Declan Rice leads Arsenal’s celebrations as they wait 22 years for a Premier League title
Arsenal players went wild as Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday night, handing the Gunners their first Premier League title in 22 years.
It was a moment that the red part of North London had been waiting for for decades. As the full whistle blows at the Vitality Stadium to ensure Bournemouth’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City, the Arsenal players, watching the game together on television, let loose in a way they will never forget.
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The scenes, which quickly went viral on social media, captured the emotions of a group that has endured years of absence.
The perfect scenes as Arsenal win the Premier League?
? Arsenal via Instagram pic.twitter.com/5XS0Pvi9cH
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballantnt) May 19, 2026
Declan Rice leads Arsenal’s celebrations after a historic Premier League win
Declan Rice led the celebrations, posting a picture of the dressing room on Instagram alongside teammates Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Eberechi Eze, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, with a message that said it all: “I told you all…
It was a special moment for Rice, who was famously filmed after City’s recent defeat saying “it’s not done”, a clip which went viral online and now serves as the pre- and post-lude to one of football’s most satisfying redemption scenes.
Arsenal end a 22-year wait and finish second in a row
This title is Arsenal’s 14th English league title and the first since the 2003-04 “Invincibles” season under Arsene Wenger.
“WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS” ?? pic.twitter.com/2JJs24m6DI
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballantnt) May 19, 2026
It ends a disappointing second successive finish, twice beaten by Manchester City and once beaten by Liverpool, and represents the final vindication of manager Mikel Arteta, who was left in the job for years suffering from misses.
The Gunners conceded a league-low 26 goals in 37 games, recorded 19 clean sheets, and scored a league-high 24 goals from set-pieces, a feat built on defensive steel, tactical brilliance, and the sheer power of the group.
A dramatic double is on the cards for Arsenal
Arsenal’s season may not be over, with the Champions League final still to come later this month in Budapest.
The Gunners had a great season in Europe as well, booking a place in the final in Budapest, where they will face a dangerous PSG team.
Arsenal faced PSG three times last season, once in the group stage with a 2-0 win and then through to the semi-finals, losing both by losing 1-0 at home and 2-1 away.
With the Gunners boasting their strongest defense this season while also improving in attack, there’s no reason Mikel Arteta’s side can’t go on to win the final.
If they do, Arteta will end the club’s wait for a Champions League trophy, a historic double.
