Arsenal celebrate first title in 22 years

Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title on May 19, and the club’s formal trophy celebration came five days later after its final league match at Crystal Palace. The Premier League said Arsenal would lift the trophy on Sunday, May 24, at Selhurst Park after the season finale. Arsenal had been confirmed as champions with a game to spare when second-placed Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side out of reach at the top of the table. The title is Arsenal’s first Premier League crown since the 2003-04 “Invincibles” season and the club’s 14th English top-flight championship overall, according to the Premier League and Arsenal. Arsenal finished the season’s penultimate round on 82 points from 37 matches, four ahead of Manchester City, after winning 25 games, drawing seven and losing five. (premierleague.com) ### How did Arsenal actually clinch the title? Manchester City’s draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday, May 19, settled the race before Arsenal played again. The Premier League said City’s result left them four points behind Arsenal with only one match remaining, making it impossible for Pep Guardiola’s side to catch the leaders. (premierleague.com) Arsenal’s own website said the title was secured after its 1-0 win over Burnley, combined with City’s dropped points on the same night. The club said Arteta became the first Arsenal manager in 22 years to win English football’s top prize, after three straight runner-up finishes in previous seasons. ### Why was the trophy lift at Selhurst Park, not the Emirates? (premierleague.com) Sunday, May 24, was Arsenal’s final league fixture of the season, away to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Premier League said the trophy presentation would take place after that match, and several match-day guides published this week said supporters could expect the lift after full time. (arsenal.com) Time Out London reported that Arsenal’s open-top bus parade is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, in Islington, the club’s home borough, with a 2 p.m. start time. That means the on-pitch presentation at Selhurst Park was the first official public trophy ceremony, before any parade through north London. (premierleague.com) ### What did the celebrations look like before trophy day? North London saw large street gatherings on the night of May 19 after the title was confirmed. Reuters reported that tens of thousands of fans gathered outside Emirates Stadium, setting off fireworks and flares and chanting into the night, while Arsenal players watched City’s match together at the club’s training ground before celebrating once the result was final. (timeout.com) The Premier League also published images from that night showing players and supporters celebrating after the title became official. It said the squad had watched events unfold at London Colney, while fans gathered at homes, pubs and clubs before many headed to the Emirates area after the final whistle in Bournemouth. (nbcnews.com) ### Where do Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke and Nairobi fit into this story? Stan Kroenke is Arsenal’s billionaire owner, and Bloomberg reported this was the club’s first Premier League title under his ownership. Josh Kroenke has also been a visible figure in the club’s leadership, and Arsenal published a joint message from Stan and Josh Kroenke during the final fortnight of the campaign. (premierleague.com) Social posts circulating on May 24 showed Stan and Josh Kroenke at the London-area trophy celebration and large Arsenal gatherings in Nairobi, Kenya. Those posts indicate the scale of the club’s support beyond Britain, but Reuters and the club’s official channels had not, at the time of writing, published a formal account of the Nairobi scenes. (bloomberg.com) ### What comes next after the Premier League celebration? Arsenal’s next match is the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, May 30, in Budapest. Arsenal’s website said the club will seek its first European Cup triumph there, and Time Out London reported the title parade is planned for May 31 in Islington after the team returns from Hungary. (arsenal.com) (kenyanslivingit.co.ke)