Arsenal win the Premier League: Five key games that took Arteta’s side to the title
The Gunners have ended their long wait for Premier League glory – here is how they did it
Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. The Gunners’ long wait to add to their 13 top-flight titles was ended when Pep Guardiola’s side dropped points in their penultimate match, the game in hand they had over their rivals. It left Arsenal with an unassailable lead at the top and kicked off the celebrations in north London.
Here are the five key matches which helped Mikel Arteta ’s side see off Manchester City and secure the Premier League title. Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal (February 22) Dropped points in draws at Brentford and then Wolves – where they surrendered a two-goal lead – prompted questions about Arsenal’s title mentality ahead of a trip to Spurs. However, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze both scored twice as the Gunners ran riot at the home of their fierce rivals to silence their critics and move five points clear of City.
Eberechi Eze (centre) celebrates completing his hat-trick against Spurs (Adam Davy/PA) Arsenal 2-0 Everton (March 14) Arsenal laboured against David Moyes’ well-drilled Everton side before Year 11 student Max Dowman’s introduction in the 74th minute changed the game, and the course of the title race, in the Gunners’ favour. Dowman provided Gyokeres’ opener with one minute left before the teenager, aged 16 years and 73 days, struck a stoppage-time breakaway goal to become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal (April 19) Arteta’s side headed to the Etihad Stadium with just one win in five matches, and although they lost again, as Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland scored either side of Kai Havertz’s goal to take the title race out of their hands for the first time since October, it was not the bloodbath that some might have expected.
Arsenal went toe-to-toe with City, and the performance provided them with renewed belief. At the final whistle, Declan Rice told his team-mates “it’s not done”, and the midfielder proved to be right. The Gunners used the “fuel” of losing to their title rivals as a springboard to winning their next four games without conceding.