Arsenal Players in Dawn Celebrations After Winning Premier League

London: Arsenal players were photographed celebrating with fans at the Emirates Stadium at 5am on Wednesday after clinching the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber were photographed in an Instagram post by teammate Eberechi Eze in the early hours.

Thousands of fans gathered in front of the stadium when Manchester City, needing a win to keep the title race alive, played at Bournemouth.

The crowd grew as Bournemouth took the lead and although City equalized in injury time, the draw meant the title would go to North London.

Some fans celebrated the celebration by lighting fireworks and torches.

The players hosted a party with coach Mikel Arteta at London’s Colney training ground and then took the celebrations to the Emirates Stadium.

Many of the players said the championship win was particularly welcome as they had finished second in the last three seasons.

Saka said Arsenal’s critics were “not laughing at us anymore”.

“Let me tell you something. 22 years, 22 years. There was laughter, there was joking, they don’t laugh anymore,” the England international added.

In another video posted by Saka, 19-year-old defender Myles Lewis-Skelly waves a champagne bottle.

“They called us bottlers,” said Lewis-Skelly, who came through the club’s academy. “And now we’re holding the bottle.”

Arsenal fans gathered around the stadium, leaning out of car windows and waving flags.

Supporter George Owusu-Afriyie, 32, said: “It doesn’t feel real. It’s like I’ll wake up tomorrow and say ‘yeah, it was a dream but we did it’. We really did it. Wow. It’s going to be the best summer ever.”

Julia Szumilas, 20, told how people flocked to the stadium after Manchester City fell short.

“Everybody was running from all the bars. So we started running here. (Taking) the bikes, we ran, we drove their cars… It was crazy.”

French coach Arsene Wenger, who was on duty when Arsenal won their last championship in 2004, addressed the players in a video published on the club’s social media channels.

“You’ve done it! Champions continue when others stop. This is your time. Go on now and enjoy every moment,” said Wenger.

Striker Ian Wright, who scored 185 goals for Arsenal and was a member of the team that secured the domestic double in 1998, was attacked by fans while celebrating outside the Emirates.

The trophy will be officially presented to Arteta’s team after the final match of the season at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

They will then turn their attention to winning the Champions League title for the first time when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest on May 30.