Players, pundits, fans react as Arsenal end 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth

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Arsenal have ended their 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions for a fourth time following Manchester City's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

'They called us bottlers, now we're holding the bottles!' - Saka, Lewis-Skelly celebrate

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Arsenal moved a step closer to winning the title with victory over Burnley on Monday, but Man City's failure to collect three points on the south coast means they failed to take the fight to the final day.

There had been plenty of talk surrounding Crystal Palace's team selection for this Sunday's game with Arsenal at Selhurst Park, coming just days before their UEFA Conference League final encounter with Rayo Vallecano - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

But that is all immaterial now. A carnival atmosphere awaits as Arsenal can prepare for their coronation.

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As the final whistle blew at the Vitality Stadium, the celebrations could begin some 117 miles away with jubilant fans serenading their side after finally emulating the feats of Arsene Wenger and his players at the turn of the century.

Twenty-two years later, Arsenal are champions for the 14th time in their history.

It has been a long road to success for Mikel Arteta, who called on supporters to "trust the process" during a barren trophyless run following FA Cup success in his first, COVID-interrupted season in 2020.

City caught Bournemouth at the wrong time, in Andoni Iraola's final home game in charge and with their own designs on qualifying for Europe for the first time in their 127-year history, achieved following this result.

Junior Kroupi's brilliant first-half strike was celebrated as vociferously by Cherries fans as those of an Arsenal persuasion. City looked like they were running on fumes just three days after beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

City set up a tense finish when Erling Haaland scored deep in stoppage time but it would prove academic as Pep Guardiola's players trudged off at full-time knowing Arsenal's four-point cushion was insurmountable.

Party time! Arsenal fans celebrate title win at the Emirates

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Back in April, it looked as though the tide had turned when City beat Arteta's side at the Etihad, following Bournemouth's 2-1 win at the Emirates.

But City's chaotic 3-3 draw at Everton at the start of May placed Arsenal back in the driving seat, and after three years as runners-up, Arteta has taken the final step to become Premier League champions.

Fans of Arsenal celebrate as Bournemouth score against City at The Gunners Pub, Islington

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Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes celebrate at London Colney

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Jubilant Arsenal fans celebrate their title victory at the Emirates

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Arsenal fans at the Emirates on Tuesday night after the title was confirmed

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Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer and the man who inspired their previous title win in 2003/04, Thierry Henry, took to Instagram to express his delight - this time as a fan.

He wrote: "From Highbury seats to the Emirates - Arsenal Nation, finally we can celebrate. Special thanks to this generation - finally now my kids saw us winning a title. Gooner for life."

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman - who won two Premier League titles during his time at Highbury - posted on X: "Longest 22 years (and three minutes) of MY LIFE," referencing the remaining stoppage time following Haaland's late strike.

Guardiola congratulates Arsenal on 'well-deserved' title win

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TNT Sports pundit Martin Keown, who won the Premier League three times as a player with The Gunners, posted a video of himself with former team-mate Ray Parlour on social media, congratulating the players on their success.

"A gallant effort from Man City, but we were the better team," Keown told his followers. "Let's enjoy it while we can - Champions League, here we come."

Fans congregated at the Emirates having dispersed from nearby pubs to mark the historic occasion, ready to party long into the night. Club legend Ian Wright was pictured outside the Box Office as fireworks were let off.

Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard are all smiles after the title is confirmed

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Arsenal legend Ian Wright was among the fans outside the Emirates

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Riccardo Calafiori jumps for joy as Arsenal are crowned champions

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Then, it was Declan Rice who broke the silence from the Arsenal dressing room. The players had all met up at their Sobha Realty Training Centre base in London Colney to savour the moment. Director Andrea Berta could be seen joining the celebrations.

Rice took to Instagram with the simple short caption: "I told you all... it’s done."

It was after the painful defeat to City a month ago that the England captain was seen telling Martin Odegaard on the pitch that the title race wasn't over following the full-time whistle.

Piero Hincapie ironically held a water bottle to his mouth as he was mobbed by his team-mates. Arsenal had this time held their nerve, and all the tension had been uncorked.

A piece on Arsenal's official website read: "The silverware sees Mikel Arteta become the first Gunners boss to land English football’s top prize in 22 years, following in the footsteps of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles who were our last side to win the Premier League after going unbeaten during the 2003/04 campaign. Arteta played under Wenger. The student has become the master.

"It is the 14th time we have been crowned champions of England, only behind Manchester United and Liverpool in the all-time rankings, and the 32nd major trophy we’ve claimed.

"We now have the chance to cap one of the greatest seasons in our 140-year history by adding one more to that total when we head to Budapest next week to contest our second-ever Champions League final.

"We will face holders Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, May 30 as we aim to claim our first European Cup triumph in our 139-year history."

A second article heralded Arteta as one of the club's all-time greats, adding: "What makes Mikel’s feat all the more remarkable is that he was handed the opportunity to manage us, having never led a team before. The last manager to win the English league title in his first managerial job was Kenny Dalglish, who did so by inheriting the all-conquering Liverpool side of 1980s.

"The Spaniard, aged 44 years and 54 days, is the youngest Gunners boss to win the league championship, narrowly pipping George Graham who was 124 days older when he guided us to the silverware in the fabled 1988/89 campaign. Only Jose Mourinho has claimed the Premier League at a younger age than our boss."

Social media was awash with euphoric reaction from Arsenal enthusiasts, sparked by the club itself heralding their champions.

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