Arsenal end 22-year drought with Premier League title parade in north London
The celebration follows a Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, with captain Martin Odegaard leading the squad on a five-mile bus route through the capital.
Arsenal players, staff, and supporters marked the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years with a five-mile bus parade through north London on Sunday. The men’s team, who finished seven points clear of Manchester City to claim their 14th English championship, were joined by the women’s side, who won the Women’s Champions Cup in February. The event took place one day after the men’s team lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
The two-and-a-half-hour route started and finished at the Emirates Stadium, with hundreds of thousands of fans lining the streets. The first bus carried the men’s squad, while the women’s side, who became world champions in February, rode on the third bus. The remaining buses were filled with club staff and family members. A large tifo reading 'The Arsenal - These streets are our own', originally unveiled during the November north London derby against Tottenham, was displayed again along the parade route.
Captain Martin Odegaard, the first Arsenal captain to lead the club to Premier League glory since Patrick Vieira in 2004, paraded the trophy at the front of the bus. Midfielder Declan Rice mocked critics regarding set-pieces by chanting 'set-piece again, ole, ole' and sang 'Ice, Ice Baby' after Ben White played the track. Defender Riccardo Calafiori initiated a loud 'Arsenal, Academy' chant, while co-chairman Josh Kroenke was seen chanting and encouraging crowd noise.
Nineteen-year-old academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly described the title win as the 'start of a new era' and stated the team is 'not done'. He acknowledged the disappointment of the Champions League defeat but said the experience would add fuel to the fire. Gabriel wrote on Instagram expressing pride in the team despite the heartbreak, thanking fans for their support every step of the way.
The victory ends a period where Arsenal had finished second in the Premier League in each of the previous three seasons. The triumph occurred just one day after the men’s team suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, failing to win what would have been a first European title. The celebration highlighted the dual success of the club’s men’s and women’s sides, cementing a significant moment in the club’s history.
