Arsenal clinch first title since 2004 as City draw against Bournemouth
Mikel Arteta's side have won the top-flight with a game to spare after Pep Guardiola's City stuttered in what could be his penultimate game in charge of the Blues
Arsenal have clinched their first Premier League title since 2004 with a game to spare - after Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth.
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The Gunners have won England's top-flight for the 14th time - their first since the legendary 'Invincibles' side did so more than two decades ago.
City's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium sees Pep Guardiola's side five points behind Arsenal with only one game to go.
Wonderkid Junior Kroupi opened the scoring for Bournemouth in the 39th minute - and Pep's side could not recover to secure the three points needed to send the title race to the final day.
Read more: Tottenham’s relegation battle goes down to final day after losing to Chelsea
Erling Haaland snatched a draw in the 95th minute to give City hope. But it was too little too late for Guardiola and co.
The result follows Arsenal's nervy 1-0 win against Burnley at the Emirates on Monday night - with the north London side now set for an almighty party when they visit Crystal Palace on the Premier League's final matchday on Sunday.
The trophy ends a run of three consecutive second-place finishes and comes as vindication for the club in sticking with boss Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal's triumph means they are the first team in nine years to break the stranglehold that the duopoly of Manchester City and Liverpool.
After the final whistle on the south coast, thousands of Arsenal fans swarmed the Emirates Stadium to celebrate.
Red fireworks were set off to mark their title celebrations.
Arsenal's players, who had watched the match from their Colney Road training ground, were pictured in a jubilant mood.
The Gunners were spotted carrying a cardboard cutout of their Premier League trophy - which they will get their hands on for real on Sunday.
The league triumph comes as the first part of a potential European double - with the Gunners set to face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30.
Arteta's Premier League triumph is his second major trophy in his six-year spell at the Emirates - after he secured the FA Cup in his first season in charge.
He has overseen Arsenal's transformation from a perennial punch line to the Premier League's second-place stalwarts and now to top-flight champions.
Midfielder Declan Rice posted a picture on Instagram with his team-mates with the caption “I told you all.. it’s done.”
Former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who led the team to their last title, in 2004, featured in a celebratory post from the Gunners on their X account.
He said: “You did it. Champions go on when others stop. This is your time. Now, go on and enjoy every moment.”
Former England goalkeeper David Seaman, who made more than 400 appearances for Arsenal between 1990 and 2003, said on X: “Premier League champions!!! What a moment!!! What a season!!!!!!!! EPIC!!!!!!!!!! Longest (22 years and ) three minutes of MY LIFE…”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who had Arteta as his assistant for two of City’s Premier League titles, paid tribute to his Gunners counterpart.
“We were close. On behalf of everyone at Manchester City, we congratulate Mikel and all the staff, players and fans on winning the Premier League,” he told Sky Sports. “They deserve it, for so much hard work and effort.”
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, a two-time title-winner, said he was thrilled to see his former club finally get over the line after several near misses in recent seasons.
Smith said on Sky Sports: “Brilliant, brilliant, fully deserved.
“Obviously, they’ve had their moments in the last few seasons where they’ve come second, but you deserve to win it if you finish top.
“They’ve had the best defence. They haven’t had the best attack – you’d probably say City have got the best attack – but, as an overall unit, Mikel Arteta’s done brilliantly well. I’m really pleased for my old club.”
Arsenal-supporting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote on X: “22 long years for the Arsenal. But finally, we’re back where we belong. Champions!”