Arsenal have secured a first Premier League title in 22 years; Mikel Arteta’s side’s long wait for the title ended after Man City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth; it ends a run of three straight second-place finishes, with the trophy lift set to take place at Selhurst Park on Sunday
Following three runners-up finishes, the Gunners have sealed top spot after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Arsenal have topped the table for much of the season, but their title bid looked to have hit shaky ground in April as Man City started to breathe down their necks. A 2-1 defeat at the Etihad seemed to hand the title advantage to City but the Gunners rallied and have held off Pep Guardiola’s side to win the league for the first time since the Invincibles in the 2003/04 season.
It ends a six-year period without a trophy and is Arteta’s second major honour as manager at the Emirates Stadium.
“Brilliant! It’s fully deserved, said Sky Sports’ Alan Smith, who was co-commentator for City’s draw on Tuesday.
“Arsenal have had the best defence – they haven’t had the best attack – but as an overall unit Mikel Arteta has done incredibly well.”
There could be more silverware on the horizon for Arsenal as they bid to win the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
“You have to have nervy moments when you haven’t won it for that long and Arsenal did have them,” Smith added. “But hopefully now they can play with freedom.
“It almost feels that the Champions League final is a free hit now.”
The Gunners face defending champions PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday May 30; kick-off 5pm.
Arsenal will be presented with the Premier League trophy after their final game of the season at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Arsenal were invincible in their 2003/04 campaign
It has been a long wait for the red side of north London.
Arsenal last won the Premier League title back in the 2003/04 season when Arsene Wenger’s side went through the whole league season unbeaten.
It was the third title of the Wenger era but a special one as the Gunners secured 26 wins and 12 draws on their way to becoming the Invincibles.
