Arsenal 2–1 Crystal Palace: champions sign off in style
Twenty-two years. That wait is over. Arsenal closed their Premier League season with a 2–1 win at Selhurst Park, then stood on the pitch as the trophy was lifted to the North London sky (1) (2). Mikel Arteta rotated heavily, fielding a heavily reshuffled side six days before the Champions League final against PSG (5) (10). It was a controlled, professional performance from a second-string eleven that still had enough to see off Palace. Not a classic, but exactly the kind of mature, game-managing display that has defined this title-winning season (12). Champions find a way.
Arteta's inner doubts and the journey back
Amid the celebrations, Arteta made a striking confession: he doubted whether he was the right person to bring the title back to Arsenal (4) (6). That honesty, after ending a drought stretching back to the Invincibles season of 2003/04, adds weight to what this squad has achieved (8). Leandro Trossard spoke to Belgian television after the match, revealing he almost left the club last summer before becoming a key figure in the title charge. He also praised Arteta's man-management, Bukayo Saka's growth, and Declan Rice's transformative impact (3). The manager, tossed in the air by his players as "North London Forever" rang around the stadium, has turned doubt into dynasty.
Six days from Paris
Everything now converges on one night. Arsenal face PSG in the Champions League final in six days, and Arteta has already expressed quiet confidence ahead of the Paris showdown (9). The rotated XI at Palace was deliberate, key legs preserved, rhythms maintained, no unnecessary risks. Off the pitch, the club has drawn criticism for choosing not to cover staff travel costs for the final, a stark contrast to PSG's approach (7). On it, one final step separates this team from immortality. The league is won. Europe awaits.
Fan reactions
The footage of Arsenal players and supporters belting out "North London Forever" as Premier League champions hit hard, a moment 22 years in the making that fans described as genuinely emotional. One supporter posted simply "Aura" alongside a photo of Arteta being thrown into the air by his squad during the celebrations, while another clip showed a Sky Sports interview being cut short so viewers could watch the trophy lift. The mood across r/Gunners and r/soccer was euphoric but already turning toward Paris: one job left.
