Online Reporter
THOUSANDS of Arsenal supporters flocked to the streets of North London on Tuesday night as the club clinched their first English Premier League football title in 22 years, sparking wild scenes outside the Emirates Stadium that continued deep into the night.
Arsenal, who had a dominant campaign and led the league for almost the entire season, were confirmed as champions without kicking a ball after second-placed Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth.
The players had gathered at the club’s training ground an hour north of London to watch the match and video released on social media showed them leaping around and hugging one another once the club’s 14th English title was assured.
In London, fans streamed out of pubs and houses and gathered outside the club’s Emirates Stadium, setting off fireworks and flares while chanting “Champions! Champions! Ole! Ole! Ole!”
“Bournemouth did us a massive favour today, they played so well. And we’re deserved champions, so, happy days.”
Arsenal great Ian Wright also joined the party outside the stadium and was mobbed by fans singing his name.
“I was absolutely over the moon,” Wright, who scored 185 goals for the club in the 1990s, told Premier League Productions.
“I got in the cab, got my Mrs and my girls in the cab and I said, ‘We’re going down there, let’s go down to the Emirates,”
“It’s amazing, honestly, and this club deserves it. Our fans deserve it all, around the world and everybody, we deserve this, man.”
Arsenal finish their Premier League campaign with a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday, before they move on to face Paris St Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30.
Bournemouth end City hopes
City had to win to take the title fight to the final day, but the Cherries extended their unbeaten streak to 17 league games, a run which has secured European football for the first time in the club’s history.
After finishing second for the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta’s side have finally made it over the line to win the London club’s first English title since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” in 2004.
Arsenal edged to the brink of a 14th English top-flight title with an unconvincing 1-0 win over already relegated Burnley on Monday night, which took them five points clear of City.
The Gunners, who have set the pace for most of the season, have bounced back impressively since losing to City last month, winning four straight league matches without conceding a goal.
“Congratulations to Arsenal, Mikel, the staff, all the players, fans for this Premier League,” said City boss Pep Guardiola. “You deserve it!”
On Monday, just 48 hours after completing a domestic cup double with victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final, City were rocked by widespread reports that Guardiola will depart after a decade in charge at the end of the season. Victory at Wembley on Saturday secured a 20th trophy of Guardiola’s glorious reign. But he cannot add to his six Premier League titles when Aston Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday for what is expected to be his final match in charge.
“The first person I have to talk to is my chairman,” added Guardiola on his future.
“We decide when we finish the season, we’ll sit it and we’ll talk, it’s as simple as that, and after we’ll take the decision.” — AFP Sport.
