By DANJUMA AMODU
Gunners crowned champions after final-day win over West Ham; Haaland tops scoring charts with 27 despite City finale omission; Carrick confirmed as United boss
Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time since 2004, ending a 22-year title drought with a 3-1 final-day victory over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side held off a late charge from Manchester City to finish two points clear, sparking celebrations not seen in North London since Arsène Wenger’s Invincibles era. The triumph caps a season of remarkable consistency from the Gunners, who lost only three league games and sealed the title after City dropped points at Everton and Bournemouth in the run-in.
“Twenty-two years is a long time for a club like Arsenal. This is for the fans who never stopped believing. We’ve written our own history now.”
— Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Manager
The final weekend also marked the end of an era at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s trophy-laden ten-year reign concluded with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in his farewell match, as City missed out on what would have been a seventh league title under the Spaniard.
Despite the disappointment, City striker Erling Haaland still took the headlines individually. The Norwegian claimed his third Premier League Golden Boot in four seasons, finishing with 27 goals in 35 appearances. Haaland was omitted from City’s matchday squad on Sunday but had already done enough to top the charts.
“It’s a proud moment. Scoring goals is my job, but the team comes first. We’ll be back stronger next season.”
— Erling Haaland
The 25-year-old now joins Alan Shearer and Harry Kane as three-time winners of the award. Only Mohamed Salah and Thierry Henry have won it four times in the Premier League era.
Premier League Top 10 Scorers 2025/26:
Erling Haaland — Manchester City — 27 goals (3 pens), 8 assists 4e03
Igor Thiago — Brentford — 22 goals (8 pens), 1 assist
Antoine Semenyo — Bournemouth/Man City — 17 goals (1 pen), 4 assists
Ollie Watkins — Aston Villa — 16 goals, 3 assists
João Pedro — Chelsea — 15 goals, 5 assists
Morgan Gibbs-White — Nottingham Forest — 15 goals (1 pen), 4 assists
Viktor Gyökeres — Arsenal — 14 goals (3 pens), 1 assist
Dominic Calvert-Lewin — Leeds United — 14 goals (4 pens), 1 assist
Danny Welbeck — Brighton — 13 goals (1 pen), 1 assist
Eli Junior Kroupi — Bournemouth — 13 goals (2 pens), 0 assists
Haaland’s season was one of two halves. He netted 19 goals in his first 17 games but endured a rare seven-match stretch around the New Year with just one goal — a penalty against Brighton — as City won twice. He returned to form late, scoring the winner at Liverpool and netting against Arsenal in last month’s title showdown.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago was the surprise package in second. His 22-goal haul earned the Brazilian a World Cup call-up and confirmed his rise as one of the league’s most clinical finishers. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo finished third with 17 goals across a season that included a mid-campaign switch to City.
Elsewhere, Manchester United confirmed Michael Carrick as permanent head coach after his interim spell. The former midfielder stabilised United post-Ten Hag, guiding the club to fifth and Europa League qualification. His appointment makes him United’s third permanent manager in four seasons.
Arsenal’s title win signals a genuine shift in the Premier League power structure after a decade of City dominance. Arteta, a former Guardiola assistant, has built a young, fearless squad that blended defensive steel with attacking flair. For City, Guardiola’s exit closes a dynasty that delivered six titles, but Haaland’s Golden Boot proves their attacking threat remains. Carrick’s United job adds another layer to next season’s narrative, while Thiago’s emergence shows the league’s talent pool keeps deepening. The 2025/26 campaign will be remembered as the year the Invincibles’ ghost was finally laid to rest.
