The laughter has finally stopped for Arsenal’s critics. Following a grueling title race, Bukayo Saka proudly stated that the doubters are silenced as the Gunners clinched their first Premier League crown in more than two decades. The title was secured on Tuesday without Arsenal even kicking a ball; players and staff watched from London Colney as Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth left the Gunners with an unassailable four-point lead heading into the final weekend. Outside the Emirates, north London erupted as thousands of fans celebrated the historic moment with flares and fireworks.
It was sweet redemption for a side accused of collapsing under pressure after a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on April 19. Instead of folding, Arsenal rattled off four consecutive wins without letting in a single goal, while City dropped crucial points. The triumph validates the vision of Mikel Arteta, who took over a broken club in 2019. To motivate his players, Arteta had placed a blacked-out Premier League trophy at the training ground that remained dark until they won it all. Celebrating the moment, Saka was captured on defender Jurrien Timber’s Instagram story demanding: “Light that up.”
“Let me tell you something. Twenty-two years, 22 years. there was laughing, there was joking, they’re not laughing anymore,” the England international added. “Look, it is going to be shining, it is going to be shining bright.”
In an Instagram post, this time on Saka’s channel, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly was seen holding a champagne bottle.
Bukayo Saka declared that Arsenal’s critics are “not laughing at us anymore” as the club celebrated its first Premier League title in over 20 years. The squad and staff gathered at their London Colney training ground on Tuesday to watch rivals Manchester City draw 1-1 at Bournemouth—a result that handed the Gunners an uncatchable four-point lead ahead of Sunday’s final matches. As players rejoiced over their first league title since 2004, thousands of ecstatic fans gathered outside the Emirates Stadium to celebrate with fireworks and flares.
Having finished as runners-up for three straight seasons, Arsenal had faced harsh “bottling” accusations after a 2-1 loss to City on April 19. However, while City stumbled with draws against Everton and Bournemouth, Arsenal bounced back to win four straight matches with clean sheets. Manager Mikel Arteta, who inherited a struggling team in December 2019, had previously installed a blacked-out Premier League trophy at the training ground designed to light up only upon winning the title. In a video shared on Jurrien Timber’s Instagram, Saka could be heard shouting, “Light that up!”
Arsenal will officially lift the Premier League trophy on Sunday following their final season match away at Crystal Palace. However, their historic campaign might not stop there; the Gunners have a chance to secure an incredible double when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30, chasing their very first Champions League title.
