Manchester City had to beat Bournemouth in order to take the Premier League title race down to the final day, but Pep Guardiola's side have handed Arsenal the trophy with one match to spare
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Mikel Arteta manager / head coach of Arsenal celebrates with Leandro Trossard after the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal are the 2025-26 Premier League champions(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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The wait is finally over. Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth
City's failure to win at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday means that Pep Guardiola's men can no longer catch Arsenal when the final round of fixtures takes place this weekend. The Gunners, who've been top of the table for the vast majority of this season, beat Burnley 1-0 on Monday to build a five-point gap between themselves and City.
Kai Havertz's first-half goal made the difference against a Burnley side who've already been relegated. That put the pressure back on City to take all three points from their game in hand at Bournemouth.
But 24 hours after the bombshell news that Guardiola will be leaving City at the end of the season broke, they dropped vital points. Eli Junior Kroupi scored in the 39th minute and although Erling Haaland equalised in stoppage time, it proved to be too little too late.
Ninety three miles north, Arsenal fans gathered near the Emirates to watch on. Their celebrations will go long into the night.
Arsenal previously won the title in 2004 under legendary manager Arsene Wenger. But current boss Mikel Arteta has finally ended the club's long wait after three successive second-placed finishes.
The Gunners began this season with intent, dropping points in just two of their first 10 fixtures. Their solid form continued over the winter before hopes of an historic quadruple quickly evaporated in the spring.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth celebrates after he scores a goal to make it 1-0- during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on May 19, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Eli Junior Kroupi scored as Bournemouth denied Manchester City(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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Either side of the international break, Arsenal went on a run of two wins from seven games in all competitions, including a damaging 2-1 defeat away to City which blew the title race wide open. But the Gunners responded with four wins in a row while capitalising on City's 3-3 draw at Everton.
Arsenal also reached the Champions League final for only the second time in their history after beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. Arteta's side will face holders Paris Saint-Germain next Saturday in Budapest.
The Spaniard was appointed to replace Unai Emery in December 2019, taking on his first managerial role after working under Guardiola at City. Having lifted the FA Cup in Arteta's first season, the league title also ends Arsenal's six-year wait for a trophy.
Arsenal fans watch as Bournemouth play Manchester City, from inside the Tollington Arms pub near the Emirates Stadium in London on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal fans watched from the Tollington Arms pub near the Emirates(Image: Brook Mitchell/AFP via Getty Images)
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City, on the other hand, will finish what's expected to be Guardiola's 10th and final season at the helm with two trophies. His team won the FA Cup on Saturday, having previously beaten Arsenal in March's Carabao Cup final.
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