Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described it as "unprecedented", former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte called it "crazy" and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp said it made him "angry" whenever he talked about it.
Last autumn, the Premier League was bracing itself for a season like no other - with a World Cup shoehorned into the middle of a packed club schedule.
When the top flight paused for the World Cup, Arsenal were five points clear at the top.
"We don't know how that's going to affect us," admitted Arteta.
With the Premier League season over, we know exactly how every club was affected.