Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1313 EAT on Wednesday 20 May 2026

“Twenty-two years,” said the father to his son, shaking his head in disbelief. “Twenty-two years.”

Standing outside Emirates Stadium amid a swelling crowd, he was not alone in trying to process the emotion. Arsenal had just secured their first league title in a generation, ending a 22-year wait for the championship.

From the moment Eli Junior Kroupi put Bournemouth ahead against Manchester City, celebrations began building in north London. Arsenal’s only remaining title rivals needed a win to take the race to the final day, but a first-half deficit dealt a significant blow to their hopes.

Outside the Gunners pub on Blackstock Road, the atmosphere reflected growing anticipation, with the landlord holding a glass of champagne as supporters packed in ahead of a potential celebration.

At the Tollington, the pub closest to Arsenal’s home ground, confidence remained high even when City equalised deep into stoppage time. “It’s just two minutes, just two minutes, they’re going to do it!” one fan told her brother as supporters watched nervously on a screen mounted at the entrance.

She was right, of course. The moment the final whistle went—confirming Arsenal’s long-awaited title and ending any lingering hope for Bournemouth—celebrations erupted across north London.
“Set piece again, olé, olé,” fans chanted, alongside the familiar “Ar-se-nal” ringing through the streets. Supporters spilled onto the road as car horns blared and delivery riders pulled over to join the celebrations.

From there, a procession formed and moved towards the Emirates Stadium from multiple directions. By around 10pm, the stadium and surrounding streets were packed, with little room to move.
Pyrotechnics were set off in the centre of the crowd, while others sat calmly on the surrounding steps, taking in the scenes. At one point, what appeared to be a surge in the crowd turned out to be fans escorting club legend Ian Wright through the celebrations.

Club mascot Gunnersaurus also made an appearance, as the jubilant scenes continued to build and the scale of the celebration took hold across the area.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, really,” said Xavier, a twentysomething supporter who can see the stadium from his flat window. His father placed him on the waiting list for a season ticket at the age of five—he still does not have one.

“It’s hard to fully grasp what they’ve achieved. The season itself has been such a slog, but the league is so tough. I think this success will be looked back on very differently to how people are experiencing it in the moment.”

Another lifelong supporter, Jaden, whose earliest Arsenal memories include Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and “Jens Lehmann—he was my guy,” said the victory felt long overdue.

“I feel absolutely great now. It’s been so many years of constant banter, all the talk that Arsenal would never do it, that we’re not good enough. And now we’ve done it,” he said.

“I think we’ll hold on to this for a while, and I’m delighted for Mikel Arteta. He’s come in, stuck to his principles, and delivered.”

There were other scenes unfolding across the celebration, including three young women from New Zealand who had lived nearby for the past three years and become fully immersed in Arsenal’s long pursuit of success. Nearby, a young boy perched on his father’s shoulders—still wearing Sonic the Hedgehog pyjamas, apparently having been lifted from bed shortly before—watched the celebrations unfold.

As the night wore on, more supporters poured onto the streets, joining the growing crowds heading towards the centre of the celebrations.

Arsenal’s success has not always been warmly received by rival supporters, and in the often intense culture of modern English football, the glow of such a triumph may not last long. But on this night, it was difficult not to be swept up in the unrestrained joy spilling into the streets.

Young and old, men and women, supporters from diverse backgrounds came together in celebration. The achievement of 11 players on a football pitch had ignited scenes of collective elation across the city.

For Arsenal fans, moments like this are rare and hard-earned. On this night, they were determined to savour every second.

-TheGuardian

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