Arsenal finally ended their 22-year wait to reclaim the Premier League title on Tuesday, after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth.
Read more: Arsenal Clinch First Premier League Title in 22 YearsCity needed a win to keep their title hopes alive, but the high-flying Cherries extended their unbeaten run to 17 league games—a remarkable streak that has sealed European football for the club for the first time in their history.
After three consecutive seasons as runners-up, Mikel Arteta’s side have at last crossed the finish line, ending a six-year spell without silverware.
Arsenal moved to the brink of glory with a tense 1-0 victory over already-relegated Burnley on Monday, opening up a five-point gap over City. The Gunners, who have set the pace throughout much of the campaign, have responded superbly since their defeat to City last month, stringing together four straight league wins without conceding a goal.
Just two days after sealing a domestic cup double with an FA Cup triumph against Chelsea, City were rocked by reports that manager Pep Guardiola will step down at the end of the season after ten years in charge.
Guardiola’s latest Wembley triumph brought him his 20th trophy with City, but he won’t be able to add to his six Premier League titles when Aston Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday, likely for his final match at the helm.
Guardiola had warned that fatigue could be a factor against a determined Bournemouth side still chasing Champions League qualification. As things stand, Bournemouth have clinched a Europa League spot by guaranteeing at least a seventh-place finish, with a chance at Champions League football if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Wednesday’s Europa League final.
City fans, sensing the end of an era, chanted “One more year, Guardiola” at the Vitality Stadium, hoping to persuade their legendary manager to see out his contract. But the players couldn’t deliver the send-off he deserved. Antoine Semenyo had a goal disallowed for offside in a subdued first half, before Bournemouth took the lead in the 39th minute with a stunning strike from Eli Junior Kroupi—his 13th of the season, setting a new record for a teenage debutant in the Premier League.
City’s best chance to equalise came seconds into the second half, as Nico O’Reilly was denied by Djordje Petrovic. The visitors’ title hopes faded as the match progressed, with Guardiola watching on anxiously.
After seemingly taking control of the title race by beating Arsenal last month, City had handed back the initiative with a 3-3 draw at Everton. Now, Guardiola is poised to leave Manchester having failed to secure back-to-back league titles for the first time in his glittering managerial career.
Rayan and David Brooks both struck the woodwork as Bournemouth came close to a famous victory in Andoni Iraola’s final home match in charge. Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time equaliser was not enough to salvage City’s title ambitions, though it proved crucial for Liverpool, who now have a three-point cushion and a six-goal advantage over Bournemouth in the race for a Champions League spot as the season heads into its dramatic conclusion.
