Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time since 2004 after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth on Tuesday, ending the Gunners' longest trophy drought in decades.
City needed to win at the Vitality Stadium to keep the title race alive until the final day, but Bournemouth's resilience denied them. Eli Junior Kroupi scored a brilliant curling strike in the 39th minute to put the home side ahead, and although Erling Haaland levelled late in the game, it was too little too late for Guardiola's men. The draw extended Bournemouth's unbeaten run to 17 league matches and secured European football for the club for the first time in their history.
Arsenal had moved five points clear of City on Monday with a 1-0 win over already-relegated Burnley, a result that proved decisive. Mikel Arteta's side set the pace for most of the season and bounced back impressively after losing to City last month, stringing together four consecutive league wins without conceding a goal. The Gunners had finished second for the past three seasons before finally breaking through.
The timing of City's collapse is particularly dramatic given the circumstances surrounding the club. Just 48 hours before Tuesday's draw, reports emerged that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season after a decade in charge. Guardiola had just completed a domestic cup double by winning the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday, securing a 20th trophy during his glorious reign. He cannot now add a seventh Premier League title to his collection, with only Aston Villa's visit to the Etihad on Sunday remaining, what is expected to be his final match in charge.
Guardiola had warned beforehand that fatigue could cost City against a highly motivated Bournemouth side. City fans at the Vitality Stadium chanted "One more year, Guardiola" in the early stages, hoping to inspire their decorated coach to see out his final contract year. But City's players failed to deliver the performance that would have given their manager a glorious goodbye. Antoine Semenyo had the ball in the net for Bournemouth in the first half but was ruled offside in what appeared City's best chance of the opening period. Nico O'Reilly wasted City's best opportunity of a lifeline when he was denied by Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic seconds into the second half.
Guardiola watched pensively as his side's title challenge fizzled out. The collapse represented a dramatic turn after City had won what was billed as a title decider against Arsenal last month, only to draw 3-3 at Everton shortly after, putting the destiny of the trophy back in their rivals' hands.
Bournemouth will finish no lower than seventh and qualify for the Europa League. Sixth could be good enough for a Champions League place if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Wednesday's Europa League final. Arsenal's first league title in 22 years brings an end to their longest trophy drought and represents vindication for Arteta's project after three consecutive second-place finishes.
