Thousands of Arsenal fans line streets of north London for victory parade to mark first Premier League title since 2004

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As many as half-a-million Arsenal supporters lined the streets for the parade two-hour parade, which has now transition into a party.

Mikel Arteta’s title-winning team began their 5.6-mile route through north London at 2pm – just 18 hours after their Champions League heartbreak against Paris St Germain in Budapest.

Fireworks went off above the stadium as the Arsenal bus made its way up Holloway Road, north London, which was covered in red mist.

Arsenals centre-back pairing William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes were sat at the front of the bus with the Premier League trophy.

Defender Riccardo Calafiori leaned over the side of the bus, pumping his fist and celebrating with the fans.

Christian Norgaard and Ben White were sat at the back of the bus looking much more relaxed.

The team were met with chants of “Champions of England, we know what we are”.

Read more: Heartbreak for Arsenal as PSG crowned Champions League winners after tense penalty shootout

Read more: Chaos in France: Nearly 800 arrested as fans clash with riot police amid PSG Champions League final

The owners of a cafe on Holloway Road said it was “almost surreal” to have the Arsenal bus parade coming past.

Seb Olid, a part owner of Coffee Zee, said he was in the area when Arsenal last won the league in 2004 and it was “nothing like” the bus parade on Sunday.

He said: “It’s the most insane I have ever seen it. I was here in 2004 and it was nothing like this.”All of the staff in the cafe were wearing Arsenal kits and they had put up red and white bunting.

Asked if they were all Arsenal fans, co-owner Waleed, who did not given his surname, replied “of course”.

One Arsenal fan who was stood outside his local Lidl supermarket said Arsenal was in his “DNA” as he waited to watch the parade.

Jay, 34, said: “I was born up the road from here, so Arsenal isn’t just the football team I support, it’s my local team and it’s actually, not to sound cliche, my DNA.

“The last time we won I was 12, so the first time to have as an adult is special and I go to this Lidl for my shopping and I’m standing to watch the boys go by lifting up the prem, beautiful view, lovely scenery.”

The Gunners had been hoping for a double celebration by following up their league success with a first Champions League trophy in the club’s 140-year history.

However, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missed their penalties in Saturday’s nerve-jangling shootout to allow PSG to retain their crown.

Arteta’s crestfallen players departed their Hilton hotel in Hungarian capital in the hours after the crushing loss with the Arsenal manager vowing to use the setback as “fuel” to carry them to glory next season.

Arteta said: “First of all, you have to go through that pain, digest it and turn it into fuel to improve and to reach a different level.

“I will take a few days with my family and then I will start the process to review what we’ve done.

“We will start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level.

“And we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it. But it’s going to demand us to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”