Champions Arsenal end league season on a high at Palace
BROTHERS IN ARMS: Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino celebrate. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
Manager Mikel Arteta finally got his hands on the Premier League trophy after masterminding a comfortable win with a makeshift side against an Oliver Glasner side with little to play for.
After three seasons as runner-up, glory was confirmed when Manchester City dropped points on Tuesday night.
‘Champions again,’ blasted out the Arsenal fans after months and years of being taunted with ‘second again’ by rival supporters.
So, it was a fitting victory party in the sunshine for the Arsenal fans and players as they lifted the trophy they had most coveted since they last won it as Invincibles in 2004.
In the end, they did it by a comfortable-looking seven points.
This season finale was as close as a Premier League game can get to a testimonial match, with a party atmosphere to go with it.
Baking 30C+ heat since mid-morning in a cloudless south London – the players had drinks breaks to help cope - as both sets of fans kicked off the match with a chorus of ‘we’re on our way; we’re on our way’ in anticipation of their European finals this week. Palace go to Leipzig on Wednesday to play Rayo Vallecano as heavy favourites to win the Europa Conference League and a first European piece of silverware for the club.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have a few more days to prepare for the Champions League, the only major trophy they have not won, as they face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest this Saturday night.
The starting line-ups reflected the priorities of both managers, as most starters for each side were either on the bench or not involved at all.
That is why Gabriel Jesus was Arsenal captain for what is likely to be his last Premier League appearance for the club. The Brazil international, a title winner with Manchester City before he helped instil a winning mentality at Arsenal, is poised to rejoin his boyhood club Palmeiras this summer.
And, unfortunately for him and Arsenal, the No. 9 showed why he is no longer a starter under Arteta when he missed two one-on-one chances with only keeper Dean Henderson. Gabriel Marttinelli also failed to deliver when put through on goal.
At the other end, it took a great save from stand-in Arsenal keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to deny Palace’s Daniel Muñoz scoring from a header.
Meanwhile, local hero Ebere Eze, last here as an FA Cup winning star for Palace received a standing ovation every time from the Palace supporters every time he warmed up on the touchline.
When Jesus did score, three minutes before half-time, it was with his trickiest opportunity as he struck past Henderson with a first-time right-foot shot from a smart Gabriel Martinelli through ball.
Martinelli, another Brazilian who could leave this summer for the right offer, sparked Arsenal’s second too. His 48th minute corner was headed back from the far post by half-time sub Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke volleyed into the back of the net.
‘Campeones’ sang the Arsenal fans who had not wilted in the heat amid reports the bars serving the 3,000 away supporters had run out of water.
Determined his players would not suffer too long in the heat, Arteta swiftly made more changes including withdrawing teenager Max Dowman, who had become the youngest player to start a Premier League.
Dowman, who has played five times in the top flight for Arsenal, became the youngest starter at the age of 16 years and 144 days. He was the youngest Premier League player when he made his debut in August 2025, at 15 years and 235 days old. He played well too.
He was part of the Arsenal side to receive a guard of honour before kick-off and then pick up his medal along with all of those who made a minimum of five league appearances qualify for a medal.
Palace sub striker Jean-Phillippe Mateta pulled one back late on for Palace, who still celebrated the end of their season like they had won a trophy too. Maybe they will on Wednesday night.
Crystal Palace – Henderson 6, Munoz 5 (Mitchell 46), Clyne 6, Lerma 6, Riad 6, Cardines 6, Kamada 5 (Wharton 46, Guessand 62), Hughes 5, Devenny 6, Sarr 5 (Pino 46), Strand Larsen 5. Subs: Benitez, Lacroix, Canvot, Johnson, Mateta.
Arsenal: Kepa 7, Mosquera 6, Norgaard 7 (Havertz 46), Hincapie 7, Calafiori 6 (Gabriel 46), Zubimendi 6, Lewis-Skelly 7, Dowman 7 (Merino 62), Madueke 7 (Gyokeres 83), Jesus 6 (Eze 75), Martinelli 7. Subs: Setford, Saka, Odegaard , Rice Ref: Farai Hallam 6
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