By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after rivals Manchester City were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
The result confirms Mikel Arteta’s side as champions with one game left to play, ending City’s era of dominance and marking a historic achievement for the North London club.
Heading into the encounter at the Vitality Stadium, Manchester City needed victory to keep the title race alive. However, Bournemouth delivered a spirited performance, backed by a passionate home crowd, to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s men.
Teenage sensation Junior Kroupi stunned the visitors six minutes before half-time with a superb curling finish to hand Bournemouth the lead. City pushed hard for a response in the second half, but goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic produced crucial saves to keep the hosts ahead for long periods.
Erling Haaland eventually grabbed a late equaliser for City, but it was not enough to prevent Arsenal from sealing the title.
The build-up to the match had been dominated by speculation surrounding Guardiola’s future, with reports suggesting the Spaniard could leave at the end of the season. Despite dismissing suggestions that the uncertainty affected his players, City were outplayed by an inspired Bournemouth side whose unbeaten run now stretches to 17 matches.
For Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who recently confirmed he will depart the club at the end of the campaign, the result also secured European football for next season in what has been a remarkable campaign for the Cherries.
Meanwhile, Chelsea F.C. boosted their hopes of qualifying for Europe with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos gave Chelsea control before Richarlison pulled one back late on for Spurs. The defeat leaves Tottenham’s battle against relegation heading into the final day of the season.
