Premier League champions
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There is no training tomorrow so the Arsenal players will be able to celebrate tonight. Though, with the Champions League final against PSG on Saturday, they won’t be able to let their hair down completely.
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports: ‘The difficult moments were worth it’
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On the title win..
“That was beautiful. Look at the joy of all of the people, the have been waiting for this for so long. We have had difficult moments along the way but it is all worth it when you see that kind of reaction.”
On letting his hair down...
“Now it is time to enjoy and take the manager hat off.”
On the character of the team...
“I think we showed an incredible connection commitment and courage. Everything around us has fuelled our desire to do it.”
On the backing of the owners...
“We have an incredible ownership. Through the tough times is when you really see people. They have incredible values and know the sport better than any of us. They have committed to the project that we have delivered. They have been instrumental.”
On self-doubt...
“There were doubts. It was understanding that I was able to take them this far [to second place] but maybe someone else has to come and do the final job. But thank god we have done it! I feel a lot of joy and a little bit of belief.”Yes, [I doubted myself]. It is part of the job. There are many things that are out of my control and that is why you need the best people around you.”
The youngest player to start a Premier League match
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Max Dowman may well think this title-winning lark isn’t so hard...
One for the mantelpiece
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The Premier League champions
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Never seen Arteta look so happy
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He’s seemed intense and, at times, sullen over the past few years. But Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to the title and he, as much as anyone, deserves this day.
They’re going through the greatest hits
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They’ve sung Sweet Caroline and Freed From Desire...
Also, the players will not have training tomorrow...a few cheeky beers may be had?
Time for their song
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North London Forever...blaring out in south London, it must be a big occasion...
Every player is getting their turn with the trophy
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But first it’s Arteta and he does several turns before lifting the trophy aloft much to the joy of the Arsenal fans.
Meanwhile at the Emirates...
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...the party is in full swing.
Odegaard lifts the trophy
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And Arsenal’s 22-year wait is over!
Here’s the moment every Arsenal fan has been waiting for.
Declan Rice with the biggest cheer so far
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He’s been a leader by example and the fans recognise that. Saka follows and he too is met with reputuous applause.
The players are getting their medals
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What it was all about. They are greeted with huge cheers when their names are announced on the tannoy.
Owners get hands on trophy first (don’t worry presentation hasn’t happened yet...!)
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Owners Stan and Josh Kroenke are carrying the Premier League trophy from the away dressing room to the corner of the pitch where the Arsenal fans are waiting.
Now Arteta comes out
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The eighth man to lead this big club to a top-flight title.
The players follow and it’s no shock to see them having changed into the famous first-team kit (they beat Palace in their away number today..).
Party time for the Arsenal fans
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The backroom staff out on the pitch first
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And it’s a sizeable contingent.
Arsenal’s coaching staff have all put on an away shirt with a player’s name on the back. Gabriel Heinze is wearing ‘Gabriel 6’, which feels about right. Not just because they share a first name, but also because they share an approach to defending.
Piers Morgan is there (of course he is...)
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As is Ted Hastings (aka Adrian Dunbar IRL) from Line of Duty.
Party about to get started
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We have been told by Dave Jones on Sky that the trophy presentation hasn’t been forgotten...I expect it will happen in the next 10 minutes or so, so please hang tight...
A pep talk ahead of the biggest game in Saka’s career?
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Or a well-deserved thank you for the Arsenal man’s efforts this season. In matches where the north Londoners seemed devoid of ideas in attack Saka was always an outlet and constant menace.
Glasner with those skinny trousers...
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...speaks to the Selhurst Park faithful (while, I am sure suffering with very sweaty legs - who wears skinny trousers on a day like this?)
The look of a man who’s just won the title
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Glasner: ‘The best is still to come’
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Glasner tells the Palace fans: “I came as a stranger and now, after two years, I feel like I am a south Londoner.”
He adds: “The best day is still to come in three days in Leipzig.”
Arsenal fans, please keep it quiet at the back...
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Palace chairman Steve Parish is thanking the departing Oliver Glasner in a speech on the pitch at Selhurst Park. He has had to request some quiet from the Arsenal fans in the away end, though.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Premier League table for 2025/26
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In the end Arsenal finished seven points ahead of Man City and only two teams were within 20 points of them - why was everyone so worried?!
Well played Arsenal
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Who will in 15 minutes or so, lift their first Premier League trophy since 2004.
On a good day for Arsenal
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Good news for their arch-rivals, Spurs stay up, read about it here.
Before the party some worrying (ish) news
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Looks as though Arsenal took a couple of knocks in the last few minutes. Lewis-Skelly and Hincapie are both moving uncomfortably.
The trophy presentation will take place at 6.30
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Before that there are a few Palace farewells and thanks to take place.
First to Glasner who is the club’s most successful manager in its history. And more silverware may yet be added...
FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2
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Now the mini-party can start...Premier League season is over for Arsenal (but not before Henderson makes a great save from former team-mate Eze) and they have signed off in style.
More than one thing to play for on Saturday...
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Arsenal are one game away from equalling a club-record 30 victories while keeping a clean sheet... but it won’t come today. Mateta’s header has stopped that. They will have to do it against PSG in the Champions League final next weekend.
Arsenal fans will have to wait
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The trophy presentation will take place at 6.30pm, the stadium has been told. Palace will do their lap of appreciation beforehand.
91 mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2
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There will be seven minutes of added time.
89 mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2
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Pino’s fine strike on the turn flies into the back of the net. BUT Guessand gets a touch (with his chest) and he’s offside and it does not count.
GOAL!
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Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2
Who said this was over as a competitive contest? Me? Yep, I was wrong. The ball comes in from the left, it’s an inswinger and Mateta rises to meet it with his head. Good finish.
84 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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Arsenal dominating possession, there’s a bit of a keep-ball feel to it. No chances created.
82 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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No chances taken and Madueke makes way for Gyokeres.
80 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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Madueke is down, not sure he would be a Budapest starter. It looks as though it’s hamstring issue..Hope it’s ok, no one wants to see a young player (or any player for that matter) miss out on a big final with injury. As I type that he gets up, it looks ok...
77 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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There’s chance for Arsenal to make it 3-0. The ball, pinball-like is flashed across the box and Merino, just on, fires wide having had not much time to react.
74 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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Change for Palace: Mateta on for Strand Larsen. That’s a case of getting minutes into the legs before Wednesday’s final.
73 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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Change for Arsenal: Jesus off Eze on. Jesus’s last Premier League appearance for Arsenal for the Brazilian? Eze is given a warm round of applause, good to see because, as Peter Dury on Sky Sports comms says ‘he has south London running through his veins’
70 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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The competitive edge has disappeared into the ether in south London. Minds, doubtlessly wandering elsewhere.
65 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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Another drinks break, with a Champions League final to come, there will be no champagne in the Arsenal water bottles...
63 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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No chances this to speak of since Arsenal’s second. You suspect neither side would be too fussed if, a la a cricket captain, the ref declared the match over and they could both focus on their European finals coming up.
Worrying moment for Palace, as Adam Wharton is substituted only 17 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute. He was shaking his head in frustration as he walked straight towards the dressing room. Palace will pray it’s nothing serious.
59 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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Change on for Arsenal. And it’s a biggie. Mikel Merino is about to come on for the first time since fracturing his foot since the defeat by Man Utd in January. It’s six days until the Champions League final, big 30 minutes coming up for Merino.
Dowman is the one to make way, he, perhaps, has some GCSE revision to do.
54 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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Not what Oliver Glasner wants to see: Wharton is on the ground receiving treatment after what looked like nothing more than a little nibble from Lewis-Skelly. After a minute or so Palace’s midfield creator gets up on his feet gingerly. The bench will doubtless be monitoring his movements carefully over the next few minutes and more.
Arsenal started as they meant to go on
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Arsenal are ending the season as they started it: wearing their white kit away from home and scoring from a left-wing corner. On the opening day, Calafiori scored from an inswinger at Manchester United.
50 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
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I suspect this game’s intensity, which wasn’t high to start with, might drop even further...
GOAL!
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Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
Now the party can really start! Madueke threads the eye of a needle with a lovely volley. It’s come from a corner from the left, the ball goes deep, Havrtez heads it back from whence it came and Madueke hits it first time into the back of the net from 10-12 yards or do.
45 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1
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Changes for Arsenal. Gabriel and Havertz on for Calafiori, Norgaard.
Changes for Palace as Wharton, Mitchell and Pino come on for Kamada, Munoz and Saar.
Cases of getting some players wrapped up in cotton wool before a European final, and getting minutes into their legs for others.
HALF TIME: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1
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The Champions are deservedly ahead after a half lacking in intensity.
45 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1
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There will be three minutes of added time.
GOAL!
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Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1
It was overdue, but that doesn’t matter, it’s Jesus on target with his fourth chance of the match. A nicely weighted ball from Martinelli finds the Brazilian in the inside-right channel and he hits it into the back of the net at the near post.
Jesus finally gets his goal, at the fourth time of asking. He loves scoring against Palace (although you wouldn’t have known it from the way he wasted his first three chances of the game). Last season he scored five goals against Palace.
Audition for Zubimendi?
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I’m afraid to say there isn’t a huge amount of intensity to this game. Almost as if both teams have European finals in the next week... the heat certainly hasn’t helped the spectacle, either.
Interesting that Zubimendi has been selected at right-back. There’s a chance that Arsenal may need a midfielder to play there at one point against PSG next week, given the injuries to Timber and White. Perhaps this is a little audition for the Spaniard...
35 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Palace seeing more of the ball, but doing very little with it. They earn a free-kick inside the Arsenal half. Can they create something from this?
Nope, is the long and short of it. The ball is delivered deep into the box and it’s easy picking for Kepa in the Arsenal goal.
32 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Match is pedestrian at the moment. And as I typed that Zubimendi passed the ball out of play. To say the match has entered a bit of a lull is an understatement. But it’s to be expected.
29 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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The hosts have a bit of possession (they’ve only had 29 per cent so far) but having been inside the Arsenal half they end up with the ball at the feet of Henderson. Hey ho.
25 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Some nice interplay between Jesus and Norgaard inside the Palace box leads to nothing.
This is fairly open match, expect that to continue.
20 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Another chance for Jesus and another miss. This time the ball is delivered to the back post and he tries to sneak it in at the near post. As with his other previous chances, no joy.
Hope he manages to fit in revision for his GCSEs
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Why wear skinny trousers on a day like today?
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Oliver Glasner, no doubt sweltering in his skinny trousers, is definitely taking this seriously. He has spent most of the game outside of his technical area, screaming tactical instructions at his players. The home fans have responded by singing his name, in his last home match in charge.
As for the action, Gabriel Jesus has already missed two one-on-ones, on what will probably be his last Premier League game for Arsenal.
14 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Now it’s Palace’s chance for an opener. The ball comes over from the left and a diving Munoz heads it goalward, where a flying Kepa saves well.
Meanwhile the Arsenal fans are singing (with gusto) ‘We are unbearable’...
13 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Dowman plays in Martinelli and once again the visitors have turned the Palace defence who, it seems, are either asleep or playing too high a line or, possibly both. The Brazilian, however, dithers on the ball and the hosts defence can recover. In the end Martinelli’s shot was limp.
10 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Jesus is played in by a brilliant pass and is one-on-one with Henderson. He’s almost walking when he plays an attempted dink over the on-rushing goalkeeper and the Palace stopper does his job well. It wasn’t the most convincing attempt by a man who has five goals on the final day of the season. Jesus has had two chances so far, will he gat another with which to add to his last-day tally?
8 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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We’ve just seen Stan Kroenke, the Arsenal owner, in the Selhurst Park stands. Alan Smith (the 1989 and 1991 title winner with Arsenal) is on co-comms and says ‘you know it’s a big day when Stan turns up...’
6 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Bar that Jesus chance the match is yet to get going. There’s a stoppage at the moment with Strand Larsen down.
4 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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Nearly the perfect start for Arsenal, Jesus is in the box and eyes the far right corner. He side-footed shot comes off the upright and Madueke cannot bury the rebound.
2 mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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The visitors have enjoyed more of the opening exchanges, but no shock to learn that (what with the weather and the two European finals to come) the game is being played at a snail’s pace.
1 min: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
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They’re under way in sultry, sunny south London, Palace are in their traditional kit and Arsenal in their away white and dark red.
Glad all over!
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As song that both sets of fans will be more than happy to sing...
The teams are in the tunnel
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And Arsenal’s title-winning party/Oliver Glasner’s farewell bash (delete as you deem fit) is moments away.
What it’s all about
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For all the (increasing) talk of finishing in the top four/five/six etc...avoiding relegation etc, it’s trophies that matter in football and this is the one they all wanted at the start of the season.
The last time Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy
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- Bukayo Saka wasn’t yet three
- Facebook was four months old
- Tony Blair was prime minister
- A pint of beer cost £2.33
- The iPhone was three years away from being launched
- Arsenal were still playing at Highbury
Fever Pitch was on TV last night
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Not the rubbish American version, rather the original UK 1997 film, based, of course, on Nick Hornby’s book. The final scene sees Colin Firth’s character not exiting a lake drenched, but at Highbury celebrating Arsenal’s memorable, last-ditch (‘it’s up for grabs now!’) title win in 1989. The unbridled joy of the event is brilliantly captured and, for a moment, reminded me of why we, as football fans, go through all the pride-swallowing sieges, the Mariana Trench lows of following our teams. It’s the hope that kills, but for Arsenal fans today is a hark back to the childlike joy that football fandom, at its best, serves up.
What today is all about (at least for Arsenal fans...)
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What had you achieved by the time you were 16?
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Max Dowman today becomes the youngest ever player to start a Premier League match. He is also the youngest winner in the competition’s history. A reminder that he missed training on Thursday because of his GCSEs...
View from Selhurst Park
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You would not know, from the greeting that the Arsenal players had upon their arrival here, that this is an away game. There are Arsenal supporters all around Selhurst Park. It will be interesting to see how many Arsenal fans find their way into the home end here... not that the Palace fans will be too bothered. Their big day is still to come: Wednesday’s Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.
Wholesome Arsenal content alert
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Ian Wright, the former Arsenal striker, shares a touching moment with Arsenal’s title heroes, including Dowman, who will have the opportunity to showcase his prodigious talents this afternoon.
Crystal Palace team news
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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has rested a handful of first-team regulars with one eye on Wednesday’s Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.
Adam Wharton, one of the big surprise omissions from Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad, is rested with Brennan Johnson, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maxence Lacroix joining him on a strong-looking Palace bench.
19-year-old Rio Cardines makes his Premier League debut.
The Palace to face the Champions 👏
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 24, 2026
Arsenal team news
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Kepa Arrizabalaga has been handed the opportunity to atone for his nightmare performance in the Carabao Cup final with a starting place in goal.
Captain Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are all on the bench with the small matter of a Champions League final against PSG just six days away.
16-year-old Max Dowman, who became the youngest Premier League winner in history, is handed a rare start.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 24, 2026
Eze’s Palace return
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What an afternoon this will be for Eberechi Eze, who returns to Crystal Palace as a Premier League title winner.
Eze, who spent five years at Palace, is likely to be afforded a hero’s welcome by the home crowd after his historic winning goal in last year’s FA Cup final against Manchester City
Arsenal fan takeover in SE25
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Arsenal fans are out in force at Selhurst Park where Mikel Arteta’s team have just arrived with just over an hour to go until kick-off.
Good afternoon
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And welcome to our live coverage of the final day of the season at Selhurst Park, where Arsenal will be presented with the Premier League trophy for the first time in 22 years.
Mikel Arteta’s side were confirmed as champions of England on Tuesday evening after second-placed Manchester City dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Arsenal had beaten already relegated Burnley the night before, meaning City needed to take maximum points from their trip to the south coast to extend the title race into the final weekend.
Pacesetters for the majority of the season, what might have been a potentially nerve-wracking trip to Selhurst Park will be a coronation, with the trophy to be presented to captain Martin Odegaard on the Selhurst Park pitch after full time.
Kick-off in south London is at 4pm but the celebrations are already in full swing on the north side of the River Thames.
Thousands of Arsenal fans have been lining the streets of north London since early morning as supporters jostle for prime position in the pubs and bars across Islington.