For Arsenal fans, it has been a very, very long wait to celebrate winning the Premier League again. So they made sure Tuesday was a special night.
Supporters had gathered outside Emirates Stadium and nearby pubs while rivals Manchester City played Bournemouth, needing a win to keep the title race alive.
In the end, Pep Guardiola’s side could only draw – confirming Arsenal as champions for the first time in 22 years.
As the full-time whistle went on the south coast, there was an explosion of cheer in pubs across north London as Arsenal fans celebrated a moment they felt, after recent title near misses, might never come.
There were celebrations also at the Gunners’ training ground.
That is where the Arsenal squad had gathered for the evening and, much as in the pubs, the final whistle was greeted by huge celebrations. Players and staff danced and hugged while chanting: “Campeones, Campeones, Ole Ole Ole!”
Last month, Arsenal captain Declan Rice was seen insisting “it’s not done” after the Gunners lost to Manchester City. But on Tuesday, with the title race decided, he posted a picture on social media of players celebrating, captioned: “It’s done.”
The title win came in Mikel Arteta’s seventh year in charge, and underlined just what can be achieved if a manager is given time.
“Mikel Arteta’s been there a long period of time. The best gift you can give a good manager is time,” former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Yes you can give them hundreds of millions of pounds but you have to mould that money into a team, into a dressing room, a winning side.
“You give a good manager time? There’s the proof.”