Arsenal secured the Premier League title on May 20 after Manchester City was held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth in the penultimate round of the 2025-26 season, Qatar News Agency reported from London. The result left City on 78 points in second place, four points behind Arsenal with one game remaining, ensuring the north London club could not be overtaken. Arsenal, which had not won the league since the 2003-04 campaign, is set to celebrate in front of its fans during the final fixture against Crystal Palace.
The Qatar News Agency dispatch outlined how Bournemouth went ahead through French forward Eli Junior Kroupi in the 39th minute at their home ground. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland leveled for City in the 95th minute during added time, but the shared points proved decisive for the title race. Bournemouth advanced to 56 points and sixth position with the draw while Liverpool sat fifth, three points higher. The outcome eliminated Bournemouth from contention for a fifth-placed Champions League spot yet confirmed their Europa League qualification for the next season.
Arsenal’s official website stated the team finished the season with 85 points, seven clear of Manchester City, to claim its 14th English top-flight title and fourth in the Premier League era. The victory represented manager Mikel Arteta’s first Premier League success after three consecutive runner-up finishes, according to a New York Times report on the campaign. Arsenal also advanced to the UEFA Champions League final that year before losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, an ESPN account detailed. Club records highlight the defensive foundation and consistency that underpinned the title charge.
Wikipedia data on Arsenal shows the 2025-26 triumph marked the end of a 22-year drought since the Invincibles season under Arsene Wenger. The Guardian published an analysis citing defensive excellence and exploitation of fine margins as key factors in the success, with key contributions from players including Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and William Saliba. The Athletic described the title as six years in the making under Arteta following an initial period labeled as challenging at the club. Such context placed the achievement in perspective against Manchester City’s recent dominance in the competition.
The Qatar News Agency noted that Arsenal would lift the trophy in front of its supporters at Selhurst Park after the Crystal Palace match. ESPN reported that Arsenal defeated Palace 2-1 on the final day, though the result itself was secondary to the ensuing celebrations as the squad finally hoisted the Premier League trophy. The event drew widespread attention across English football, with impromptu gatherings in north London and at the club’s training ground earlier in the week when the title was mathematically confirmed. Arsenal’s website later compared the 2025-26 squad to previous championship teams from 1998, 2002 and 2004.
A Guardian review of 10 key numbers from the season attributed Arsenal’s edge to relentless consistency across 38 matches and a backline that limited opposition chances effectively. The New York Times account of the campaign emphasized how the club transitioned from earlier setbacks to sustained contention at the summit. Such reporting from multiple outlets underscored the scale of the accomplishment in a league where City had claimed multiple recent titles. Bournemouth’s draw, while ending its top-five hopes, aligned with its final standing and European qualification path as outlined in the initial QNA coverage.
