Arsenal’s decades-long wait is over after Mikel Arteta’s team on Tuesday were crowned Premier League champions for the first time since 2004 with Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with AFC Bournemouth.
“I told you all ... it’s done,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice posted on social media with a photograph of himself and his teammates celebrating.
The result at Vitality Stadium put an end to what might be Pep Guardiola’s final title challenge with City after the decorated manager did not dismiss reports that he was set to leave the club at the end of the season.
Photo: EPA
City needed to win against Bournemouth to take it down to the final game of the campaign on Sunday, but the draw left Arsenal with an unassailable four-point lead at the top, ending their 22-year wait for the title.
Arsenal fans celebrated wildly outside the team’s Emirates Stadium, setting off flares and partying in the street. There were celebrations at the club’s training ground, too, where the players had gathered to watch the match.
City threatened another twist in an engrossing title race when Erling Haaland scored in stoppage-time to equalize after Junior Kroupi’s first-half strike, but it was too late to find a winner.
Photo: AFP
Arteta’s players can now stand alongside club icons Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright, who previously reached the summit of English soccer. And Arsenal’s current class could yet break new ground by winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history later this month.
Thoughts of the May 30 final against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain can be put on the backburner for now.
Now is a time for celebration and relief for Arteta after finishing runners-up in the league three years in a row.
Photo: AFP
In back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024, he watched as Guardiola’s City chased down Arsenal’s lead to be crowned champions.
Another chance was missed last year by finishing second to Liverpool.
Once again Arsenal has led the way for most of this campaign and despite seeing their points advantage ebb away during a gripping run-in, they have finally gotten over the line.
Photo: Reuters
Arsenal’s last champions were the so-called “Invincibles” team of 2004, who went an entire campaign without losing in the league.
Since then they have watched Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Leicester City and Liverpool take the title. This is the first time since 2017 that a team other than Manchester City or Liverpool have not been crowned champions.
It is Arsenal’s 14th title and Arteta will hope it is the beginning of a new era of dominance.
He has finally got the better of Guardiola, who he was formerly assistant to at Manchester City.
The Spaniard took over at Arsenal in December 2019 — his first role as a manager. After winning the FA Cup in that first season, it has been a frustrating wait for more honors. Even still, he is the second-youngest coach after Jose Mourinho to win the Premier League at the age of 44.
While his team have not maintained the attractive playing style of former manager Arsene Wenger, they have powered their way to the title with the best defense in the league and earned a reputation as a specialist for set-piece goals.
Time will tell if Arteta adopts a more expansive style, more like Guardiola’s team.
How Man City will look going forward is a bigger question, with Enzo Maresco widely considered the front-runner to replace Guardiola.
“I should talk with my chairman first,” Guardiola said. “After that, when I talk with my chairman ... we will decide. We will talk in the next days.”
Meanwhile, the fight for survival in the English top league is to be played out on the final day of the season after Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1.
Spurs are two points ahead of West Ham United, who are in the final relegation spot.
West Ham need to beat 14th-placed Leeds United on Sunday to have any chance of leapfrogging Tottenham and climbing out of the drop zone.
Tottenham are to host Everton (12th) and a draw would likely be enough because of superior goal-difference. A win would guarantee safety.
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