Arsenal have lifted the Premier League trophy – the ceremonial end to their 22-wait for an English league title after a final-day win away at Crystal Palace.
Ian Wright called the scenes ‘special’ as captain Martin Odegaard got the party started, holding the trophy aloft to the cheers of Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta and Co – and 3,000 Arsenal fans packed into a corner of Selhurst Park.
Arsenal were forced to lift the trophy away from the Emirates Stadium after confirmation of their title win came after their final home game of the season this week. The Gunners beat Burnley 1-0 on Tuesday before a 2-2 draw for closest rivals Manchester City at Bournemouth on Wednesday made their lead unassailable.
And that set up the celebratory moment on Sunday afternoon. Odegaard lifted the trophy and manager Arteta was joyous before the players posed for photos in front of fans with their first piece of major silverware in six years.
‘Wow. That was amazing,’ Arsenal legend Wright said on Sky Sports. ‘This is so special, with what we’ve been through in the last few seasons.
Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy after topping the table at the end of a remarkable season
Manager Mikel Arteta was joyous after the Gunners ended a 22-year wait for the title
Captain Martin Odegaard led the celebrations at a corner of the stadium at Crystal Palace
‘Just to see some of those guys go up, how emotional they are. I’m so happy for them and for the whole of Arsenal.
‘The players who have come in and have done well and that’s what we needed.’
Arsenal captain Odegaard, who revealed the Arsenal players have a day off tomorrow, said: ‘Honestly, I can’t describe it. It was so special. A lot of emotions and a lot of hard work behind it. So emotional, but a beautiful day and an amazing achievement.
‘You always have the doubt and the fear that you’re not going to make it but we had that belief in ourselves and even in the toughest moments this season we really stuck together.
‘We had that belief. We just kept on fighting and we got there in the end, so even better like that.’
The Gunners shut out a late Crystal Palace comeback as their minds shifted to lifting the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years.
Gabriel Jesus’ goal on 42 minutes, sneaking the ball past goalkeeper Dean Henderson’s near post, had set the Gunners on their way in a match laced with sheer dominance.
Max Dowman provided a sumptuous backheel flick in the build-up the Brazilian’s goal on a historic personal afternoon for the 16-year-old.
He became the youngest starter in the league’s history, aged 16 years, 144 days, and showed glimpses of just why Mikel Arteta had trusted him; Dowman will no doubt achieve further prominence next season.
The Gunners won 2-1 away at Crystal Palace on Sunday to finish off their league campaign
Declan Rice plants a kiss on the trophy – and Arsenal are hoping for another one next week
Arteta is thrown aloft by his players and staff in front of the adoring Arsenal away end
Upon going a goal up, Arsenal found themselves in the attacking third with Jesus having squandered three chances in the first half an hour.
From there, Noni Madueke put the visitors 2-0 up, volleying Kai Havertz’s header, from a corner, into the net. That was Arsenal’s 19th league goal from a corner in the league this season, a fruitful avenue which has gone someway to getting Arteta’s side over the line this season.
Palace mounted a fight back late on, buoyed on by the desire to give the departing Oliver Glasner the send-off he deserved.
Jean-Philippe Mateta headed home Yeremy Pino’s cross on 89 minutes to ignite hope – before Pino thought he struck an equaliser in injury time to send the crowd into delirium.
The VAR had spotted Evann Guessand in an offside position, the ball brushing off and into the goal.
So no draw, and Arsenal end the season in the fashion they started it – winning.
And it could get even better for them: They travel to Budapest, Hungary this week for Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
