FOOTBALL – ARSENAL ended their 22-year wait to win the Premier League title last night when they were confirmed as champions following second-placed Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Leaders for almost the entire season, Mikel Arteta’s side are now four points clear with one game remaining and Sunday’s clash at Crystal Palace will now be a coronation.
Arsenal had beaten Burnley 1-0 on Monday, meaning City had to win on the south coast to extend the race to the final day.
But a subdued City trailed to Eli Junior Kroupi’s first-half goal and Erling Haaland’s stoppage time reply was too late.
Arsenal, who finished runners-up in the previous three seasons, have now won 14 English titles, behind only Manchester United and Liverpool who both have 20.
Arteta had said the previous day that he would be Bournemouth’s “biggest fan” for a couple of hours on Tuesday and the title was eventually sealed thanks to his close friend Andoni Iraola masterminding the south coast club’s point.
His sentiments would have been echoed by Arsenal fans watching the game in pubs and bars near the north London club’s Emirates Stadium.
“The players gave everything, absolutely all of the season fighting through difficult, difficult, difficult circumstances until the end,” City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“We were close to arrive in the last moment but on behalf of all Manchester City and my team, we congratulate Arsenal and Mikel (Arteta) for this Premier League. They deserve it.”
“Of course we are not happy,” Haaland said after last night’s match. “I think everyone in the club that (will) be here next season should feel a big fire in their stomach. This should be motivation for us to go next season and take the Premier League back, because now it has been two years without winning it.
“It should be the biggest motivation, for me and for every single person in Manchester City.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 last night thanks to goals either side of halftime from Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos, leaving Spurs still facing the risk of relegation from the Premier League in their final game of the season on Sunday.
Fernandez let rip with a dipping shot that goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky could not get close to in the 18th minute and turned provider for Chelsea’s second in 67th, cushioning a high ball into the feet of Santos who scored from close range.
Richarlison got one back for Spurs in the 74th minute but the defeat means the North Londoners remain two points above West Ham United in the last unresolved relegation spot. However, Spurs have a much better goal difference, meaning a draw at home to Everton on Sunday would all but guarantee their survival.
Chelsea, who on Sunday announced former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso as their next manager after a limp 2025/26 campaign, climbed to eighth place, which offers a berth in the Uefa Conference League next season, one point behind Brighton & Hove Albion in the last of the Europa League spots.
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