LONDON — Arsenal F.C. officially began their reign as Premier League champions with a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace F.C. on a celebratory afternoon at Selhurst Park. With the title already secured earlier in the week, Mikel Arteta’s side arrived in South London in party mode — and left with another win, another statement, and the Premier League trophy finally in their hands after a 22-year wait. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke sealed Arsenal’s 26th league victory of the season before captain Martin Ødegaard lifted the trophy in front of jubilant supporters dressed almost entirely in red. For Arsenal fans, this was more than just another win. After years of rebuilding, near-misses and painful second-place finishes, Arteta’s project has finally delivered the ultimate reward — Arsenal are champions of England once again. The atmosphere reflected it long before kickoff. Supporters packed outside Selhurst Park hours before the match, chanting “champions of England” as the team bus arrived, while the away end celebrated throughout a match that at times resembled a victory parade more than a tense league fixture. Arteta heavily rotated his lineup with next week’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in mind, but Arsenal still controlled large spells of the game. Teenage midfielder Max Dowman made history by becoming the youngest player ever to start a Premier League match at just 16 years and 144 days old. Arsenal eventually broke through in the 42nd minute when Gabriel Jesus calmly finished after earlier missing two chances, before Madueke doubled the lead shortly after halftime from another dangerous Arsenal set-piece routine. Crystal Palace pulled one back late through Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Yeremy Pino briefly thought he had rescued a dramatic draw in stoppage time before the goal was ruled out for offside. The result ultimately mattered little in the context of the table. All eyes were on Arsenal lifting the trophy — the moment supporters had waited more than two decades to witness again. Arteta, who transformed Arsenal from a rebuilding side into champions, now has the opportunity to turn one title into something much bigger. After three consecutive runner-up finishes, Arsenal finally made the decisive leap this season, finishing seven points clear at the top and looking every bit like a team capable of building a new era of dominance in English football. And with a Champions League final still to come, the celebrations in North London may not be over yet.
LONDON — Arsenal F.C. officially began their reign as Premier League champions with a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace F.C. on a celebratory afternoon at Selhurst Park. With the title already secured earlier in the week, Mikel Arteta’s side arrived in South London in party mode — and left with another win, another statement, and the Premier League trophy finally in their hands after a 22-year wait. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke sealed Arsenal’s 26th league victory of the season before captain Martin Ødegaard lifted the trophy in front of jubilant supporters dressed almost entirely in red. For Arsenal fans, this was more than just another win. After years of rebuilding, near-misses and painful second-place finishes, Arteta’s project has finally delivered the ultimate reward — Arsenal are champions of England once again. The atmosphere reflected it long before kickoff. Supporters packed outside Selhurst Park hours before the match, chanting “champions of England” as the team bus arrived, while the away end celebrated throughout a match that at times resembled a victory parade more than a tense league fixture. Arteta heavily rotated his lineup with next week’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in mind, but Arsenal still controlled large spells of the game. Teenage midfielder Max Dowman made history by becoming the youngest player ever to start a Premier League match at just 16 years and 144 days old. Arsenal eventually broke through in the 42nd minute when Gabriel Jesus calmly finished after earlier missing two chances, before Madueke doubled the lead shortly after halftime from another dangerous Arsenal set-piece routine. Crystal Palace pulled one back late through Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Yeremy Pino briefly thought he had rescued a dramatic draw in stoppage time before the goal was ruled out for offside. The result ultimately mattered little in the context of the table. All eyes were on Arsenal lifting the trophy — the moment supporters had waited more than two decades to witness again. Arteta, who transformed Arsenal from a rebuilding side into champions, now has the opportunity to turn one title into something much bigger. After three consecutive runner-up finishes, Arsenal finally made the decisive leap this season, finishing seven points clear at the top and looking every bit like a team capable of building a new era of dominance in English football. And with a Champions League final still to come, the celebrations in North London may not be over yet.
