Arsenal have secured the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
City needed a victory to keep the title race alive until the final day of the season, but Pep Guardiola’s side were held to a draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Eli Junior Kroupi gave Bournemouth the lead in the first half before Erling Haaland scored a stoppage-time equaliser in the 95th minute. The result, however, was not enough to stop Arsenal from becoming champions.
The Gunners now sit on 82 points with one match left to play, which leaves City unable to catch them in the standings.
The triumph marks Arsenal’s first league title since the famous 2003/2004 “Invincibles” campaign under Arsene Wenger. It also ends the club’s longest wait for a league crown since the Second World War.
Arsenal’s road to the title included several disappointments over the years. The club surrendered a five-point advantage late in the 2007/2008 season before finishing third. In the 2015/2016 campaign, Arsenal again missed out after Leicester City claimed a surprise title success.
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal also finished second in each of the previous three seasons before finally reclaiming the trophy this year.
The North London side will officially lift the Premier League trophy after their final league match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Arsenal still have another major target ahead of them this season. The club will face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest on May 30.
Victory in that match would hand Arsenal a historic domestic and European double for the first time in the club’s history.
The Gunners’ title-winning campaign has largely been built on a strong defensive record. Arsenal have kept 19 clean sheets this season, while goalkeeper David Raya is set to claim a third consecutive Golden Glove award.
The title race also took several twists in recent weeks. Arsenal lost to Manchester City last month after missing the chance to establish a wider lead at the top of the table. Since that defeat at the Etihad Stadium, Arteta’s men have responded with four straight league victories without conceding a goal.
Pressure increased on City after they dropped points against Everton, and their latest draw against Bournemouth officially confirmed Arsenal as champions.
