For the first time in 22 years, FC Arsenal has been crowned champions of England, and now Kai Havertz and his teammates are aiming for the Champions League title.
As the final whistle finally blew in Bournemouth, a jubilant storm erupted nearly 200 kilometers northeast in London, where Kai Havertz and his colleagues were celebrating. The German international leaped wildly, embracing his FC Arsenal teammates and shouting with joy. «Campeones, Campeones,» the new champions sang, holding a cardboard trophy, while fans on the streets of London shed tears of happiness and relief. The wait is finally over.
It has been «22 long years for Arsenal,» wrote British Prime Minister and self-proclaimed Arsenal fan Keir Starmer on X. «But we are finally back where we belong. Champions!» And another potential crowning achievement may be on the horizon: the Gunners will face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30th.
However, Havertz and his teammates gave no thought to the upcoming showdown in Budapest during their celebratory night. They watched together at their training center in Hertfordshire as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City stumbled to a 1-1 draw in Bournemouth. With a four-point lead and one game remaining, Mikel Arteta’s team can no longer be denied the top spot.
Declan Rice: «I told you so»
The triumph sent London into ecstasy, with thousands of fans celebrating wildly in the streets. Players like midfield strategist Declan Rice and star striker Bukayo Saka even joined the party crowd at the Emirates Stadium until 5 am.
The championship moment felt even sweeter and more significant for Arsenal because the Londoners had narrowly missed out on the title three times in a row as league runners-up. Even during this season, they faltered at times, leading to doubts and mockery – but this time, the champagne corks popped. «You’ve done it! Champions keep going when others give up. This is your moment,» said Arsenal’s legendary manager Arsene Wenger, who won the club’s previous league title in 2004 with Jens Lehmann and his «Invincibles.» «And now go out and enjoy every moment.»
And they certainly did, to the fullest. Just like the fans, the beer flowed, fireworks lit up the sky, and the night turned into day. «I told you so,» said Rice with immense satisfaction. «We’ve done it.» Saka added that Arsenal’s critics can now «stop laughing at us.» The Premier League season will conclude with a ceremonial match against Crystal Palace next Sunday, after which they will be presented with the actual Premier League trophy.
Following that, the full focus will shift to the Champions League. For the first time in 20 years, the Gunners have reached the final of Europe’s premier club competition. They have never lifted the trophy before. «I hope,» Saka recently said, «that history has a good ending in Budapest.»