Kenya Sport

Arsenal Ends 22-Year Wait to Win Premier League Title Again

Arsenal finally claimed their 14th Premier League title after a 22-year gap. Mikel Arteta's squad secured the championship following Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on May 19, 2026.

The team led the league for most of the 2025/26 season, despite stumbling in the final weeks and trailing by five points behind City in 2022/23, when City won a historic treble. Arsenal made heavy investments in new players during the offseason to push for the title again in 2023/24, nearly taking the race to the last day against City. The 2024/25 season seemed promising as City's form dipped, but Liverpool dominated that year while Arsenal fell short.

This time, Arsenal succeeded despite a challenging campaign, and fans in North London will be thrilled.

Looking Back at Arsenal's Previous Premier League Triumph

Their last league victory before 2025/26 was in the 2003/04 season. That team earned 90 points over 38 matches without losing a single game, an accomplishment famously dubbed "The Invincibles." Many regard Arsene Wenger’s squad as one of the greatest in Premier League history.

During that unbeaten run, Arsenal secured vital wins such as a 2-1 triumph over Liverpool at Anfield and a double victory over London rivals Chelsea. One of the most memorable moments came in a goalless draw at Manchester United in September 2003. Known as the "Battle of Old Trafford," it was marked by intense confrontations and multiple fights.

In that match, Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira was sent off late in the game, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy missed a last-minute penalty for United. Martin Keown celebrated wildly in front of Van Nistelrooy, sparking a brawl at the final whistle. The FA charged six Arsenal players and two from Manchester United with improper conduct afterward. This result symbolized the decline of United's dominance and fueled Arsenal’s unbeaten season, while United finished third.

From then on, Arsenal never looked back.

Arsenal’s Performance Since Their Last Premier League Title

After the Invincibles season, Arsenal consistently qualified for the Champions League, finishing mostly in the top four from 2004/05 through 2015/16 under Wenger, though they rarely threatened the title. Their journey since then reflects a steady climb back toward Europe's elite football.

  • 2004/05: 2nd place, 12 points behind
  • 2005/06: 4th place, 24 points behind
  • 2006/07: 4th place, 21 points behind
  • 2007/08: 3rd place, 4 points behind
  • 2008/09: 4th place, 18 points behind
  • 2009/10: 3rd place, 11 points behind
  • 2010/11: 4th place, 12 points behind
  • 2011/12: 3rd place, 19 points behind
  • 2012/13: 4th place, 16 points behind
  • 2013/14: 4th place, 7 points behind
  • 2014/15: 3rd place, 12 points behind
  • 2015/16: 2nd place, 10 points behind
  • 2016/17: 5th place, 18 points behind
  • 2017/18: 6th place, 37 points behind
  • 2018/19: 5th place, 28 points behind
  • 2019/20: 8th place, 43 points behind
  • 2020/21: 8th place, 25 points behind
  • 2021/22: 5th place, 24 points behind
  • 2022/23: 2nd place, 5 points behind
  • 2023/24: 2nd place, 2 points behind
  • 2024/25: 2nd place, 10 points behind
  • 2025/26: 1st place

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