The Gunners lifted the Premier League trophy after celebrating their first match as champions with a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace.Mikel Arteta’s side had clinched their first English title for 22 years on Tuesday, when second-placed Manchester City could only draw away at Bournemouth.Taking to the pitch for the first time since the celebrations of their long-awaited triumph, Arsenal took the lead through Gabriel Jesus late in the first half at Selhurst Park.
Noni Madueke added a second after the interval to ensure the champions ended the league campaign with 26 wins from 38 games.Since losing at City on 19 April in a match that appeared to have tipped the balance of power in their rivals’ favour, Arsenal have strung together five successive league victories to finish seven points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side.
Once the final whistle blew, the main event could begin as Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard got his hands on the trophy after medals had been presented to Arteta and his squad.Red confetti and fireworks burst into the air as he hoisted the silverware, while Arsenal’s stars sprayed champagne in front of thousands of Gunners fans in the Arthur Wait Stand.
Arteta was tossed into the air by his players, while Arsenal’s US-based owner, Stan Kroenke, and his son Josh had carried the trophy onto the pitch for the presentation ceremony.
Those ecstatic supporters kept the party going, singing the praises of the champions, waving inflatable replicas of the trophy, and joining the players in a rendition of the club anthem ‘North London Forever’.
Lifting the trophy away from the Emirates Stadium could not take anything away from the glorious moment for Arteta and his players, who will show off the silverware to many more of their adoring fans at a parade in north London on 31 May.Now Arteta’s men will turn their attention to their bid to win the Champions League for the first time in the final against Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May.
Winning the title was good enough, but bringing home the Champions League as well would make this Arsenal’s greatest season.Guard of HonourArteta made a host of changes ahead of the final in Budapest, leaving Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhães, Eberechi Eze, David Raya, and Viktor Gyökeres on the bench.
Arsenal forward Max Dowman became the youngest ever player to start a Premier League match, at 16 years and 144 days old, surpassing the previous record set by Jose Baxter, aged 16 years and 198 days, in 2008.Palace boss Oliver Glasner also rested several of his key players ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.
Arsenal were given a guard of honour by the Palace players as they emerged onto the pitch, before responding to Arteta’s demand that they play with “new standards” befitting their status as champions.
On a blazing hot afternoon in south London, Jesus hit the post in the fifth minute and then shot straight at Palace keeper Dean Henderson from a promising position soon afterwards.
Jesus broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, converting the trickiest of his three chances. Gabriel Martinelli slipped a deft pass towards Jesus, and the striker drilled a low drive past Henderson at his near post.
Madueke bagged Arsenal’s second goal in the 48th minute, and fittingly, it came from a corner. Arsenal’s set-piece prowess has been the calling card of their campaign, and once again they crafted a perfect dead-ball goal as Kai Havertz headed back to Madueke, who volleyed home from just inside the area.
Jean-Philippe Mateta reduced the deficit with an 89th-minute header, but by then only Arsenal’s celebrations mattered.