By Our Reporter
Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Bournemouth held Manchester City to a dramatic 1-1 draw on Tuesday night, ending Pep Guardiola’s side’s hopes of retaining the title.
The result at the Vitality Stadium confirmed Mikel Arteta’s men as champions following their nervy 1-0 victory over Burnley earlier in the week, a result that had left the Gunners needing City to drop points against Bournemouth.
Bournemouth stunned City in the first half through teenage sensation Eli Junior Kroupi, whose brilliant curling strike put the hosts ahead and pushed Arsenal to the brink of glory. The Cherries, chasing European qualification, frustrated the defending champions for long periods with a disciplined and energetic display.
City pushed desperately for a comeback after the break, with Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki all involved as Guardiola threw on attacking substitutions in search of a lifeline. Despite intense pressure, Bournemouth held firm before City eventually salvaged a late equaliser, but the draw was not enough to keep the title race alive.
The final whistle sparked celebrations across north London as Arsenal supporters marked the club’s first league triumph since the famous “Invincibles” season of 2003/2004 under legendary manager Arsene Wenger.
That historic Arsenal side went unbeaten throughout the campaign, collecting 90 points and securing a place among the greatest teams in Premier League history. Since then, the Gunners endured years of frustration, coming close on several occasions, including runner-up finishes in recent seasons behind Manchester City and Liverpool.
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal finally completed their long-awaited return to the summit of English football after a campaign built on defensive resilience, set-piece dominance and consistency in crucial matches.
Earlier, Kai Havertz’s headed goal from Bukayo Saka’s corner secured a tense win over Burnley at the Emirates Stadium, leaving Arsenal fans anxiously watching events unfold on the south coast.
Arteta had jokingly declared himself “the biggest Bournemouth fan ever” before the match, hoping Andoni Iraola’s side could do his team a favour. Bournemouth eventually delivered exactly that, ensuring Arsenal’s long wait for Premier League glory finally came to an end.