Arsenal Emerges Premier League Champions After 22 Years

By Amaechi Agbo

Arsenal on Tuesday emerged Champions of the English Premier League, their first in 22 years.

Arsenal’s triumph came after Manchester City drew at Bournemouth, in what is expected to be Pep Guardiola’s penultimate game in charge.

Tuesday’s result on the south coast leaves Mikel Arteta’s men four points clear of City before the final round of games take place on Sunday, with the Gunners set to lift the trophy at Crystal Palace.

Build-up to the game had been overshadowed by dramatic reports that Guardiola is set to step down as City manager at the end of this season.

He told television broadcasters before the game that speculation over his future had “absolutely zero” impact on preparations, but his side were outplayed and outfought by the brilliant Cherries, who extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches.

Buoyed on by a raucous following at the compact venue, teenager striking sensation Junior Kroupi curled in a sublime finish six minutes before half-time.

Home goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic making a vital save to deny Nico O’Reilly early in the second half and although Erling Haaland scored a late equaliser, the hosts held on.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola announced he will leave at the end of this season – and this result ensures the Spaniard has helped achieve the magnificent feat of securing European football for next term.

Just last month, with his team on a poor run of form that briefly threatened to scupper their title quest, Arteta asked his players to metaphorically throw their negative thoughts into a fire that had been lit at the club’s training ground.

In the longer term, Arteta has shown his penchant for hosting barbecues for his players, staff and their families at the club’s London Colney headquarters – showing the importance he places on nurturing bonds.

And the fire continues to burn – with the title won, the Gunners will now target Champions League glory when they face Paris St-Germain on 30 May.

Victory in Budapest and this Arsenal team can call themselves the greatest ever in the club’s history.

This isn’t necessarily a story of a single all-conquering season, but rather the culmination of a meticulously plotted six-year project.

“Trust the process,” said Arteta in June 2020. In the fullness of time, he was right.

Arteta is the red arrow – the force of nature who has steered and shaped the team into one of the most impressive in European football.

He and sporting director Andrea Berta will deservedly be praised for getting Arsenal over the line this season. But, in truth, success has been built over multiple years.

Former sporting director Edu and the team he assembled – including assistant Jason Ayto and technical director James Ellis, who have both departed in the past 12 months – and the influence of head of football intelligence Mark Curtis, certainly in terms of recruitment, have transformed the squad into one that is the envy of world football.

Of the club’s top 15 appearance-makers in the Premier League this season, 10 were signings made on Edu’s watch.

Richard Garlick, who was promoted into the role of chief executive in September, has backed the club’s rebuilding strategy to the hilt since his arrival from the Premier League – initially as director of football operations – in 2021.

US-based Josh Kroenke – co-chairman and vice-president of Arsenal owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment – is said to have been a regular at the training facility this season, with his involvement in club matters said to be at an all-time high.

In November, for instance, he made a special trip to London to see Arsenal’s women’s team handed the Freedom of Islington, spending time with players and supporter groups and speaking candidly about the local community fuelling the club’s success.

He flew in again after the defeat by Manchester United in January – around the same time Arteta made a passionate speech calling for supporters to “jump on the boat” with his team.

The club’s academy staff have played their part, too, with first-team players Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman all products of their youth system.

Arsenal’s season is a sum of all its parts – and has not been without its challenging moments.

The Gunners have missed multiple opportunities to make the title race easier on the nerves, and also lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City.

Arteta is known for how ruthless he is as a manager but his decision to play Kepa Arrizabalaga at Wembley was a rare moment sentiment won, and the goalkeeper’s error played a part in costing them silverware.

But after losing to City again in the league – setting up a straight fight for the title – Arteta and Arsenal seemed to grow into the challenge.

The Gunners boss started to make decisions on feeling and intuition – something he maybe would not have done in the early part of his tenure.

One thing he has constantly done is use innovative methods.

And an AI song which names all of the squad members – which Arteta will only say “came from somewhere” – has become an anthem for the season and loved by the players.

The song includes one of Arteta’s favourite sayings – “make it happen”.

Up next for Arteta and his men is the Champions League final against PSG on May 30. Who says Arsenal may not win double?