Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side sealed the title after City failed to win at the Vitality Stadium, officially ending Arsenal’s long wait for the English top-flight crown and bringing an end to a six-year trophy drought.
The Gunners came close in recent seasons, finishing second in the last three campaigns, but finally got over the line after maintaining consistency during the closing weeks of the season.
Arsenal had moved to the brink of the title with a narrow 1-0 victory over already relegated Burnley on Monday, opening a five-point gap over City before Pep Guardiola’s men stumbled against Bournemouth.
The North London club also responded strongly after losing to City in what had been considered a major title decider last month, bouncing back with four consecutive league victories without conceding a goal.
Manchester City needed all three points to keep the title race alive until the final day, but Bournemouth frustrated the defending champions and extended their unbeaten league run to 17 matches.
The result also secured European football for Bournemouth for the first time in the club’s history.
Bournemouth teenager Eli Junior Kroupi opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a stunning strike into the top corner, setting a new Premier League record for most goals scored by a teenager in a debut season with 13.
City pushed for a response after the break, but Djordje Petrovic produced key saves to frustrate Guardiola’s side before Erling Haaland eventually scored a late equaliser deep into stoppage time.
However, the goal came too late to rescue City’s title challenge.
The disappointing result added to growing uncertainty surrounding Guardiola’s future after reports emerged that the Spanish manager could leave the club at the end of the season following a decade in charge.
Guardiola had already guided City to a domestic cup double after defeating Chelsea in the FA Cup final last weekend, securing the 20th trophy of his successful spell at the Etihad.
Despite that success, City now look set to finish the season without the Premier League title for the second consecutive year — something Guardiola has never experienced in his managerial career.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans across the world have erupted in celebration as Arteta finally delivers the club’s first league title since the legendary “Invincibles” season under Arsène Wenger in 2004.
