LONDON: Arsenal celebrated their first Premier League title for 22 years on Tuesday after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth, sparking wild scenes of joy around the Emirates Stadium.

City had to win to take the fight to the final day but fell short and can no longer catch their rivals, who have ended a six-year trophy drought.

After finishing second for the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta’s side have finally made it over the line to win the London club’s first English title since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” in 2004.

Arsenal edged to the brink of a 14th English top-flight title with an unconvincing 1-0 win over already relegated Burnley on Monday, which took them five points clear of City.

The Gunners, who have set the pace for most of the season, have bounced back impressively since losing to City last month, winning four straight league matches without conceding a goal.

“Congratulations to Arsenal, Mikel, the staff, all the players, fans for this Premier League,” said City boss Pep Guardiola. “You deserve it!”

On Monday, just 48 hours after completing a domestic cup double with victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final, City were rocked by widespread reports that Guardiola will depart after a decade in charge at the end of the season.

Victory at Wembley on Saturday secured a 20th trophy of Guardiola’s glorious reign.

But he cannot add to his six Premier League titles when Aston Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday for what is expected to be his final match in charge.

“The first person I have to talk to is my chairman,” said Guardiola, referring to his future. “We decide when we finish the season, we’ll sit down and we’ll talk. It’s as simple as that and after we’ll take the decision.”

Red smoke from flares billowed around the Emirates in north London as fans sang “Campeones” and chanted Arteta’s name.

“22 long years for the Arsenal,” British Prime Minister and Arsenal fan Keir Starmer posted on X. “But finally, we’re back where we belong. Champions!”

At the club’s training ground, there were scenes of celebration from the Arsenal players who had gathered to watch the action at the Vitality Stadium.

“You did it! Champions go on when others stop. This is your time. Now, go on and enjoy every moment,” Wenger said in a video posted on the club’s social media channels.

Guardiola had warned that fatigue could cost City against a highly motivated Bournemouth, who still have Champions League qualification in their sights for next season.

City fans forlornly chanted “One more year, Guardiola” in the early stages in a bid to convince their decorated coach to see out the final season of his contract.

But if the travelling fans hoped City’s players would be inspired to give Guardiola a glorious goodbye, they were left sorely disappointed.

The home side opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Eli Junior Kroupi curled into the top corner to set a new record of 13 goals in a debut Premier League season for a teenager.

The home side failed to take their chances to extend their lead, giving Erling Haaland the chance to equalise deep into stoppage time.

But it was too little, too late to save City’s title challenge.

Bournemouth, in Andoni Iraola’s final home game in charge, extended their unbeaten streak to 17 league games, securing European football for the first time in the club’s history.

Guardiola looks set to depart having failed to win the league for two consecutive seasons for the first time in his coaching career.

After winning what was billed a potential title decider against Arsenal last month, City lost control following a 3-3 draw at Everton.

Arteta’s side will formally be presented with the trophy on Sunday after their final match of the season at Crystal Palace.

They could still make it an historic double as they chase their first Champions League title in the final against Paris Saint-Germain later this month.

Arsenal players were pictured celebrating with fans at 5:00 am at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber were pictured in the early hours in an Instagram post by their team-mate Eberechi Eze.

The players held a party at their London Colney training ground with coach Mikel Arteta and then took the celebrations to the Emirates Stadium.

Many of the players said the title win was especially sweet as they had finished runners-up for the past three seasons.

Saka said Arsenal’s critics were “not laughing at us anymore”.

“Let me tell you something. Twenty-two years, 22 years. there was laughing, there was joking, they’re not laughing anymore,” the England international added.

SPURS IN RELEGATION DANGER

On the other end of the table, Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 to leave Roberto De Zerbi’s men in danger of relegation.

Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring in the 18th minute and Andrey Santos doubled the home side’s league midway through the second half.

Tottenham gave themselves hope in the 74th minute when Richarlison converted from close range. Spurs poured forward in search of an equaliser but could not find another goal.

The result gives renewed hope to West Ham, who are 18th in the table, two points behind Tottenham. Spurs, who have not been relegated since 1977, face Everton in their final match on Sunday with a draw realistically good enough for survival given their superior goal difference.

“We have to give everything for the club, for the badge, for the fans,” said Spurs midfielder James Maddison. “It’s a bit embarrassing that we’re in this position.”

The Hammers must beat Leeds United to have any chance of extending their 14-year stay in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s win at Stamford Bridge was their first in the English top division since early March and lifts them to eighth in the table.

Standings

Teams P W D L GF GA PTS

Arsenal 37 25 7 5 69 26 82

Manchester City 37 23 9 5 76 33 78

Manchester United 37 19 11 7 66 50 68

Aston Villa 37 18 8 11 54 48 62

Liverpool 37 17 8 12 62 52 59

Bournemouth 37 13 17 7 57 53 56

Brighton & Hove Albion 37 14 11 12 52 43 53

Chelsea 37 14 10 13 57 50 52

Brentford 37 14 10 13 54 51 52 Sunderland 37 13 12 12 40 47 51

Newcastle United 37 14 7 16 53 53 49

Everton 37 13 10 14 47 49 49

Fulham 37 14 7 16 45 51 49

Leeds United 37 11 14 12 49 53 47

Crystal Palace 37 11 12 14 40 49 45

Nottingham Forest 37 11 10 16 47 50 43

Tottenham Hotspur 37 9 11 17 47 57 38

West Ham United 37 9 9 19 43 65 36

Burnley 37 4 9 24 37 74 21

Wolverhampton Wanderers 37 3 10 24 26 67 19

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026