Arsenal celebrated being crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Gunners, who had already avoided the nail-biting anxiety of a final-day decider following Manchester City’s draw at Bournemouth earlier in the week, celebrated their long-awaited triumph in Oliver Glasner’s last home fixture as Palace boss.
Gabriel Jesus broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, giving the visitors a crucial lead. Noni Madueke then doubled Arsenal’s advantage just three minutes after the interval, putting them firmly in control. While Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled one back for the Eagles in the closing stages, Yeremy Pino’s stoppage-time equaliser was ruled out for offside, ensuring Arsenal’s win.
The celebratory atmosphere was palpable, with 1,000 Arsenal supporters lining Holmesdale Road to welcome the champions’ coaches. Co-owners Stan Kroenke and his son Josh were present for the historic occasion.
Fifteen miles north, jubilant fans packed pubs surrounding the Emirates Stadium, some having queued since 9 am, to revel in the club lifting the league trophy two decades after Arsene Wenger’s iconic 2004 ‘Invincibles’ squad.
It would also be remembered as a record-breaking day for Max Dowman. The teenager – absent from training this week as he completes his GCSEs – began the afternoon by becoming the youngest player to start a Premier League match. And the Year 11 student will end it as the youngest with a Premier League medal around his neck, too.
Dowman, 16 years and 144 days, usurped former Everton player Jose Baxter’s 18-year record by 54 days before ending Phil Foden’s reign as the youngest Premier League winner.
Arteta lined up in midfield alongside Baxter when he was handed his first start by David Moyes in 2008. Foden was six days short of his 18th birthday when he won the league with City in the 2017-2018 season.
Dowman joined his team-mates as they were awarded a Guard of Honour by Palace, which preceded a battle of the B teams.
Palace face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday before Arsenal’s Champions League showpiece against Paris St Germain three days later.
Jesus had chances to put Arsenal ahead, striking Dean Henderson’s post in the fourth minute before then wasting a golden one-on-one opportunity when he was too casual with his finish and home goalkeeper made the save.
At the other end, Kepa Arrizabalaga, starting in the league for the first time this season, delivered a fine diving stop to deny Daniel Munoz’s header.
Jesus fluffed an unmarked header at the back post, but he made no mistake with four minutes of the first half remaining.
Dowman was the architect, flicking on Christhian Mosquera’s pass round the corner to Gabriel Martinelli who played in Jesus, with the Brazilian’s first-time strike nicking off Nathaniel Clyne‘s boot and squeezing past Henderson.
One became two in the 48th minute when Madueke rifled home a scrumptious volley after substitute Kai Havertz nodded down Martinelli’s in-swinger – Arsenal’s 19th goal from a corner this season.
Dowman’s impressive afternoon ended on the hour mark as Mikel Merino made his injury comeback after four months out with a broken foot.
But midfielder Adam Wharton – introduced only at half-time – was soon heading down the tunnel after picking up an ankle injury after a robust tackle by Myles Lewis-Skelly, which casts significant doubt over his availability for Palace’s European showpiece.
All four sides of the ground rose in union for the return of Eberechi Eze with 15 minutes left – a player Arsenal pinched under the noses of rivals Tottenham.
Eze could have been fighting at the wrong end of the table, but he will head to Hungary next week as Arsenal bid to follow up their title triumph by completing a momentous double – winning on Europe’s grandest stage for the first time in their 144-year history – to put the gloss on a season unrivalled for the club and their jubilant fans.
The hosts threatened to put a damper on Arsenal’s party when Mateta headed Pino’s cross past Kepa with two minutes to go before the Spaniard looked to have secured a stoppage-time leveller, only to see his strike chalked off after deflecting in off an offside Evann Guessand as the Gunners rounded off their championship, just as the ‘Invincibles’ did, with a 26th win.
