LONDON: Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy after celebrating their first game as champions with a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side clinched their first English title for 22 years on Tuesday when second-placed Manchester City drew at Bournemouth. In action for the first time since the celebrations of their long-awaited triumph, the Gunners took the lead through Gabriel Jesus late in the first half at Selhurst Park. Noni Madueke scored Arsenal’s second goal after the interval to ensure the champions ended the league campaign with 26 wins from 38 games. Since losing at City on April 19 in a game that appeared to have tilted the balance of power in their rivals’ favor, Arsenal have reeled off five successive league victories to finish seven points above Pep Guardiola’s team. Once the match was over, the main event could take place as Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard got his hands on the trophy after medals were presented to Arteta and his squad. Red confetti and fireworks exploded into the air as he hoisted the silverware, while Arsenal’s stars sprayed champagne in front of thousands of Gunners fans in the Arthur Wait Stand. Arteta was tossed into the air by his players, while Arsenal’s United States-based owner Stan Kroenke and his son Josh had carried the trophy onto the pitch for the presentation ceremony. Those ecstatic supporters kept the party going, singing songs of praise for the champions, waving inflatable replicas of the trophy and joining the players in a rendition of club anthem ‘North London forever’. Raising the trophy away from the Emirates Stadium couldn’t detract from the glorious moment for Arteta and his players, who will display the silverware to many more of their
