Arsene Wenger will remain at the helm of Arsenal next season.

The Frenchman was delighted after steering his team to fourth place and qualification for the Champions League ahead of Tottenham but this failed to silence his critics as the Gunners have now gone eight seasons without a piece of silverware.

Aston Villa finished way down in 15th place and, for the second successive year, struggled to preserve their Premier League status.

Compared with the previous season, Villa ended this campaign one place higher.

While Arsenal have stuck with Wenger since 1996, the Villans had another change in management last summer as they appointed Paul Lambert (ex-Norwich) for the sacked Alex McLeish.

Sixteen consecutive seasons in the Champions League is no mean feat despite all the criticism of Wenger. They only have to ask Tottenham who, for another season, finished behind their north London rivals.

Wenger has stated that he will be spending big this summer to boost Arsenal’s chances of producing a strong challenge for the championship crown.

Arsenal had to do without England midfielder Jack Wilshere at crucial times last season while the transfer of Dutch international Robin van Persie to champions Manchester United was another blow for the fans.

The Arsenal supporters were very disappointed at the team’s humiliating exits to League Two side Bradford City in the League Cup and Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup.

At Villa Park, Lambert would probably have lost his job were it not for the support of owner Randy Lerner.

The nine home defeats were one of the reasons Lambert was lambasted by the fans. Lambert, however, should be lauded for showing faith in the club’s youth.

The capture of striker Christian Benteke from Genk for only £7m was one of the best deals of the season.

Benteke, the top marksman at Villa Park, is a target for other Premier League clubs. His 23 goals were crucial to Villa’s survival.

In cup competitions, Villa eliminated Manchester City and Norwich but were shocked by Bradford City in the two-legged League Cup semi-finals, bowing out 4-3 on aggregate.

In the FA Cup, Villa were knocked out by Millwall away in the fourth round.

Arsenal also had to suffer under the Bradford scourge in the League Cup, going out on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade.

Blackburn then dashed the Gunners’ hopes of a title this year with a win at the Emirates Stadium in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

In the Champions League, Arsenal can feel somewhat unlucky to have been eliminated by eventual winners Bayern Munich on the away-goals rule, winning 2-0 at the Germans’ den and going out on a 3-3 scoreline.

Yet, the Londoners had crashed to a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates.

2012-13 Premier League results

Arsenal

August – Home vs Sunderland 0-0.
Away vs Stoke 0-0.

September − Away vs Liverpool 2-0 (Podolski, Cazorla).
Home vs Southampton 6-1 (Hooiveld og, Podolski, Gervinho 2, Clyne og, Walcott).
Away vs Manchester City 1-1 (Koscielny).
Home vs Chelsea 1-2 (Gervinho).

October − Away vs West Ham 3-1 (Giroud, Walcott, Cazorla).
Away vs Norwich 0-1.
Home vs Queens Park Rangers 1-0 (Arteta).

November − Away vs Manchester United 1-2 (Cazorla).
Home vs Fulham 3-3 (Giroud 2, Podolski).
Home vs Tottenham 5-2 (Mertesacker, Podolski, Giroud, Walcott, Cazorla).
Away vs Aston Villa 0-0.
Away vs Everton 1-1 (Walcott).

December − Home vs Swansea 0-2.
Home vs West Brom 2-0 (Arteta 2 pens).
Away vs Reading 5-2 (Podolski, Cazorla 3, Walcott).
Away vs Wigan 1-0 (Arteta pen).
Home vs Newcastle 7-3 (Walcott 3, Chamberlain, Podolski, Giroud 2).

January − Away vs Southampton 1-1 (Guly og).
Home vs Manchester City 0-2.
Away vs Chelsea 1-2 (Walcott).
Home vs West Ham 5-1 (Podolski, Giroud 2, Cazorla, Walcott).
Home vs Liverpool 2-2 (Giroud, Walcott).

February − Home vs Stoke 1-0 (Podolski).
Away vs Sunderland 1-0 (Cazorla).
Home vs Aston Villa 2-1 (Cazorla 2).

March − Away vs Tottenham 1-2 (Mertesacker).
Away vs Swansea 2-0 (Monreal, Gervinho).
Home vs Reading 4-0 (Gervinho, Cazorla, Giroud, Arteta pen).

April − Away vs West Brom 2-1 (Rosicky 2).
Home vs Norwich 3-1 (Arteta pen, Giroud, Podolski).
Home vs Everton 0-0.
Away vs Fulham 1-0 (Mertesacker).
Home vs Manchester United 1-1 (Walcott).

May − Away vs QPR 1-0 (Walcott).
Home vs Wigan 4-1 (Podolski 2, Walcott, Ramsey).
Away vs Newcastle 1-0 (Koscielny).

Aston Villa

August − Away vs West Ham 0-1.
Home vs Everton 1-3 (El Ahmadi).

September − Away vs Newcastle 1-1 (Clark).
Home vs Swansea 2-0 (Lowton, Benteke).
Away vs Southampton 1-4 (Bent).
Home vs West Brom 1-1 (Bent).

October − Away vs Tottenham 0-2.
Away vs Fulham 0-1.
Home vs Norwich 1-1 (Benteke).

November − Away vs Sunderland 1-0 (Agbonlahor).
Home vs Manchester United 2-3 (Weimann 2).
Away vs Manchester City 0-5.
Home vs Arsenal 0-0.
Home vs Reading 1-0 (Benteke).

December − Away Queens Park Rangers 1-1 (Holman).
Home vs Stoke 0-0.
Away vs Liverpool 3-1 (Benteke 2, Weimann).
Away vs Chelsea 0-8.
Home vs Tottenham 0-4.
Home vs Wigan 0-3.

January − Away vs Swansea 2-2 (Weimann, Benteke pen).
Home vs Southampton 0-1.
Away vs West Brom 2-2 (Benteke, Agbonlahor).
Home vs Newcastle 1-2 (Benteke pen).

February − Away vs Everton 3-3 (Benteke 2, Agbonlahor).
Home vs West Ham 2-1 (Benteke pen, N’Zogbia).
Away vs Arsenal 1-2 (Weimann).

March − Home vs Man. City 0-1.
Away vs Reading 2-1 (Benteke, Agbonlahor).
Home vs QPR 3-2 (Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke).
Home vs Liverpool 1-2 (Benteke).

April − Away vs Stoke 3-1 (Agbonlahor, Lowton, Benteke).
Home vs Fulham 1-1 (Delph og).
Away vs Manchester United 0-3.
Home vs Sunderland 6-0 (Vlaar, Weimann, Benteke 3, Agbonlahor).

May − Away vs Norwich 2-1 (Agbonlahor 2).
Home vs Chelsea 1-2 (Benteke).
Away vs Wigan 2-2 (Bent, Vlaar).