Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for a Premier League title after a dramatic season-long duel with Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s team clinched the championship with a game to spare when City were held 1-1 by Bournemouth. Here are the ten moments that most shaped their run to the title.
1) Smart summer business — and stealing Eberechi Eze
Arsenal strengthened the squad in the transfer window with signings such as Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke, improving depth and quality across the pitch. The coup that mattered most was hijacking Eberechi Eze from Spurs at the last minute. Eze didn’t dominate every game but delivered decisive, high-quality contributions that won points at key moments.
2) Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser vs Man City (Eze assist)
In September Arsenal looked second-best against Manchester City until stoppage time. Eze’s perfectly weighted long pass found Gabriel Martinelli, who lobbed Donnarumma to salvage a draw. That late point effectively cost City two championship points and proved pivotal in the title race.
3) Gabriel’s headed winner at Newcastle
Playing at a ground that had long been a bogey for Arsenal, the team came from behind to win late at St James’ Park. Martin Ødegaard’s set-piece delivery and Gabriel’s header turned a nervy day into a statement victory — a turning point that stopped Liverpool and others from running away with the early season.
4) Eze’s derby masterclasses
After joining, Eze saved his best performances for the north London derbies. He produced a historic hat-trick at the Emirates — the first Arsenal player to score a derby treble since 1978 — and added more goals later in the season. Those derby results not only earned six big points but also sent a psychological message to rivals.
5) The scrappy Brighton win that shifted belief
A 1-0 victory at the Amex was far from pretty, but it came on a day City dropped points and left Arsenal seven clear at the top. The match didn’t look like a highlight reel, but the timing was crucial: it was the day many fans first openly believed the title was within reach.
6) Max Dowman’s unlikely starring role
With the game locked at 0-0 against Everton, Arteta brought on 16-year-old Max Dowman. His assist and full-pitch run to score as an empty-net tap-in produced one of the season’s most iconic moments — Dowman became the youngest Premier League goalscorer and provided a spark at a moment when the team needed inspiration.
7) Declan Rice’s “it’s not done” leadership
After a deflating loss at City, Declan Rice was filmed telling teammates the race was “not done.” That belief was infectious: Arsenal went on a run of clean sheets and wins in the league and reached the Champions League final. Rice’s leadership, on and off the ball, became a defining feature of the team.
8) David Raya’s match-saving stop at West Ham
Away at a physical, determined West Ham side, Raya produced a phenomenal reaction save to keep Arsenal level late in the game. That intervention preserved the platform for three points and underlined the defensive grit that complemented Arsenal’s attacking moments.
9) VAR overturns West Ham equaliser
Five minutes after Raya’s save, a dramatic late sequence saw Callum Wilson’s goal disallowed following a VAR on-field review for a foul on Raya. The decision to chalk off West Ham’s equaliser and award the points to Arsenal was one of the season’s most contentious moments, but it left the Gunners with a crucial victory.
10) Bournemouth draw hands Arsenal the title
Arsenal wrapped up the championship without kicking a ball when Bournemouth held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw. After a 1-0 win over Burnley, the result at the Vitality ensured the title could no longer be reached by City and triggered joyful scenes across north London.
From shrewd recruitment and big-game heroes to youthful surprises and decisive moments of leadership, Arsenal’s title was built on a string of key events across the season. That mix of tactical planning, individual brilliance and a belief that never wavered delivered the club back to the top of English football.