Arsenal are the Champions of England, ending a 22-year wait. The last triumph came in 2003/24, the “Invincible” season, and now, Mikel Arteta writes his name in the history books. Five matches were decisive to their title win. Yankee Scores dives into these matches that turned the dream into a reality.
Match 1: The Statement
Every title run begins with a moment that signals intent, and for Arsenal, it came on opening day at Old Trafford. Coming off an underwhelming 2024/25 season, the Gunners needed to show they were ready to fight again.
The game kicked off with a Riccardo Calafiori’s 13‑minute header from a corner kick to gave Arsenal the lead, but from there Manchester United dominated possession and chances. Yet Arsenal refused to break. David Raya, the Player of the Match produced a heroic display, making seven saves to preserve the advantage.
It wasn’t the free‑flowing football Arteta’s side is known for, but it was a gritty, ugly and determined performance. Holding on for a 1‑0 win away from home sent a clear message: this Arsenal team had the resilience to grind out results, even when the style wasn’t perfect.
Match 2: The Setbacks
Despite running the show since August, Arsenal’s first real scare came at Molineux on February 18, 2026. Wolverhampton Wanderers, with just one win in 26 games, looked like easy prey. Bukayo Saka struck in the 5th minute, and Piero Hincapié smashed home a second just after halftime to seemingly put the Gunners in cruise control.
But Wolves refused to fold. Hugo Bueno curled in a stunning strike to cut the deficit, and deep into stoppage time at the 94th minute, 19‑year‑old substitute Edozie saw his shot deflect off Riccardo Calafiori and into the net. Suddenly, Arsenal’s comfortable lead was gone, and the match ended 2-2.
Instead of stretching their advantage to seven points, Arsenal’s cushion over Manchester City shrank to five. For a team haunted by three straight second‑place finishes, the draw felt like history threatening to repeat itself.
In April, they would go on to lose 2-1 at the Emirates against Bournemouth, before Manchester City closed the gap with a 2-1 win at the Etihad, and with a game in hand, the pressure was suddenly back on Arsenal.
Match 3: The Comeback
After the setbacks against Wolves and Bournemouth, Arsenal needed a response to steady their title charge. That came at the Emirates against Newcastle United. Eberechi Eze struck in the ninth minute, curling home from beyond the 18‑yard box after a cleverly worked corner routine that pundits praised as one of the season’s best. It proved to be the only goal of the game.
After leading the league since August, the Gunners were eventually knocked off the top spot in midweek by Manchester City, but Eze’s ninth‑minute finish restored them to the summit. It wasn’t a dominant display, Newcastle created chances through Sandro Tonali and Yoane Wissa, but Arsenal’s defensive resilience and David Raya’s sharp saves kept them ahead.
Grinding out this narrow victory was about more than points. It showed Arsenal could handle pressure, reclaim the lead, and prove their title credentials when the race tightened. The win moved them three points clear of City.
Match 4: The Domination, Falter
May delivered one of the most decisive swings in the title race. Arsenal, under pressure to keep their lead, produced a commanding 3-0 win over Fulham at the Emirates. Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyökeres combined brilliantly, Saka’s first assist for Viktor, trading goals and assists, before Gyökeres added a towering header to complete his brace. The Gunners were in control throughout, with Riccardo Calafiori even rattling the crossbar as Fulham struggled to lay a glove on them.
Meanwhile, Manchester City faltered at Goodison Park. Despite leading at halftime, Guardiola’s side collapsed in a chaotic 13‑minute spell, conceding three times to Everton. A late rally from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku salvaged a 3-3 draw, but the damage was done.
Arsenal were ruthless and clinical, City wasteful and vulnerable. That weekend widened the gap to five points and shifted momentum firmly back to north London. For the first time, the title felt truly within Arsenal’s grasp.
Match 5: The Nail on the coffin
The final twist in the title race came at the Vitality Stadium. Arsenal had done their job, but Manchester City still had a chance to keep the pressure alive. Anything less than victory against Bournemouth, however, would hand the crown to the Gunners.
City never looked convincing. Junior Kroupi’s curling strike just before halftime put Bournemouth ahead, and the hosts could have doubled their lead with a flurry of missed chances. Erling Haaland’s stoppage‑time equaliser set up a frantic finish, but City could not find the winner they desperately needed.
The 1-1 draw sealed Arsenal’s destiny. After 22 years of waiting, the Gunners were champions of England once more. Bournemouth’s resilience was the nail on the coffin of City’s challenge, and the spark that ignited celebrations across north London. For Mikel Arteta’s side, it was the moment history finally turned in their favour.
