At a Glance:
Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions on Tuesday night.
The Gunners now visit Crystal Palace in their final league match of the season on Sunday.
Paul Merson has made his prediction ahead of this clash.
Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in their final Premier League match of the season on Sunday, and Paul Merson has made his prediction ahead of this clash.
The Gunners were crowned champions of the English top flight when Bournemouth held Manchester City to a draw on Tuesday night. This ended the North Londoners’ 22-year wait for this title, and unsurprisingly, wild celebrations ensued on the streets of N5.
Arteta’s men now face Palace in a dead rubber this weekend, before they lift the trophy at Selhurst Park in front of their small away allocation. They will then have six days to prepare for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest.
Paul Merson makes Crystal Palace vs Arsenal prediction
In the reverse fixture at the Emirates, Arsenal narrowly beat Palace 1-0 courtesy of a stunning Eberechi Eze strike. The playmaker sweetly caught the ball on the bounce inside the Eagles’ box, slamming home to give the Gunners victory.
Eze will now return to the club that helped make his career, and he’ll do so as a Premier League champion. While there is little riding on this encounter in South London, it’ll be an emotional affair for everyone involved.
Writing for Sportskeeda, Merson backed Arsenal to finish on a high, despite admitting that predicting the outcome of this meaningless match was a difficult task.
“This had the potential to become the most exciting game of the weekend, but it has now become the least exciting one! Arsenal players are probably still celebrating, while Crystal Palace players are resting up for their Europa Conference League final.
“Arsenal won’t complain about it being that way though. They deserve the Premier League title. But that also makes this the hardest game in the world to predict!
“I expect it to be Arsenal reserves up against Crystal Palace reserves, and I have to be back the visitors to be better out of the two at Selhurst Park.”
Merson’s Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal
Paul Merson on Arsenal winning the title
Tuesday night’s outpouring of emotion on the streets of North London was a culmination of 22 years of pain for Arsenal supporters. The club’s loyal faithful have been through years of mediocrity, division and hurt, and this was reflected in the overwhelming jubilation that was on show outside the Emirates.
Arteta and his players have had to endure constant ridicule from the media, but now they have their moment in the sun. They will go down in Arsenal history as the team that reawakened this sleeping giant.
This thing that binds us ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CrQUhJqUnF
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 21, 2026
“What an incredible campaign it’s been for Arsenal,” Merson wrote.
“They have finally won the league after finishing second in each of the last three seasons, I’m really pleased for them.”
Despite admitting to being a lifelong Chelsea fan, Merson spent eleven years at Arsenal between 1986 and 1997, and clearly he holds strong affection for the North London club.