The champagne was already on ice, but the corks were popped ahead of schedule...Manchester City fans ecstatic at title win

The champagne was already on ice, but the corks were popped 24 hours ahead of schedule. Arsenal's defeat to struggling Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening meant that Manchester City secured a seventh Premier League title, without a ball being kicked.

The Blues' loyal support will stroll down to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, safe in the knowledge that the Premier League will be presented to their skipper Ilkay Gundogan after the game, no matter the result. It is a much less heart stopping end to another storied season compared with the 2021-22 campaign, when City edged out Liverpool on the final day, but it is no less of an achievement.

A fifth league title in six years, even the most optimistic Blue could surely not have hoped to see City go on to dominate English football following Sheikh Mansour's takeover in 2008. After a few years of ups and downs following the regime change, which culminated in the unforgettable 2012 last gasp title, courtesy of Sergio Aguero, City have become a well-oiled winning machine.

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Scores of fans headed to the Etihad to celebrate after the final whistle had sounded in Nottingham. Most had been expecting City to confirm their title success tomorrow, but the Gunners' slip-up led to this impromptu gathering outside the Colin Bell stand.

A banner that had been prepared in advance of Sunday's game was unfurled ahead of schedule, while flares were let off, flags were displayed and a life size cardboard cut-out of Pep Guardiola was serenaded. It is the first leg in a potential treble, an unprecedented trophy haul only achieved by their fierce rivals Manchester United, following that incredible season in 1999.

But