Arsenal are Premier League champions for the 2025/26 season. On 19 May 2026, Manchester City dropped points in a 1–1 draw at Bournemouth — and the Gunners became mathematically unreachable with one match to play. Their first English top-flight title in 22 years. The last time Arsenal were champions was 2003/04, the legendary Invincibles season under Arsène Wenger.
How It Happened
On 18 May, Arsenal beat Burnley 1–0 — Kai Havertz scoring on 37 minutes from a Bukayo Saka pass. The following day, Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth (1–1), and the title was sealed: Arsenal champions with a four-point lead and a game in hand. Mikel Arteta became the first former Premier League player in history to win the title as a manager.
Final Standings (with one round remaining)
| Club | Played | Points | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 37 | 82 | 🏆 Champions |
| Manchester City | 37 | 78 | 2nd place |
Season by the Numbers
- Viktor Gyökeres — 20 goals in the season. The first Arsenal player to hit 20+ goals in a debut season since Alexis Sánchez (2014/15). Signed in summer 2025 and immediately delivered.
- Kai Havertz — 9 Premier League goals, Arsenal’s top scorer in the league. Including the decisive strike against Burnley.
- Best defence in the league — 34 goals conceded across the season. Arsenal held the division’s best defensive record for the second consecutive year.
- Saka, Eze, Trossard, Rice, Merino, Zubimendi — goals and assists spread across the squad, a key reason for the team’s consistent results.
History: 22 Years of Waiting
Arsenal’s last English title was in 2003/04 — Wenger’s Invincibles: 38 matches, zero defeats, 90 points. In the 21 seasons since, the title went to just four clubs:
- Manchester City — 8 titles
- Manchester United — 5 titles
- Chelsea — 5 titles
- Liverpool — 2 titles
- Leicester City — 1 title (2015/16)
Arteta took charge in 2019. Three consecutive second-place finishes. In 2025/26 — finally first. For Arsenal supporters, this title ends the longest wait among the traditional top six.
What’s Next
May 30 — the Champions League final: PSG vs Arsenal in Budapest. The Gunners can complete a historic double — Premier League title plus the Champions Cup. Arsenal’s odds to win the UCL stand at around 2.20. Full breakdown in our Champions League final guide.
