Arsenal have lifted the Premier League trophy – the ceremonial end to their 22-wait for an English league title after a final-day win away at Crystal Palace.
Ian Wright called the scenes ‘special’ as captain Martin Odegaard got the party started, holding the trophy aloft to the cheers of Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta and Co – and 3,000 Arsenal fans packed into a corner of Selhurst Park.
Arsenal were forced to lift the trophy away from the Emirates Stadium after confirmation of their title win came after their final home game of the season this week. The Gunners beat Burnley 1-0 on Tuesday before a 2-2 draw for closest rivals Manchester City at Bournemouth on Wednesday made their lead unassailable.
And that set up the celebratory moment on Sunday afternoon. Odegaard lifted the trophy and manager Arteta was joyous before the players posed for photos in front of fans with their first piece of major silverware in six years.
‘Wow. That was amazing,’ Arsenal legend Wright said on Sky Sports. ‘This is so special, with what we’ve been through in the last few seasons.
‘Just to see some of those guys go up, how emotional they are. I’m so happy for them and for the whole of Arsenal.
‘The players who have come in and have done well and that’s what we needed.’
Arsenal captain Odegaard, who revealed the Arsenal players have a day off tomorrow, said: ‘Honestly, I can’t describe it. It was so special. A lot of emotions and a lot of hard work behind it. So emotional, but a beautiful day and an amazing achievement.
‘You always have the doubt and the fear that you’re not going to make it but we had that belief in ourselves and even in the toughest moments this season we really stuck together.
‘We had that belief. We just kept on fighting and we got there in the end, so even better like that.’
The Gunners shut out a late Crystal Palace comeback as their minds shifted to lifting the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years.
