Inside Arsenal title party as team drink beer and champagne and chief crowd surfs | Football | Sport
Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly toast Arsenal’s title triumph with champagne (Image: Instagram:@arsenal/@bukayosaka87)
The Arsenal squad enjoyed their Premier League triumph together at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Tuesday evening. Players, staff and coaches assembled to watch Manchester City’s encounter against Bournemouth, hoping for a slip-up from their rivals. The Cherries secured a draw against Pep Guardiola’s outfit at the Vitality Stadium, confirming Mikel Arteta’s side as the new champions of England.
As the final whistle sounded, the gathered squad at Arsenal‘s training base descended into absolute chaos. “Championes, championes, ole ole ole,” sang the Arsenal staff, players, and coaches, as they revelled in the title victory together. It marks the first occasion that the Gunners have secured the Premier League since 2003/04, when they completed the entire domestic season without defeat.
The triumphant scene was documented on video by the Arsenal social media team, with squad members leaping about in an enormous huddle when City’s stalemate at Bournemouth was sealed.
William Saliba perched on a chair with his arms raised skyward while Gabriel broke away from the huddle briefly with his hands clasped to his head in astonishment.
An elated Declan Rice, who departed West Ham in a transaction worth £105million for occasions such as this, could be spotted at the heart of the massive huddle with his phone held high.
The midfielder subsequently posted on Instagram: “I told you all.. it’s done.” The likes of Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino, both currently sidelined through injury, appeared perfectly fit as they leapt about jubilantly alongside their team-mates.
Eberechi Eze seized the moment to clamber atop a chair, while footage later shared by Timber appeared to capture sporting director Andrea Berta crowd-surfing across the room.
Arteta said in a video released by Arsenal: “We made history again, together. I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that is involved in this football club. Let’s enjoy the moment.”
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William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori celebrate Arsenal’s title triumph (Image: Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes celebrate together (Image: Getty Images)
On Monday evening, following the victory over Burnley, Arteta addressed supporters at the Emirates Stadium. The Spaniard said: “It’s an absolute joy to witness the transformation and the contribution each of you have had to turn this place into the most beautiful place to enjoy and play our football games.
“This is the soul of this football club and each of you contribute to that. So make sure that every time you step into this stadium you face the responsibility now to match keep it at this standards because it makes such a difference for us and all the players.
“I want to thank you all, and I want see you soon in Selhurst Park and for sure in Budapest as well. But please [thank] the protagonists, the amazing group of players and the staff.”
Captain Martin Odegaard also had words for the supporters. The Arsenal skipper said: “Really proud. I think it has been an amazing season, so far. We have one big one left here, and then the Champions League obviously. And we want to take the trophies home.
“It has been amazing. Just a little bit to go now, and we are going to give it our all. We have to keep going. I can promise you all that we give everything we have every single day.
The Arsenal players celebrate with a cardboard cut-out of the trophy (Image: Getty Images)
The Arsenal players pose with a cardboard cut-out of the trophy (Image: Getty Images)
“We are going to keep going until the very end. With your support, we are going to be ready. The fans have been amazing – I think especially these last few home games, arriving at the stadium and seeing everything outside.
“And the atmosphere inside is amazing. So let’s get ready for the last bit – and thank you so much.”
Moments later, when questioned by journalists about whether he intended to watch Manchester City‘s encounter against Bournemouth, the Arsenal manager responded: “I don’t know how long I’m going to watch it.
“I will be there in front of the TV, but I don’t know how much I’ll be able to watch, I think. That’s the reality.”
Arsenal will claim the Premier League trophy following their fixture against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
