Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time since 2004 after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday night. A 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium confirmed Arsenal’s title with one game remaining, ending a 22-year wait that had stretched across generations of supporters.
The moment arrived in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Erling Haaland equalised for City — but it was too late. Junior Kroupi’s 39th-minute curling strike had put Bournemouth ahead, and despite Haaland’s last-gasp leveller, Pep Guardiola’s side could not find the winner they desperately needed. When the final whistle blew on the south coast, wild celebrations broke out outside Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in north London.
Declan Rice summed up the mood simply. He posted a photo on Instagram with his teammates and wrote: “I told you all… it’s done.”
How Arsenal Held Their Nerve to Win the Title
This was not a straightforward title run. Arsenal surrendered leads, dropped points, and fell behind City in the table as recently as April. After losing 2-1 at the Etihad on April 19, they trailed in the race for the first time since October. That defeat, however, appeared to galvanise the squad. Rice told teammates in the dressing room that night: “It’s not done.” Arsenal won their next four league games without conceding a single goal.
Key moments shaped the campaign. A 4-1 demolition of Tottenham in February sent a statement across the division. A remarkable comeback against Everton on March 14 saw 16-year-old Max Dowman come off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. A 3-0 win over Fulham on May 2 opened a six-point gap, and a narrow 1-0 victory over Burnley last Sunday put the title in their own hands heading into Tuesday’s results.
Arsenal’s defensive record tells the story of their season. They conceded just 26 goals in 37 games — the fewest in the league — and kept 19 clean sheets. Their set-piece record was equally dominant, scoring 24 goals from dead-ball situations, including 19 from corners alone, the highest total in Premier League history.
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Arteta Becomes First Former PL Player to Win Title as Manager
Mikel Arteta has delivered the title he came agonisingly close to winning three times before. In 2023 and 2024, City overtook Arsenal late in the season to claim the trophy. Last year, Liverpool pipped them to the title. Fourth time proved to be the charm.
Arteta, who played for both Arsenal and Everton during his career, becomes the first former Premier League player to win the competition as a manager. He took over at Arsenal in December 2019 and has rebuilt the club steadily since.
Guardiola Era Ends as Arsenal Begin New Chapter
Pep Guardiola is widely expected to leave Manchester City this summer after a decade at the club and 20 trophies. He congratulated Arsenal graciously after the result, saying the title was “well deserved.” Reports suggest Enzo Maresca is City’s top choice to succeed him.
Arsenal’s season is not over. They face Crystal Palace on Sunday before turning attention to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30. The club has never won the European Cup. That changes this month — or it does not. Either way, this Premier League title alone marks the end of one of English football’s longest waits.
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