Arsenal have confirmed details of a celebratory parade which will take place at 2pm on Sunday 31 May, the day after Mikel Arteta’s squad contest the Champions League final in Budapest.
While the timing means thousands travelling to Hungary are unlikely to make it back in time, the club’s hands were tied by players needing to join up with their national teams ahead of the World Cup, which begins on 11 June.
Had Arsenal not reached the final, celebrations had originally been pencilled in for Monday 25 May, the Spring Bank Holiday in England.
As things stand, the parade will celebrate the Gunners winning a 14th top-flight title, their first in 22 years, but victory against Paris Saint-Germain would add an extra layer of gloss to proceedings.
Details of the parade route are yet to be released but, assuming tradition is followed, it should culminate with the players arriving at Islington Town Hall on Upper Street.
Part of Arsenal’s statement reads:
This will be a major public event, and we anticipate large numbers of supporters will turn out in the local area. We hope you are able to join our celebrations on the day. Local residents and businesses should be advised that the event will lead to disruption across the borough that will involve road closures and parking suspensions. You may also find it difficult to move normally around the borough or pass through the route.
Thousands of Arsenal fans descended on Emirates Stadium in the immediate aftermath of Manchester City’s draw with Bournemouth, which confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions for the first time since 2004. Many supporters stayed until sunrise, with players, fresh from a night out themselves, taking a stroll around the concourse and posing for photos with lucky fans.
It’s already been a memorable 12 hours, and the celebrations are set to continue for another 11 days. Enjoy it. Milk it. Savour every second. Days like these do not come around very often.