Arsenal crowned Premier League champions after Man City draw with Bournemouth
Manchester City's Erling Haaland appears dejected after the final whistle. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
ANDONI IRAOLA will never have to buy a drink again in the red side of north London or in the beachside bars of Bournemouth following a seismic night at the Vitality Stadium that saw Arsenal crowned Premier League champions.
Junior Kroupi’s stunning first-half strike ended Manchester City’s hopes of a seventh title in 10 years under Pep Guardiola and ensured the Gunners finish top of the pile for the first time in 22 years.
A late Erling Haaland goal was a late consolation for City, who needed three points to ensure the outcome of the season went to the final game of the season.
With Guardiola set to walk away from the Etihad Stadium after Sunday’s season finale against Aston Villa following a decade of dominance that has seen him win 20 major trophies, City must start life without the mighty Catalan looking for a first title in three years.
Iraola will also depart after the Cherries face Nottingham Forest and will leave the club, who 17 years ago only just survived relegation to the National League, playing European football for the first time in their history next season.
It was the perfect leaving present from the Basque who has served the club so brilliantly for three years – and there is also an outside chance of Champions League football next season if Villa win the Europa League and other results go in their favour.
It would be a mighty achievement for a team with a stadium that holds just over 11,000 to be dining at the top table of Europe’s elite next season – but there is no doubt it would be thoroughly deserved on the back of this magnificent display.
A high-quality opening 45 minutes saw chances at both ends of the pitch in the early exchanges with Bournemouth’s energetic attack asking plenty of questions of the City defence.
Ex-Cherry Antoine Semenyo, who was given a rapturous reception from the home fans on his return to the club for the first time since his £60 million move in January, had the ball in the back of the net after 10 minutes only to be adjudged narrowly offside as he latched on to Erling Halland’s pass.
“One more year Guardiola” chanted the City fans following that chance, but the visiting fans were silenced when Evanilson somehow chipped over the bar from close range after being teed up by Marcus Tavernier.
With the tireless Alex Scott and the energetic Adrien Truffert causing havoc down the City right, it was no surprise when Kroupi opened the scoring just before half-time with a sumptuous finish.
The 19-year-old became the most prolific teenager in the Premier League era with his 13th goal of the season after bending the ball into the top corner following a free-flowing move that saw Truffert pick out the unmarked Frenchman.
Bournemouth have lost 16 of their 17 Premier League games against Manchester City, but now boast a 17-game unbeaten run – the longest of any club in Europe’s major leagues.
They continued to push hard in the second period with Gianluigi Donnarumma using every inch of his huge frame to push away a goalbound Evanilson effort before Kroupi shot carelessly over following another swashbuckling move from the Cherries. Teenage Brazilian Rayan shot hit the outside of the post after City failed to clear a corner while substitute David Brooks also struck the base of the woodwork after being put clear by Scott.
City, second-best for much of the game struck deep into injury time to no doubt add to the jitters felt from Arsenal fans, when Haaland lashed home deep into stoppage time but it was too little too late and no more panic of the streets of north London.
Petrovic; Truffert, Senesi, Hill, Smith; Adams, Scott; Tavernier, Rayan (Brooks 83), Kroupi (Kluivert 76); Evanilson (Unai 90)
Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Kovacic (Foden 55), Rodri; Silva (Cherki 55), Semenyo (Savinho 55) , Doku (Marmoush 75), Haaland.
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