Arsenal F.C. have won the English Premier League title for the first time in 22 years after closest challengers Manchester City F.C. were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth, handing the North London side an unassailable lead at the top of the table ahead of the final round of matches.
The title victory sparked celebrations across London and among millions of supporters worldwide, with fans gathering outside the Emirates Stadium as fireworks and flares lit up the night following confirmation of Arsenal’s first league triumph since the famous 2004 “Invincibles” campaign under former manager Arsène Wenger.
At Arsenal’s London Colney training ground, players and staff reportedly celebrated wildly after City dropped crucial points, while winger Bukayo Saka took aim at critics who had questioned the club’s mentality during the title race, declaring in a celebratory video that “there was laughing, there was joking, they’re not laughing anymore” after Arsenal finally ended their long wait for Premier League glory.
Brandspur Sports reports that Arsenal’s triumph also generated major reactions across Africa, with several African presidents and political figures taking to social media to congratulate the club, reflecting the enormous popularity Arsenal enjoy among football fans across the continent.
The Gunners had faced intense scrutiny earlier in the season after a crucial defeat to Manchester City raised fresh doubts about their ability to handle pressure in the closing stages of the campaign. However, manager Mikel Arteta guided the team to four straight league victories without conceding a goal to secure the title in dramatic fashion.
Defender academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly also joined the celebrations, joking in a video shared online that critics “called us bottlers, and now we’re holding the bottle” as Arsenal players sprayed champagne following confirmation of their championship success.
Former Arsenal boss Wenger congratulated the current squad in a message released by the club, praising the players for their determination and resilience throughout the season, while Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also paid tribute to Arteta and his team for what he described as a deserved title-winning campaign.
Arsenal are expected to lift the Premier League trophy after their final league match against Crystal Palace and could still cap off a historic season with a UEFA Champions League triumph when they face Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in the final later this month.
