An emotional Mikel Arteta wiped away tears after Arsenal celebrated being crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years with a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.
The Gunners avoided the crippling anxiety of a final-day shootout after Manchester City’s draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday, and Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke fired Arsenal on their way to completing their triumphant campaign with another victory to finish seven points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side.
Arteta led his title-winning team on to the Selhurst Park pitch before captain Martin Odegaard lifted the trophy, draped in red and white ribbons.
The Spanish manager was thrown in the air multiple times by his jubilant players. An emotional Arteta then kissed his wife, Lorena Bernal, and was visibly moved by the enormity of his achievement.
The celebrations in front of all four stands of Selhurst Park – with Arsenal supporters hijacking Palace supporters’ seats – lasted for close to two hours. Arteta hoisted the trophy with Bukayo Saka one last time before heading for his post-match news conference.
Wearing an Arsenal shirt, with ’26 Champions’ on the back, and a golden medal around his neck, Arteta said: “It is very difficult to put it into words. What a moment. A lot of emotions, a lot of joy, pride. The manner that we’ve done it, represents what the guys are feeling and the reason why this magic happened.
“I’m happy and relieved. Obviously, throughout this journey, we have made some massive steps. We have accomplished a lot of things that have a lot of value.
“But at the end of the day, we are here to win major trophies. That was the ultimate goal. We came very close. We fell short on three occasions, and that was very painful. But I think that’s what has driven all of us to find new ways to show what we are made of and that’s why I said that the manner that we’ve done it, it makes it even better.”
He added: “I said to the boys that this shirt now represents something else. We are the champions, and that brings a lot of confidence and a different kind of presence and energy to it. But as well, another kind of responsibility as well, and my job now and everybody at the club is going to be lift those standards now and achieve much more, because I think we are capable of doing it.”
Arsenal could be set for a historic week with the club now setting their eyes on winning the Champions League for the first time in their 144-year history when they face Paris St Germain in Budapest on Saturday.
“We need that energy to flow, and going against that, will be a big mistake,” the Spaniard said.
“We talked about already what we have to do in Budapest, how we’re going to use all the incredible energy that we’re all carrying towards that final, and tomorrow we’re going to start to prepare for it. And we can’t wait to write a new chapter in the history of our club and lift the Champions League.”
Oliver Glasner oversaw his final match at Selhurst Park. He delivered Palace’s first major trophy in their history with a 1-0 win against Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup final, and the Austrian could end his tenure with silverware on the European stage.
Palace face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final in Germany on Wednesday, and addressing the crowd in his farewell Selhurst Park speech, Glasner said: “The best days are still to come. It’s three days until Leipzig.
“You can win and you can lose, but belief is not only the most important thing in sport, but in life, too, and you gave us belief. I arrived here as a stranger, but now I feel like I am a south Londoner.”
