Arsenal Clinch First Title in 22 Years

Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years on Tuesday after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth.

City needed a win to cut Arsenal’s lead to two points and take the title race to the final day of the season. Instead, Pep Guardiola’s side drew 1-1, handing Mikel Arteta’s team the championship before Sunday’s final round.

Bournemouth went ahead in the 39th minute through Junior Kroupi, whose curling shot left City chasing the match. Erling Haaland equalized in stoppage time, but City could not find the winner it needed.

The final whistle sparked celebrations outside Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. More are expected Sunday, when Arsenal visit Crystal Palace in their final league match of the season.

Midfielder Declan Rice posted a photo on Instagram of himself celebrating with teammates, writing: “I told you all ... it’s done.”

The title is Arsenal’s 14th English championship, putting the club behind only Manchester United and Liverpool, who each have 20. It is Arsenal’s first league title since the 2003-04 “Invincibles” season under Arsene Wenger, when the team went unbeaten.

Arteta, who took over as Arsenal manager in 2019, becomes the first former Premier League player to win the competition as a manager. His title comes after three consecutive runner-up finishes, including two seasons in which City overtook Arsenal late in the campaign.

Arsenal led for much of this season and held off a tightening race in the final weeks. Their title run was built on the league’s strongest defense and set-piece dominance. Arsenal have conceded a league-low 26 goals in 37 games, kept 19 clean sheets and scored a league-high 24 goals from set pieces. Their 18 goals from corners are the most by any team in a Premier League season.

The championship breaks a long wait for Arsenal, who had watched Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Leicester and Liverpool all win the title since their last triumph. It is also the first time since 2017 that a club other than City or Liverpool has won the league.

Arsenal’s season could still become the greatest in club history. Arteta’s side will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30, seeking the club’s first European Cup.

City’s failure to win came amid reports that Guardiola could leave the club at the end of the season after 10 years in charge. He had been chasing a seventh Premier League title and a second domestic treble, after City won the League Cup and FA Cup earlier this season.

After the draw, Guardiola congratulated Arsenal and called their title “well deserved.”