Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
City needed all three points to keep the title race alive heading into the final day of the season, but Bournemouth once again proved difficult to beat as they stretched their unbeaten league run to 17 matches. The impressive streak has also guaranteed the club European football for the first time in its history.
For Arsenal, the moment marked the end of years of frustration. After finishing second in each of the last three campaigns, Mikel Arteta’s men finally secured the league crown and ended a six-year wait for major silverware.
The Gunners had moved within touching distance of the title on Monday following a narrow 1-0 victory against already relegated Burnley, a result that pushed them five points ahead of City.
Despite suffering a damaging defeat to City last month, Arsenal responded strongly by winning four consecutive league games without conceding, maintaining the consistency that defined most of their season.
Manchester City, meanwhile, came into the Bournemouth clash surrounded by uncertainty after reports emerged that Pep Guardiola could leave the club at the end of the campaign following 10 years in charge.
The Spaniard had only just guided City to FA Cup glory over Chelsea at Wembley, sealing a domestic cup double and collecting the 20th trophy of his hugely successful spell at the club.
However, Guardiola’s hopes of adding another Premier League title suffered a major setback against a Bournemouth side still chasing a possible Champions League place.
The hosts are already guaranteed at least a Europa League spot after ensuring they cannot finish lower than seventh. A sixth-place finish could still hand them Champions League football depending on Aston Villa’s position and the outcome of Wednesday’s Europa League final.
At the Vitality Stadium, City supporters repeatedly sang “One more year, Guardiola” in an emotional appeal for the manager to remain at the club beyond this season.
But the visitors struggled to produce the performance needed to keep their title ambitions alive.
City thought they had found a breakthrough through Antoine Semenyo, but the effort was ruled out for offside in a disappointing opening half for Guardiola’s side.
Bournemouth eventually struck first in the 39th minute through Eli Junior Kroupi, who curled a superb effort into the top corner to register his 13th Premier League goal of the season — the highest tally ever by a teenager in a debut campaign.
City nearly responded immediately after the restart, but Nico O’Reilly was denied by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic in what proved to be one of their clearest opportunities.
Guardiola could only watch as his side’s title hopes faded away after weeks of inconsistency. Following last month’s victory over Arsenal in what many described as the title decider, City later surrendered control of the race with a dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton.
The Spaniard is now on course to finish a second straight season without winning the league for the first time in his managerial career.
Bournemouth almost added more goals as both Rayan and David Brooks struck the woodwork during Andoni Iraola’s final home game in charge.
Although Erling Haaland rescued a late equaliser deep into stoppage time, the goal arrived too late to change the destination of the title.