Arsenal End 22-Year Premier League Title Drought
Arsenal have won the English Premier League title for the first time since 2004, ending a 22-year wait, after Manchester City could only manage a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. The result left Arsenal four points clear at the top of the table with one match remaining, making their lead unassailable.
According to multiple reports, City needed a win to take the title race to the final weekend, but could not find a winner after Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi gave the home side a first-half lead. Erling Haaland equalised for City in stoppage time, but it was not enough to deny Arsenal the championship.
The title is Arsenal's first since the famous "Invincibles" season under Arsène Wenger, and the club's 14th league title overall. It comes after three consecutive second-placed finishes under manager Mikel Arteta, who has now silenced his doubters by restoring the Gunners to the top of English football.
Manager's Unusual Celebration
Arteta, who was Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City before taking the Arsenal job in 2019, admitted that he did not watch the decisive match. Instead, he went home and cooked a barbecue in his garden.
"I couldn't bring the energy that I wanted," Arteta said, explaining that he left the training ground before kick-off. His eldest son, Gabriel, who plays for Arsenal's Under-18 side, delivered the news.
"My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me, he started to cry, he gave me a hug and said, 'We are champions, daddy,'" Arteta recalled. "And then my other two boys and my wife came over and it was beautiful, just to see that joy on them as well … it was magical."
Arteta described the moment as an "emotional explosion" and said he wanted the players to have the moment to themselves. Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard called him soon after the title was confirmed, but Arteta told the squad to enjoy the celebration before meeting up later.
Fans Celebrate at the Emirates
Thousands of Arsenal fans gathered outside the Emirates Stadium in north London to celebrate, with flares being set off and supporters spilling onto the streets. Videos shared on social media showed players dancing and chanting at the club's training centre.
One fan told reporters, "Never won the league since I was born... I'm ecstatic, I'm excited." Another added, "22 years, I've been waiting for my whole life... I can't believe it's true, I can't believe it, we won the league."
The Guardian reported scenes of "unadulterated joy" outside the stadium, with fans chanting "Set piece again olé olé" and escorting former Arsenal player Ian Wright through the crowds. One supporter was quoted as saying, "Twenty-two effing years" while shaking his head in disbelief.
Title Secured After Years of Near Misses
Arsenal's triumph comes after a season in which they led the table for most of the campaign. In 2023 and 2024, they saw Manchester City chase down their lead, and last year they finished second to Liverpool.
According to Al Jazeera, Arteta has not followed the Guardiola approach in building his side, instead creating a team with solid defensive foundations and strength at set-pieces. The club's last title-winning team was the so-called "Invincibles" of 2003/04, which went the entire league season unbeaten.
Arsenal will formally lift the trophy after their final match at Crystal Palace on Sunday. The club could yet add the Champions League to their haul, as they face Paris Saint-Germain in the final later this month.
Political Congratulations
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, a longtime Arsenal supporter, congratulated the club on social media. "Congratulations to Arsenal, our Visit Rwanda partner, on being the Premier League champions after a hard-fought season! A well-deserved title!" he posted, according to AllAfrica. The Visit Rwanda partnership, which has featured on Arsenal's shirt sleeves since 2018, is expected to conclude in June.
What's Next
The final round of Premier League matches takes place on Sunday, with relegation and European qualification still to be decided. West Ham and Tottenham are among the teams fighting to avoid the drop, while several clubs are competing for the remaining Europa League spots.