Arsenal

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta has already said he wants "to have the parade with two big trophies" as he sets out to win the Champions League for the first time in Arsenal's history.

Arsenal backed Arteta with about £250m of spending last summer as they looked to increase the quality and depth of their squad, and they brought in players like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, who were categorised as 'win now' signings.

Arteta wants to build a legacy of sustained success at Emirates Stadium and once the Champions League final is over, focus will move to tying him down to a new contract.

Initial talks have been had and will increase in pace as all parties work to have the new contract sorted before next season.

The Gunners are going to invest again in the transfer market this summer with co-chair Josh Kroenke already saying that Arteta is going to backed.

"If anyone deserves this, it's this group." Kroenke said to Sky Sports after the Arsenal trophy lift.

"[We are invested] emotionally, financially, everything. This club means the world to us.

"I think it took some people a few years to realise what that really meant but we have great people, players and coaches. We just have to continue providing the resources to do magical things like they did this season.

Arsenal's football leadership, with Kroenke, CEO Richard Garlick, director of football operations James King and sporting director Andrea Berta alongside Arteta, are looking to recruit a midfielder, left-winger and striker. However, some money will have to be recouped too after last year's big spending.

And with success secured, his level of influence and the transformation complete, now could be the time for Arteta to develop Arsenal into serial winners.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, speaking about what kind of champions Arsenal are on Match of the Day: "Champions are champions. I have actually really liked how they've played this season. Everyone now wants to play like how Pep Guardiola's teams play but Mikel Arteta has tried that for the last three years and he hasn't won the league.

"He's changed the recruitment. They've gone more to a bigger, more physical team, and they don't concede goals. They're solid, they have players scoring goals from all over the pitch, and they fully deserve to win the Premier League."

Speaking about the statistics above,Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer added:

"Those numbers are staggering. When you look at the job that Mikel has done, he mentions the noise and doubting himself, I think he deserves great credit for sticking with it.

"We've spoken about how recruitment hasn't worked for other teams but their recruitment for how they've wanted to play this season has been absolutely spot on. Every decision they made in bringing players in last summer - all of these players have played and it's worked for them.

"The stress and the pressure that they've been under all season and the noise, to get over that and come back from the defeat at Manchester City is amazing. After that defeat which way do they go? They rolled their sleeves up and did something special. They've been the best team and I think they deserve huge credit."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts and feelings as Arsenal finally got their hands on the Premier league trophy following their final day win over Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

KBK: I watched the final game and trophy presentation with a flock of international Gooners in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The perfect end to a two month trip (Malaysia-Nepal-Vietnam) after finish working here. Flying home to England Tuesday. Parade Sunday! I celebrated with my flag in front of Everest, Nepal.

Lou: Just love Arsenal and Arteta and this team have made it the best version of the best club. So happy. Congratulations.

Colin: I saw my first title winning game in 1953 beating, I think, Burnley with Jimmy Logie scoring a clever goal. At 83-years-old I am overwhelmed with pride that the Gunners, yet again, have won the league. My congratulations to the players and especially Mikel for the effort he has made. Long may you continue. Thank you.

Charles: Before today, it felt surreal. Now I believe it, after watching them lift the trophy. Truly amazing scenes! Let's hope this is the start of a dynasty!

Andrew: I'm 80 now - been an Arsenal lad for over 70 years. Never been so happy.

Vince: It's 2:22am in my part of the world - Hong Kong -and it's been a full, tiring day with the family. But this was 22-years in the making and there's no question of missing this celebration! Arsenal Forever!

Shelby: Absolutely over the moon. All the years of people giving us grief over not doing so well and now we win the league by seven. C'mon Arsenal.

Scott: Arsene Wenger dreamt it and Mikel Arteta has delivered it. Thank you for making millions of Gooners around the world believe again. You have united our club and brought the love back. We can now stand proud - Champions of England. Now let's bring the bring the European trophy home.

Carol: A phenomenal season, both at home and abroad - well done Arsenal. You deserve your success in the Premier League. Good luck for the Champions League Final... You can do it!

Geoff: So happy for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal! They thoroughly deserved to be Champions! Wishing them all the best for next Saturday!

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A big reason why this Premier League league win is such an important psychological moment for Mikel Areteta and Arsenal, is that the Arsenal manager was able to overcome long-time friend and mentor Pep Guardiola.

The Manchester City boss, leaving after 10 seasons in charge, has been the reason for so much of Arsenal's recent disappointment. With Arteta now getting the best of his former colleague, the time for sustained success could be now for Arsenal.

Last season's title rivals Liverpool finished 25 points behind the Gunners and there is a debate about whether current manager Arne Slot is the right man to get them back into title contention.

Manchester United, although rejuvenated by Michael Carrick, are not back as regular challengers just yet and Chelsea have had a disappointing season and finished in mid-table.

Arteta has already shifted the messaging to his players about how their mentality will change now that they are league winners as he urges them to add more silverware to their collection.

"I said to the boys that this shirt now represents something else." Arteta said in his post-match press conference.

"We are the champions, and that brings a lot of confidence and a different kind of presence and energy to it.

"But as well, another kind of responsibility and my job now and [that of] everybody at the club is going to be lift those standards now and achieve much more, because I think we are capable of doing it."

Read more about what could be next for Arsenal here

Manchester Unitedhave enquired about the signing of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with Arsenal and Paris St-Germain also monitoring the 21-year-old Portugal international, who is valued at £80m. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from all 10 fixtures on the final day of the Premier League season.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 1-0 Everton

• West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

• Brighton 0-3 Manchester United

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "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.

"Now it is time to enjoy and take the manager hat off.

"I think we showed an incredible connection commitment and courage. Everything around us has fuelled our desire to do it.

"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.

"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."

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, speaking to Sky Sports: "Incredible. Just saying and feeling that we're champions, it's all we've wanted. It's nice! It's been a dream. It's everything I expected and more.

"[After Manchester City defeat] I believed because there was still five games to go. We started to be a bit more free in our game and play a bit better. It was a strong message and it has paid off."

Did you know?

• Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi became just the second player to win the title and play every game in his first season in the Premier League (excluding 1992-93) after Jens Lehmann in 2003-04.

• Arsenal scored 19 goals from corners in the Premier League this season, the most of any side in a single campaign in the competition's history.

A moment Arsenal supporters have waited 22 years for... your 2025-26 Premier League champions!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

This match against Crystal Palace was always going to be a celebration for Arsenal after ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

And with that piece of silverware secured, Mikel Arteta heavily rotated his side, with his main focus on the Champions League final against Paris-St Germain in a week's time.

Supporters had queued outside of the stadium more than three hours before kick-off to see their heroes get off the team bus and chant about being "champions of England".

Arsenal, although at times functional this season, have made the big step to become winners and, after three second-place finishes, they have a huge opportunity to start a period of dominance in the league.

And, for their consistency, the Gunners deservedly finish seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who lost at home to Europa League winners Aston Villa in Pep Guardiola's final match in charge.

Mikel Arteta said before the game that his team now have to "wear the shirt in a different way" after becoming champions and the manager, who always has such high standards, will hope this win will be the start of a more sustained period of success.

A first Premier League title in more than 20 years was already sealed for Arsenal, and they can now finally get their hands on the trophy after signing off with a win at Crystal Palace.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know how you are feeling.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page for a selection of your replies - reaction and analysis to follow shortly

Oliver Glasner has made it clear that he would be resting and rotating his key players with focus turning to the Conference League final next week.

Regular starters Lacroix, Mitchell, Mateta, Wharton and Canvot are all on the bench.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Munoz, Clyne, Lerma, Riad, Cardines, Hughes, Kamada, Devenny, Sarr, Strand Larsen.

Subs: Benitez, Lacroix, Mitchell, Pino, Johnson, Mateta, Wharton, Canvot, Guessand.

With the Premier League title already in the bag, Mikel Arteta has also made a raft of changes for this match with Palace.

Christian Norgaard makes his first start in the Premier League this season while 16-year-old Max Dowman is handed a start and becomes the youngest ever player to start a Premier League match (16y 144d).

Arsenal XI: Arrizabalaga, Zubimendi, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori, Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus.

Subs: Setford, Gyokeres, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard, Eze, Merino, Havertz, Rice.

It is the last day of the Premier League, every side is in action this Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Manchester United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Burnley v Wolves

• Crystal Palace v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Fulham v Newcastle

• Liverpool v Brentford

• Manchester City v Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

• Sunderland v Chelsea

• Tottenham v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Kick-off times 16:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Leeds", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's last game of the season could have been a tense occasion had they not secured the title before the match with Crystal Palace.

However, now they are confirmed Premier League champions it's a day of celebration for Mikel Arteta and his players.

Before the match, much of the talk was that Oliver Glasner could have had an impact on the title race with the Eagles in the Conference League final next Wednesday.

But with Arsenal in a party mood both sides could field weakened teams with the Gunners focusing on their Champions League final against Paris St-Germain.

Mikel Merino has battled back from a foot problem which has kept him out since January and could use some minutes if he is to be an option for the showpiece against PSG in Budapest on 30 May.

Arteta will want to avoid injury for that game and could give Christian Norgaard his first start of the season and rest Declan Rice.

Supporters will be clamouring for tickets to see their side lift the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park and while the day will live long in the memory, Arteta will already be plotting how he can secure his second trophy.

And with a parade planned for 31 May, the celebrations are just getting going for Arsenal.

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It has felt like there have been two weights lifted off me in the past few days. The first is Arsenal's Premier League title win and the other is news that Guardiola is leaving. My nightmare is over.

I would like to first thank Guardiola for remaining at the club long enough for Arsenal to finally triumph over him, as it makes the victory so much sweeter.

His Manchester City side have caused me so much grief, especially over the past few seasons, that I am celebrating his departure.

I am self-aware enough to realise that a lot of my negativity towards Guardiola is purely jealousy. Jealousy at the juggernaut he has created that, up until this week, nearly always had the beating of Arsenal. Jealousy at the winning mentality he seems to instil in every one of his sides.

At times, his City sides have been a painful reminder of quite how far Arsenal were from winning anything.

In time, I might be able to look back and appreciate the magnitude of his achievements, but so many of them have come at the expense of my beloved Arsenal that it is still too raw at the moment. And if I sound bitter, it is because I am.

It is hard to imagine a league without Guardiola. His departure leaves a vacuum for another side to fill with their own domination. I very much hope that side are Arsenal.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

The problem with predicting a game like this is that both sides are understandably going to make a lot of changes with European finals coming up in the next few days.

With the Premier League title won, why wouldn't Mikel Arteta rest a load of players before his side face Paris St-Germain next weekend?

The same applies to Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner with his side playing Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.

So, it is going to be Palace reserves versus Arsenal reserves - and some of the Gunners players may still have a hangover.

I understand why they wanted to enjoy themselves. I know Alan Shearer famously said he would be celebrating by "creosoting the fence" when we won the title with Blackburn in 1995, but he was the only one of us who went to bed early that night.

I am still going to go for an Arsenal win, though, and by their favourite scoreline too - the same one as their past three victories.

That was how they got over the line and it won't change now.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here