Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard admitted it was surreal to banish a series of near misses and complete a lifetime’s dream by lifting the Premier League trophy.
The Gunners have fallen short in the league for the past three seasons, but they ended their 22-year wait for a top-flight title, seeing off Manchester City’s challenge by seven points.
Arsenal’s final game of the season – a 2-1 triumph over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park – was a dead rubber with the championship already sewn up after City’s slip-up against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Triumphant manager Arteta led his title-winning team on to the pitch before Odegaard lifted the trophy – his first silverware since he joined the Gunners in 2021 – before the players celebrated with the visiting Arsenal fans. The coronation lasted for nearly two hours.
“It feels unreal, and it’s hard to put it into words,” said Odegaard. “I am just so proud, happy, and emotional.
“It’s a crazy, crazy feeling. Walking up towards the trophy and just realising everything was a mad feeling.
“I’m just so proud of everyone for the way we did it and everything we’ve been through, and to finally get over the line just means the world to everyone. This is what I’ve been dreaming about my whole life, to win the Premier League, and to be at this stage is unbelievable.”
Arsenal players and staff – including manager Mikel Arteta – toasted their title triumph at Mediterranean restaurant Bacchanalia in Mayfair on Sunday night.
Footage has emerged of Declan Rice dancing with the Premier League trophy and singing Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice Ice Baby’ – a song which has become synonymous with the England midfielder – as well as Louis Dunford performing ‘The Angel’ – better known as ‘North London Forever’, Arsenal’s pre-game anthem.
The celebrations could mark the start of a historic week for the Gunners who face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday.
Arsenal have never won the competition but will be riding high from securing their first title since 2004.
Regardless of the result in Saturday’s showpiece, an open-top bus parade will follow in north London for the Gunners the following day with a huge crowd anticipated.
Noni Madueke, who joined Arsenal for £52 million ($70 million) from Chelsea last summer, and has been selected in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup, said: “The focus now is on Budapest. We need to bring that second one home.
“I did imagine it would happen (winning the league), and that is why I came so quickly from where I was.
“It is going to be amazing, and God willing we get that Champions League and go to the World Cup and try and get that one, too.”