LONDON, May 20 — Bukayo Saka said Arsenal’s critics were “not laughing at us anymore” as the club celebrated winning their first Premier League title in over 20 years.
LONDON, May 20 — Bukayo Saka said Arsenal’s critics were “not laughing at us anymore” as the club celebrated winning their first Premier League title in over 20 years.
Players and staff at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground watched on Tuesday as title rivals Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth. The result secured an unassailable four-point lead for Arsenal at the top of the table with one match still remaining.
Celebrations also broke out at the Emirates Stadium, where thousands of fans gathered with fireworks and flares to mark the club’s first league triumph since 2004.
Arsenal, who had finished runners-up for the previous three seasons, had faced criticism for “bottling” their title challenges, particularly after a 2-1 loss to City in April.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side responded strongly, winning their next four matches without conceding a goal while City dropped further points against Everton and Bournemouth.
The victory also marked a major milestone for Arteta, who joined an elite group of individuals to win the English title both as a player and manager. He had previously installed a Premier League trophy at London Colney that would light up only when Arsenal secured the championship.
In a video shared by Jurrien Timber, Saka was heard saying: “Let me tell you something. Twenty-two years… there was laughing, there was joking. They’re not laughing anymore.”
Youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly also joined the celebrations, joking on social media: “They called us bottlers. And now we’re holding the bottle.”
Former manager Arsène Wenger, who guided Arsenal to three Premier League titles including the unbeaten “Invincibles” season in 2004, congratulated the team, saying: “You did it. Champions go on when others stop. This is your time.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also praised Arteta and his squad, offering congratulations on their achievement.
Arsenal will lift the trophy after their final league match against Crystal Palace on Sunday, with the chance to complete a potential double when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30. — AFP
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