Arsenal clinch Premier League title after 22 years

Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title on Tuesday, May 19, when Manchester City’s 1-1 draw away to Bournemouth confirmed Mikel Arteta’s side as champions. The result left City four points behind Arsenal with one match remaining, making the leaders unreachable, the Premier League said. The title is Arsenal’s first since the 2003-04 “Invincibles” season and follows three straight runner-up finishes, according to the league and club statements. Social media reaction spread quickly after the final whistle at the Vitality Stadium, with supporters and television pundits posting clips and tributes as the title race ended. ### How exactly did Arsenal clinch it? Manchester City’s dropped points at Bournemouth settled the race without Arsenal needing to play on Tuesday night. The Premier League said City’s draw left them four points adrift of first place, which meant Arsenal were guaranteed to finish top of the 2025-26 table. Monday, May 18, had put Arsenal into position. Kai Havertz scored in a 1-0 win over Burnley that moved Arsenal five points clear, leaving City needing a victory a day later to keep the race alive, according to the Premier League and Arsenal’s post-match coverage. ### Why is 22 years such a big number for Arsenal? Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2003-04 under Arsene Wenger, when the club completed an unbeaten league campaign. Tuesday’s title ends the longest gap between league championships in the club’s modern Premier League era, according to Arsenal and the league. Mikel Arteta also became the first former Arsenal captain to lead the club to a top-flight title as manager, Arsenal said. The club said Arteta, who took charge in December 2019, has now delivered the championship after a run in which Arsenal had finished second in each of the previous three seasons. ### What did fans and broadcasters focus on after the title was confirmed? CBS Sports Golazo posted footage on X highlighting an Arsenal supporter celebrating a title after what it described as a 22-year wait. The clip became one of the social posts circulating after the championship was confirmed. Sky Sports News posted video of pundit Jay Bothroyd reacting to the result. “The narrative does not matter, Arsenal have the title,” Bothroyd said, before calling for a statue for Arteta in remarks carried on the broadcaster’s X account. ### What had Arteta said before City’s match? Mikel Arteta said on May 18 that Arsenal were “one win, or a Bournemouth result against Manchester City tomorrow, away from being league champions for the first time since 2004,” according to Arsenal’s transcript of his post-Burnley press conference. Arteta also said after the Burnley match that Arsenal had taken “one huge step forward” and were waiting for “magic,” Arsenal’s website reported. That final step arrived less than 24 hours later when Bournemouth held City. ### What comes next for Arsenal? Sky Sports said the trophy presentation is scheduled for Sunday at Selhurst Park. The Premier League fixture list shows Arsenal’s final league match is away to Crystal Palace on the last day of the season. Sunday’s ceremony will give Arsenal their first title lift as Premier League champions in more than two decades. The club and league have both published title reaction, match footage and season retrospectives following confirmation on May 19.