Arsenal Crowned Premier League Champions for First Time Since 2004

Arsenal have won the Premier League title for the first time since 2004 after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth on the final day of the season.

The Arsenal squad and coaching staff, including manager Mikel Arteta, gathered at the club’s training ground in Hertfordshire to watch the match. Midfielder Declan Rice posted a photo on Instagram shortly after full time showing him with teammates Kai Havertz, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly and William Saliba, captioned: “I told you all .. it’s done.” The comment referenced Rice’s earlier battle cry “It’s not done” after Arsenal lost to Manchester City last month.

Video footage showed players and staff celebrating, chanting “championes,” and Eze jumping on a table. The team is believed to have continued celebrations elsewhere. Arsenal’s website stated Arteta had “cemented his place in our history as one of our greatest managers of all time.” At 44, Arteta becomes the second youngest manager to win the Premier League, behind José Mourinho who won with Chelsea in 2005.

Arsenal social media accounts released a video introduced by former manager Arsène Wenger, who was shown drinking red wine. “Champions go on when others stop,” Wenger said. “Now go on and enjoy every moment.”

Arteta’s achievement is remarkable given this is his first managerial job. He took over from Unai Emery in December 2019 and transformed Arsenal into title contenders. The team finished as runners-up in the previous three campaigns and led the table for most of this season before City cut Arsenal’s nine-point lead after defeating them at the Etihad.

Despite past disappointments, Arteta’s side emerged strongest from what became a five-game playoff between the two title rivals. City stumbled first with a draw against Everton, while Arsenal recorded four straight wins without conceding a goal, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Burnley on Monday.

Arsenal fans gathered at pubs near the Emirates Stadium in anticipation of a Bournemouth positive result and celebrated wildly at the final whistle, spilling into the streets. Within 10 minutes, thousands marched toward the Emirates. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright was seen enjoying the moment at the stadium.

Arsenal will receive the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park on Sunday after their final game against Crystal Palace. Arteta will become the longest-serving manager in England’s top four divisions after Pep Guardiola’s departure from City is confirmed following a decade in charge. Arteta has a chance to emulate his mentor by winning the Champions League when Arsenal faces Paris Saint-Germain on May 30. Only five English teams have won the top division and European Cup in the same season, most recently Manchester City in 2023.