy boost and that was a missed opportunity. The form of a few established players dropped off and even the initial boost provided by newcomers Kevin and Sam Chukwueze faded. Josh King had some good moments, but it was once again Harry Wilson who did most to excite. It seems likely the Welshman will depart in the close season, though.

Leyton Orient 4

The O's hopes of building on the previous season's run to the play-offs never materialised and at one stage, they looked in serious danger of going down. They ended up just one place and three points above relegated Exeter City as Richie Wellens' men failed to win any of their last eight league fixtures. A 4-2 win at fellow strugglers Wimbledon in mid-March proved to be crucial. By far and away the brightest star in the Brisbane Road firmament was the goalscoring prowess of Dom Ballard, who helped himself to 23 league goals. Where would they have been without him? There was a lot of chopping and changing of the line up in a bid to stabilise a listing ship. Some 45 different players were called upon.

Millwall 7.5

The Lions almost pulled off a miraculous rise to the Premier League - finishing just one point and one place outside the automatics before being overcome by eventual promotion winners Hull City in a play-off. Alex Neil deserves all the plaudits going for creating a team that could go toe to toe with anyone in the division with a brand of high octane pressing that gave opponents no respite. The usual Jake cooper-led defence alongside the excellent Tristan Crama again provided the necessary foundations, but to this was added the guile of Barry Bannon in midfield alongside Camiel Neghli and Femi Azeez out wide. Josh Coburn and Mihailo Ivanovic weighed in with nine goals apiece but it was all about the collective doggedness and outstanding away form. They have the best return on the road of any Championship side - better even than champions Coventry City - claiming 41 points and losing only four times.

QPR 6

Given that safety has not been something Rangers have been able to take for granted in recent seasons, 15th place represents a solid enough return for Julien Stephan in his first season after taking over from Marti Cifuentes. The Frenchman has a very realistic approach to the task at hand and refuses to get too high during the good spells or too low during the times where the team's form dips. He proved his worth by not letting a 7-1 drubbing at Coventry in October in August lead to a crisis. They went unbeaten in the next five games and picked up away wins at Wrexham, Bristol City and Swansea to restore belief. Although end of season form was none too clever, losing four on the trot twice, they did enjoy a 6-1 drubbing of Portsmouth and a win at Leicester to ease the furrowed brows. Striker Rumarn Burrell gave R's fans the biggest cause for optimism. Richard Kone also hit 10 goals.

Tottenham Hotspur 3

Seventeenth again, ole, ole. The celebration police may have blasted Spurs for going a bit over the top after saving themselves from the drop on the last day, but the sense of relief was understandable. Only the late switch to Roberto de Zerbi avoided catastrophe, as Igor Tudor's inept time at the helm threatened to finish off the slump that caused a sadly ill-suited Thomas Frank to get his Marching orders. Anton Kinsky's redemption and the consistency of Micky van de Ven were rare shafts of light in an injury-plagued term for the squad as a whole. Home form was nothing short of traumatic as defeat followed defeat. The last day win over Everton was only the third at the TH Stadium in the league all season. That was all the more mystifying given the better showings away from home and decent performances in the Champions League on home soil. After the euphoria of that Europa League win under Ange two seasons ago, this was a grim campaign. Big changes are needed.

Watford 4

Not a campaign that will live long in the memory banks for Hornets fans. They finished in a disappointing 16th place - 10 points above the relegation zone and a distant 16 points adrift of Hull City, who occupied the last play-off spot. They had just the four managers during the campaign - that almost seems par for course at Vicarage Road - with Ed Still following on from the short-lived reigns of Paolo Pezzolano, Javiier Gracia and caretaker boss Charlie Daniels. Five defeats in a row closed out a drab campaign and there were no wins in the last eight. The fans were grateful for the consistency of skipper Imran Louza and the nine goals of Luca Kjerrumgaard, but there was precious little to get them excited. Early exits in both cup competitions pretty much summed it up.

West Ham United 2

No more Karen Brady. No more David Sullivan - but also no more Premier League for the time being. A huge salvage operation is needed to steer the Hammers back into safer waters. They will do well to regroup and mount a promotion challenge and their unloved home will feel strange when less than full next season in the Championship. It will be quite the challenge for Nuno Espirito Santo to shake off the gloom. It is a surprise that he is staying on but he needs a good start or the discontent will soon take hold, in all likelihood. The best players will probably depart, though if Jarrod Bowen can somehow be persuaded to remain, then it would soften the blow of the likely loss of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville. That Euro glory under David Moyes suddenly seems a long time ago.