Arsenal were crowned English Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth ended Pep Guardiola’s side’s hopes of taking the title race to the final day.
City needed victory at the Vitality Stadium to keep their title defence alive, but Bournemouth delivered the result that sent North London into celebration. Eli Junior Kroupi put the hosts ahead in the 39th minute before Erling Haaland struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for City.
It was not enough. The draw left City four points behind Arsenal with one match remaining, confirming Mikel Arteta’s side as champions.
For Arsenal, it ends a long wait dating back to the famous Invincibles season of 2003-04. The Gunners, who had led for much of the campaign, finally turned promise into silverware after several seasons of near misses under Arteta.
The title was confirmed without Arsenal kicking a ball, but the celebrations were immediate.
Players watched the Bournemouth-City match together at the club’s training ground, while supporters poured onto streets around the Emirates Stadium, lighting flares and chanting “Champions” as the scale of the achievement sank in.
Arteta’s triumph marks a defining moment in his Arsenal reign. After rebuilding the squad around a younger, more aggressive and tactically disciplined team, the Spaniard has now delivered the club’s first league crown in a generation.
City, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a campaign in which their late surge fell just short. Bournemouth, unbeaten in 17 games, also had reason to celebrate after securing European football for the first time in their history.
Arsenal are expected to lift the Premier League trophy after their final match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, capping a season that has restored the club to the summit of English football.
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