Arsenal has won the English Premier League for the first time in 22 years after defending champions Manchester City stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
City, who had won six of the last eight titles, needed a victory to narrow Arsenal's lead to two points and push the title race to Sunday’s final day. However, a 39th-minute goal from Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi put City on the back foot. Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time equalizer came too late for Pep Guardiola’s side to find a winner.
The full-time whistle sparked wild celebrations outside Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. Midfielder Declan Rice captured the mood on Instagram, posting a photo with his teammates captioned: "I told you all it's done."
This marks Arsenal's 14th English league title—placing them behind only Manchester United (20) and Liverpool (20)—and their first since the legendary "Invincibles" went unbeaten in the 2003-04 season under Arsène Wenger.
Mikel Arteta, who took charge in 2019, has made history as the first former Premier League player to win the title as a manager. The victory brings immense relief to the Spaniard after finishing runner-up in three consecutive seasons—twice to Manchester City and once to Liverpool.
Arsenal’s triumph was built on a rock-solid defense and set-piece dominance. They conceded a league-low 26 goals in 37 games, keeping 19 clean sheets. Offensively, they scored a league-high 24 goals from set-pieces, including a Premier League-era record of 18 from corner kicks.
The squad’s evolution was marked by smart recruitment and player growth. New arrivals Viktor Gyökeres and Eberechi Eze added physical presence and creativity, while Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka consistently delivered in high-pressure moments.
The title-deciding match was somewhat overshadowed by reports that Pep Guardiola might leave Manchester City at the end of the season after a decade at the helm. City had already won the League Cup and FA Cup this term, but their hopes of a second domestic treble were dashed.
"Congratulations to Arsenal, Mikel, his staff, and the fans," Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. "It is well deserved. We fought with incredible fatigue and things we could not control, but we never gave up. Today, it was just out of our hands."
Arsenal will wrap up their Premier League campaign at home against Crystal Palace on Sunday before turning their attention to the continent. On May 30, they will face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final, looking to secure their first-ever European crown and complete the greatest season in the club's history.
