Arsenal were crowned champions of England on Sunday, ending a 22-year drought as a 2-1 win over north London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium secured their first Premier League title since the Invincibles of 2003-04.
Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the 14th minute, lashing home from the edge of the area after a flowing move involving Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice. Cristian Romero levelled for Spurs in the 58th minute, heading in from a James Maddison corner, but substitute Kai Havertz restored Arsenal's lead in the 78th minute, meeting a Riccardo Calafiori cross at the back post to send the home end into delirium.
The result, combined with Manchester City's 1-1 draw at Brighton — where Joao Pedro cancelled out Erling Haaland's first-half opener — lifted Arsenal four points clear of Pep Guardiola's side at the summit, ending City's bid for a fifth successive league title. Arsenal finished on 87 points, with City on 83 and Liverpool third on 78.
"This is for our supporters, for everyone who believed when belief was hard," manager Mikel Arteta said in his post-match press conference, his voice hoarse. "These players have shown a level of courage and consistency that deserves to be remembered. We have made history today."
Captain Martin Ødegaard, who lifted the trophy alongside Arteta on a stage erected over the centre circle, told Sky Sports: "I dreamed about this from the day I signed. To do it against Tottenham, on the last day, with our fans — I have no words."
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, who presented the trophy on the pitch, called the title race "one of the most compelling in the competition's history" and praised Arsenal for "a campaign of remarkable consistency and nerve." Saka, who finished the season with 18 league goals and 13 assists, is widely expected to feature heavily in the PFA Player of the Year voting, the results of which are due next week.
The downstream implications are already taking shape. Islington Council confirmed Tuesday morning that an open-top bus parade will travel from the Emirates to Highbury Fields on Wednesday, with road closures in place from 10 a.m. The club also announced that Thursday's home fixture against Newcastle has been reclassified as a trophy presentation evening, with a second lifting ceremony scheduled for full-time. Sporting director Andrea Berta is understood to have already opened formal talks over a new long-term contract for Arteta, while veteran goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is expected to depart this summer after nine years at the club, with a testimonial pencilled in before the Community Shield fixture against FA Cup winners Manchester United.