The wait is finally over. Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years.
For a generation of supporters, this is the moment they’ve spent most of their lives waiting for. Some were too young to properly remember Highbury in 2004. Others have endured the near misses, the false dawns, the ‘banter era’, the endless accusations that Arsenal are bottlers. Through all of it, they kept turning up.
Now they have their reward.
And the joy out there is something to behold. You can see it in the faces of the players who carried the weight of expectation all season, in the reactions of former Arsenal heroes who know exactly what this club means, and in supporters scattered across north London and far beyond, still trying to process what they’ve just witnessed.
As it should be.
While everyone collectively attempts to come back down to earth – no rush on that – here’s a round-up of the best reactions to a truly historic achievement.
THE PLAYERS & STAFF
Bukayo Saka pointing to where the Premier League trophy will sit at London Colney…
Light that up. Let me tell you something. Twenty-two years, 22 years. There was laughing, there was joking, they’re not laughing any more. Look, it is going to be shining, it is going to be shining bright.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly with champagne in hand…
They called us bottlers. And now we’re holding the bottle.
Jurrien Timber posing with ‘the bible brothers’…
WE HAVE DONE IT! ALL GLORY TO GOD 🏆❤️
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Declan Rice after saying post-City “it’s not done”…
It told you all…it’s done. Indescribable. 22 years, it’s back.
Riccardo Calafiori, who turned twenty-phwoar yesterday…
Best birthday ever…❤️ History.
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Eberechi Eze posing with Saka, Timber and Rice at 5am outside the Emirates…
God alone decides. 22 years? Hold that 🏆
Photographer Stuart “this is my club” Macfarlane on the celebrations…
Yesterday was one of the most memorable days in my 37 seasons covering Arsenal, I’m so proud of this group of players and staff, they are champions, Premier League Champions. Thanks for all the love from the fans at Emirates last night, or was it the morning, makes it all worth it. #arsenalfamily #COYG #northlondonforever❤️🤍
FORMER PLAYERS / MANAGERS
Arsene Wenger…
You did it. Champions go on when others stop. This is your time. Now, go on and enjoy every moment.
Source: Arsenal Media
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Danny Welbeck…
Credit to Arsenal, congratulations to them. To show that consistency is no mean feat, I hope they are celebrating hard now. Fair play to them. Congratulations.
Source: Sky Sports
Granit Xhaka…
A special team, great players, and a club that never stopped believing, but this is all because of you, Mikel. To everyone who doubted you, give this man and this coach the respect he deserves. Congratulations to the whole Arsenal family.
Source: Instagram
David Seaman…
Premier League Champions!!! What a moment!!! What a season!!!!!!!! EPIC!!!!!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏♥️🤍
Source: X
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Alan Smith…
Brilliant, brilliant, fully deserved. Obviously, they’ve had their moments in the last few seasons where they’ve come second, but you deserve to win it if you finish top. They’ve had the best defence. They haven’t had the best attack – you’d probably say City have got the best attack – but, as an overall unit, Mikel Arteta’s done brilliantly well. I’m really pleased for my old club.
Source: Sky Sports
Theo Walcott…
Sleep well, Arsenal fans, sleep well. I will.
Source: X
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Ian Wright…
I was absolutely over the moon. I got in the cab, got my missus and my girls in the cab , and I said, ‘We’re going down there, let’s go down to the Emirates.’ It’s amazing, honestly, and this club deserves it. Our fans deserve it all, around the world and everybody, we deserve this, man.
Source: Premier League Productions
Mo Elneny
Soooooooooo Happy I can’t stop celebrating I can’t tell how i feel for this achievement for the club, the team, and the fans. I love you, Arsenal 🤩🤩🤩
Source: Instagram
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Johan Djourou…
From my room in Switzerland filled with posters from arsenal legendary players and then having the privilege to play with them in Highbury and then in the Emirates 🤯 and my mum was able to see me play in both stadium 🙏🏾
We unfortunately came short on many occasions but it’s finally time to celebrate 🔥
Thanks to this generation and staff❤️🤍
Come on your gunners 🙌🏾💯⚽️
Source: Instagram
THE BEST OF THE REST
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Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah…
22 years… we did it!!!
Source: Instagram
F1 legend Lewis Hamilton…
Come On You Gunners.
Source: Instagram
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Actor Hugh Laurie…
Well, heck. The Arsenal. What an amazing achievement. BPM 150, dropping slowly.
Source: X
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Alan Shearer…
I can just picture the scene now with all the staff, all the players, they’ll all have got together in the small hope that City didn’t win at Bournemouth. Just in case. They’ll be absolutely on their way to getting shitfaced now. And so they should because all of the stress has just been released from them, all their hard work, all their dedication, all they’ve had to go through not only this season, but last season, the season before, the season before, all of those players have been through it, and Mikel. I hope they have a great night or great few nights.
Source: The Rest Is Football Podcast
THE NEWSPAPERS
The Guardian | 20 May 2026
The Sun | | 20 May 2026
The Mirror | 20 May 2026
Daily Express | 20 May 2026
Daily Star | 20 May 2026
The Times | 20 May 2026
The Telegraph | 20 May 2026
i Paper | 20 May 2026