Relive the dramatic timeline of Arsenal's Premier League title win, from a £250m summer spree to crucial stoppage-time winners and VAR drama.
The 2025-26 Premier League season will be remembered as the year Arsenal finally broke the Manchester City stranglehold, navigating a path filled with last-minute heroics and tactical evolution. After several years of heartbreak, Mikel Arteta oversaw a campaign where depth and resilience became the Gunners' primary weapons.
Arsenal add depth in summer spree
Following Liverpool's dominant title win the previous year, Arsenal invested heavily to ensure they would not be outpaced in a battle of attrition. The club added eight new faces, including the £64m headline signing of Viktor Gyokeres and the technical reinforcement of Martin Zubimendi, while seeing only Thomas Partey depart from the senior core.
Martinelli equalises to deny City
In only the fifth week of the season, Gabriel Martinelli struck a 93rd-minute equalizer against City that fundamentally shifted the momentum of the race. While Pep Guardiola had attempted to park the bus with a defensive masterclass, the combined impact of substitutes Eberechi Eze and Martinelli snatched a point that proved decisive eight months later.
Gabriel completes late turnaround at Newcastle
History was against Arsenal at St James' Park, but they overcame a hostile atmosphere and an overturned penalty to secure a vital win. After Mikel Merino leveled the scores, defender Gabriel rose in the 96th minute to nod home a corner, sparking wild celebrations as the Gunners capitalized on a Liverpool slip-up the day before.
Eze hat-trick sees off Spurs as Gunners go six clear
November's North London derby served as a statement of intent, with Arsenal racing into a three-goal lead by the start of the second half. Eberechi Eze, who had been a summer target for other clubs, justified his price tag with his first senior hat-trick, moving the Gunners six points clear of their rivals after only 12 games.
Derby defeat compounds City's poor start to 2026
Manchester City's pursuit faltered significantly at the turn of the year, punctuated by a demoralizing 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. This loss capped a winless four-game run for Guardiola's side in January, allowing Arsenal to build a substantial seven-point cushion at the summit of the table.
Gabriel escapes red card for 'headbutt' on Haaland
The tension boiled over in April's high-stakes meeting at the Etihad when Gabriel and Erling Haaland squared up in the closing stages. Gabriel appeared to move his head toward the striker, but Haaland's refusal to go to ground likely saved the Arsenal man from a three-match ban that would have devastated their defensive line.
Guehi mishap costs City at Everton
Manchester City's momentum was halted at Goodison Park by a catastrophic error from defender Marc Guehi, whose under-hit backpass allowed Everton to equalize. Despite a late rally to secure a -3 draw, the two dropped points handed the advantage back to Arsenal during the final stretch of the season.
Raya's vital save and VAR controversy
The title was nearly jeopardized at West Ham, where David Raya produced a miraculous point-blank save from Matheus Fernandes to keep the scores level. Following a late Leandro Trossard goal, Arsenal survived an injury-time Hammers equalizer that was controversially ruled out by VAR for a foul on Raya, securing the points that effectively sealed the trophy.
