Arsenal can no longer win the Premier League on home soil this season, although they could yet enjoy a poetic ending to this potentially historic campaign.
The Gunners held out hope of being crowned champions at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night against Burnley, but this potential scenario was made impossible by Manchester City’s victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. The Citizens strolled to a 3-0 win over the Eagles at the Etihad, reducing the gap at the top of the league to just two points.
Despite this minor blow for Mikel Arteta’s men, they remain well aware that two wins from their remaining two fixtures will push them over the line. After the clash with Burnley, a trip to Selhurst Park to face Palace awaits.
Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing about final day at Selhurst Park
In a perfect utopia for Gunners supporters, Arteta’s team would wrap the league up on a sunny day at the Emirates Stadium by thrashing a close rival. However, the fixture gods have not granted them this perfect world, and have instead scheduled a trip south of the river Thames to the compact Selhurst Park.
With the title now likely to go to this final day, fans are already envisaging what clinching their first league title in 22 years would look like in South London. Although many have vented their disappointment at only a few thousand away fans being able to witness this potentially historic trophy lift, others have painted a more poetic and wholesome narrative.
Many fans took to social media after City’s win on Wednesday to explain why there was something beautiful about winning the title away at Crystal Palace.
The crux of the idea is that Arsenal beat Palace 2-0 on the first day of the 2022/23 season, which kick-started Arteta’s side’s rise to prominence as a Premier League title contender.
Thus, winning the title at the same ground would feel like a full circle moment.
#FinishTheStory where it all started. pic.twitter.com/bd1SZo2uAe
— Mal (@TheFutbolSpace) May 13, 2026
One fan wrote on X: “The scripts have truly been written by God.”
The scripts have truly been written by God
— eskimo (@e6qimo) May 14, 2026
Another added: “This match started everything. [William] Saliba announced himself to the world.”
This match started everything.
Saliba announced himself to the world.
— freeman (@chaarles___) May 14, 2026
Meanwhile, one supporter wrote: “Guard of honour where it all started.”
Guard of honor where it all started*
— AP (@afc_apeezy) May 14, 2026
Another fan proposed the vision of Gabriel Martinelli scoring the final goal to wrap things up, after the Brazilian netted the opening goal on that night back in 2022: “Imagine if Martinelli scores the last goal of the game.”
Imagine if Martinelli scores the last goal of the game
— Octa (@OctavioGimenez7) May 14, 2026
What made that night at Selhurst Park in August 2022 so special for Arsenal?
Arteta had already been at Arsenal for two-and-a-half years before the 2022/23 season commenced. However, before this point, the Spaniard’s endeavours at the club had been purely focused on returning to the Champions League, and not about competing for major honours.
While they hadn’t yet achieved this aim of qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition when they made the trip to Croydon in the summer of 2022, this match was the beginning of a journey that would see Arsenal rise back to the very pinnacle of football, after not really being there for over 15 years.
It was the first time the core of the team that has been at the forefront of this journey played together. William Saliba made his Arsenal debut, paired alongside Gabriel Magalhaes. Little did fans know at that point that this partnership would develop into the best in world football.
Ben White started at right-back, and he would go on to dominate this position for two seasons, despite many believing it was a temporary measure at the time. Martin Odegaard made his first appearance as the official Arsenal captain, while 21-year-olds Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were deployed on the extremities of the team.
Gabriel Jesus led the line for the very first time and produced an electric debut performance in a Gunners shirt.
Donning the famously underused pink jersey, Arsenal strolled to a comfortable 2-0 victory, playing some mesmerising football along the way. The talk after the game was what this positive start would mean for Arteta’s outfit’s top four chances. Six weeks later, discussions began around whether Arsenal could do the impossible and compete with City to win the league.
Four years have now passed, and Arsenal are on the brink. They might just be able to win the league where it all started, all while giving Eberechi Eze, who played for Palace that night, a glorious homecoming.