The new reality that emerged during Arsenal’s euphoric Premier League title party

This was his first as a champion.

It had been quite the takeover of Crystal Palace’s stadium. Chairman Steve Parish had even jokingly asked the Arsenal fans to “give us five minutes” for their own presentations. Fairly enough, Palace took about 25, just building up the anticipation.

So, when Martin Odegaard finally got to lift the trophy, players and staff made sure to maximise every moment. Kai Havertz even had to sit down for a few minutes. Chants of “set piece again, ole ole” became “champions again, ole ole”.

Miguel Delaney25 May 2026 13:59

Premier League 2025/26 awards including best player, moment, signing and team of the season

The Independent’s Sport team assess the season, including Newcastle and Liverpool’s thriller, Brentford overachieving and Man United finally finding a consistent goalkeeper

Jamie Braidwood25 May 2026 12:59

‘No more jokes!’ Bukayo Saka on ending Arsenal’s banter years with title

Bukayo Saka, a one-club man with Arsenal, on ending the banter years with a first title in 22 years

“I was in a dark place, obviously I know what you guys have done for the club and where this club has been in the past. At that very moment we very, very low and very far from the level that I believed Arsenal should be.

“Obviously I know from school, from social media…. what people say about Arsenal, how they laugh about Arsenal, in that moment I was just so sad. I just wanted to put it all out in a post, and that’s just what I felt at the moment.

“But it’s done, man. It’s no more jokes, man. It’s our time.”

Jamie Braidwood25 May 2026 11:59

Mohamed Salah serves perfect reminder of Liverpool legacy in tearful Anfield farewell

Now the reign of Liverpool’s Egyptian king is over. But if Mohamed Salah abdicated, he signed off first in style and then in tears. Not with the goal he surely wanted, though he was inches away from a 258th and last for Liverpool, but with a reminder the third highest scorer in their history was more than just a scorer, and then an illustration of how much he and they have meant to each other.

A moving goodbye was an imperfect one, with neither a win nor a goal for Salah, but it was laced with a touch of class. A cross that served as a reminder he has more than a century of assists for Liverpool showed that, while Salah was sometimes accused of selfishness – for his words off the field and his shots on it – he made plenty of goals for others.

Richard Jolly 25 May 2026 10:59

Mikel Arteta admits to ‘doubts’ over whether he was the man to lead Arsenal

Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports, admits there were doubts over whether he was the right man to lead Arsenal and help them take the final step…

“I think we showed an incredible connection, an incredible commitment, and an incredible courage. Everything that was around us has fueled the desire that we have to go and do it and look at that.

“There are doubts… I think doubts and an understanding that maybe… OK, I’ve been able to take them all the way here, but maybe somebody else has to come and do the final job. But thank God. I feel a lot of joy and honestly a little bit of relief.

“I can control certain things, but there are many things that are out of your hands, and that’s why you need the best people around you. Sometimes when you doubt yourself, to have people as well next to you to say, no, we’re going to do it and we’re going to do it with you.”

Jamie Braidwood25 May 2026 09:59

How West Ham can cleanse themselves of rot after damning Premier League relegation

Billed as a final day that could produce one of the biggest shocks in English football history, it was all too painfully predictable for West Ham.

They required something of a miracle to retain their top-flight status – wins on two north London fronts, situated within five miles of each other. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side completed their part of the assignment. But at no point on this sweltering Sunday afternoon were West Ham out of the drop zone, let alone within less than two points of safety.

Will Castle 25 May 2026 08:59

Martin Odegaard: ‘We were so strong mentally’

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, speaking to Sky Sports after lifting the Premier League trophy:

“A lot of hard work behind there. So emotional but a beautiful, beautiful day Amazing achievement. You always have the doubt and the fear that you’re not going to make it, but we have that belief in ourselves and even in the tougher situations.

“ I think we really, really stick together and probably even more in those situations, you know, so we had that belief and we know what we can. We just kept on fighting and we got there in the end.

“We were so strong mentally. After that [Man City defeat] that we said to each other we’re still going to do it, it’s not over. I think the belief was even stronger after that game, and I think we’ve shown that the last few games on the pitch to get over the line.

Jamie Braidwood25 May 2026 07:59

Tottenham revel in survival – now they must learn the lessons of a nightmare season

When the full-time whistle blew, James Maddison bent over on his haunches gasping for breath. Kevin Danso collapsed in a heap. Roberto De Zerbi ran onto the pitch like he’d won a trophy before remembering himself and turning back to shake hands with David Moyes. All around them, Tottenham fans erupted with relief.

This could have been Spurs’s lowest ebb, on an afternoon when relegation loomed and smirking Arsenal fans passed them on the Victoria Line. Instead this was a day of shared joy and collective catharsis. In those lost weeks under Igor Tudor, Spurs fans were resigned to their fate; just a few games later, the nightmare is over, for now at least.

Lawrence Ostlere25 May 2026 06:59

Arsenal are champions because they mastered the Premier League’s undeniable truth

This season’s Premier League rewarded efficiency and punished waste underlined by Arsenal’s first title in 22 years and West Ham’s relegation

Miguel Delaney 25 May 2026 05:59

Inside Arsenal’s emotional title celebrations – and Mikel Arteta’s plans to ‘unlock’ a new era

n those long minutes before the final whistle at Bournemouth, some of Mikel Arteta’s players had to leave the room for a few moments to themselves. It was that tense. They were feeling every second of it.

When Manchester City’s 1-1 draw was finally confirmed, there was euphoria – but some in the room noticed something else in the reaction. It was pure release. There were guttural roars as players simply let everything out.

Staff members immediately burst into tears.

Jack Rathborn25 May 2026 03:59