Arsenal players were in a frenzy of celebration on Tuesday night as they watched Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth to hand the Gunners their first Premier League title in 22 years.
It was a moment the red half of north London had been waiting for for decades. As the final whistle rang to confirm a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium, the Arsenal players, who had been watching the game together on television, relaxed in an unforgettable way.
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The scene quickly went viral on social media, capturing the raw emotion of a team that has endured years of near-misses.
Declan Rice leads Arsenal celebrations following historic Premier League win
Declan Rice led the celebrations, posting a photo on Instagram of himself in the dressing room alongside team-mates Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Eberechi Eze and Miles Lewis-Skelly, with the message: “I told you all…it’s over.”
It was a special moment for Rice. Famously filmed saying “It’s not over yet” after the recent defeat to City, the clip has gone viral online and now serves as the perfect prequel to one of football’s most satisfying redemption arcs.
Arsenal end 22-year wait to finish runners-up for third consecutive year
The title is Arsenal’s 14th English league title, and their first since Arsene Wenger’s iconic 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ season.
This record marks the end of a heartbreaking 2nd place finish for three years in a row, being overtaken twice by Manchester City and once by Liverpool, and marks the ultimate revenge for manager Mikel Arteta, who remained in the manager’s job despite suffering from near-misses for years.
The Gunners conceded a league-low 26 goals in 37 games, kept 19 clean sheets and scored a league-high 24 goals from set pieces. This title was built on defensive strength, tactical brilliance and pure cohesion.
Arsenal’s amazing double shot
Arsenal’s season may not be over yet, with the Champions League final in Budapest later this month.
The Gunners have had a great season in Europe as well, securing a place in the final in Budapest, where they will face a dangerous PSG team.
Arsenal faced PSG three times last season, once in the group stage with a 2-0 win, and twice in the semi-finals, losing 1-0 at home and 2-1 away.
With the Gunners boasting a stronger defense and improved attacks this season, there is no reason why Mikel Arteta’s side can’t continue to win finals.
If this happens, Arteta will no longer have to keep the club waiting for the Champions League trophy, completing a historic double.
