LONDON, United Kingdom — Tens of thousands of Arsenal supporters cast aside the disappointment of their midweek European heartbreak to line the streets of north London on Sunday, celebrating the club’s first Premier League title in over two decades.
A sea of red-and-white shirts engulfed the parade route as fans cheered, waved flags, and set off flares to catch a glimpse of their heroes, who showcased the Premier League trophy from the top deck of an open-top bus.
The jubilant celebrations marked the end of a historic domestic campaign, which saw the Gunners crowned champions of England for the first time since their famous 2004 ‘Invincibles’ season.
Joy Replaces European Heartbreak
The carnival atmosphere in London provided a welcome distraction for fans following an agonizing defeat in Europe just 24 hours earlier.
Arsenal had been on the verge of a historic double but suffered penalty shootout heartbreak against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, as the French side retained their Champions League crown.
Despite the continental disappointment, supporters turned out in droves, with some climbing trees, traffic lights, and rooftops to see manager Mikel Arteta and his squad.
“I’ve waited a long time for this,” 67-year-old supporter Steven Turner, who attended the parade with his daughter, told the AFP news agency. “I was a little bit disappointed and sad yesterday. But they played very well. I’m still very happy to be here—very proud of the team.”
A Dominant Domestic Campaign
While the European final did not go to script, Arsenal’s domestic triumph had already been secured with games to spare.
The North London club was officially confirmed as Premier League champions on 19 May, following a relentless season where they spent 238 days at the top of the table. Their coronation was mathematically sealed when their closest rivals, Manchester City, were held to a draw away at Bournemouth.
The joyous, good-natured scenes in London stood in stark contrast to developments across the English Channel overnight. In France, celebrations marking PSG’s Champions League victory descended into widespread unrest, resulting in hundreds of arrests after clashes with police, vandalism, and looting.
For Arsenal, however, the day was defined purely by local pride, closing a chapter on 22 years of waiting to rule English football once again.
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