Arsenal Claim Premier League Title After 22-year Wait As City Stumble

Arsenal finally secured the Premier League title after Manchester City drew 3-3 with Bournemouth, ending a 22-year wait. City needed victory on the south coast but could not find a late winner, even after Erling Haaland replied to Junior Kroupi’s strike. Arsenal are champions with one match still to play.

Members of Mikel Arteta’s squad watched City’s draw together and celebrated at the final whistle. Declan Rice, who had warned after the 1-0 win over Burnley that the race was not finished, quickly posted on Instagram: "I told you all... it’s done!" Defenders and former stars also joined the online reaction.

The 22-year gap between Arsenal’s "Invincibles" triumph in 2003-04 and this season’s Premier League title is their longest interval between English championships since first lifting the trophy in 1931. Across English football history, only Liverpool’s 30-year gap between 1989-90 and 2019-20 represents a longer wait between top-flight crowns.

Arsenal’s success adds a 14th English top-flight title to the club’s honours list. Only Manchester United and Liverpool, with 20 each, have more championships in the history of the English Football League. Four of Arsenal’s titles have arrived during the Premier League era, underlining the club’s sustained presence near the summit.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s Premier League position has never slipped backwards from one season to the next. The club finished eighth in both 2019-20 and 2020-21. Arsenal then climbed to fifth place in 2021-22, followed by second in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, before finally taking first this season.

Arsenal are also one of only two English clubs to have lifted the top-flight title in eight different decades, alongside Liverpool. Recent seasons have produced variety at the top as well. With Liverpool champions in 2024-25 and City in 2023-24, this campaign delivers a third different winner in three years.

Arsenal Premier League title race, Manchester City draw and season statistics

The key shift in this title race came after Arsenal briefly lost control of first place. Between October and April, Arteta’s side spent 200 straight days at the Premier League summit. That run ended when Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, moving City above their rivals.

Arsenal answered with a 1-0 win over Burnley in the next league fixture, keeping pressure on Pep Guardiola’s team. City then drew 3-3 with Everton, a result that halted momentum and reopened the door. Arsenal responded with four consecutive league victories, which allowed them to clinch the title once City slipped again at Bournemouth.

The numbers across recent seasons highlight how tight the rivalry with City has become. Since the start of 2022-23, Arsenal have collected 329 Premier League points, exactly the same as Manchester City. City still managed to take two titles in that spell, but Arsenal finally converted consistency into silverware.

Arsenal have also dominated the league standings by days spent in first place during that period. Since the beginning of 2022-23, the Gunners have led the table for 557 days. Liverpool sit second in that measure with 355 days at the top, while Manchester City have often chased but finished seasons strongly.

Messages of praise arrived from across football and beyond once the Premier League title was confirmed. Full-back Jurrien Timber wrote on X: "How good is God, man?" Former midfielder Mohamed Elneny added: "I can't describe my feelings right now Football always gives back to those who keep believing. To the fans who kept believing, you deserve this. Arsenal; the club that will stay in my heart forever, you deserve this The players and everyone at the club who made it happen, you deserve this. Congratulations to the best club in the world!"

Former goalkeeper David Seaman, who won three league titles with Arsenal at Highbury, summed up the long wait by posting: "Longest 22 years (and three minutes) of MY LIFE" Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid joined from the NBA world on X, stating: "It’s been a long time coming... proud to be a Gooner!" British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, an Arsenal supporter, wrote: "22 long years for the Arsenal. But finally, we’re back where we belong. Champions!"

Attention now turns to Europe, where Arsenal still chase another prize. Arteta’s side meet Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30. A victory would make Arsenal only the sixth team to win both the English top flight and European Cup or Champions League in the same season, matching Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City.