Manchester City retain Premier League title as Arsenal draw on final day

Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for the 2025-26 season on Sunday after Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at the Emirates Stadium, allowing Pep Guardiola's side to seal the title with a 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad.

The result, confirmed shortly after 6pm, hands City their sixth league title in seven years and a fourth in succession — an unprecedented feat in English top-flight football. Erling Haaland, who finished the campaign with 27 league goals, opened the scoring against West Ham before Phil Foden and Rodri added second-half strikes.

At the Emirates, Bukayo Saka had given Arsenal a 14th-minute lead, but a deflected Iliman Ndiaye equaliser just before the hour mark proved decisive. Mikel Arteta's side, who had led the table for much of the spring, finished two points adrift on 86.

"To win four in a row in this league, with the level of Arsenal, Liverpool, the spending of everyone — it is something I cannot describe," Guardiola told Sky Sports after the final whistle. "These players are eternal."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, presenting the trophy on the pitch, called the title race "one of the most compelling in the competition's history" and praised both clubs for "pushing the standard of English football to new heights."

Arteta, speaking in his post-match press conference, conceded the better team had taken the prize over 38 games. "We gave everything. Today we lacked the cutting edge in the final third, and over the season the small margins went against us. We will come back stronger."

The downstream implications are already taking shape. Arsenal are expected to accelerate their pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with sporting director Andrea Berta understood to have opened formal talks last week. Meanwhile, City confirmed that captain Kyle Walker, 35, will leave the club this summer after nine years, with a testimonial planned for August before the Community Shield fixture against FA Cup winners Chelsea.