The curtain has fallen on the 2025-26 Premier League season. May 24, 2026 delivered drama, farewells, and a title confirmed : Arsenal are champions for the first time in 22 years. Here is everything that happened on the final day, with live scores, team news, and all the key reactions.
Final day results and Premier League standings
Ten months of football came down to one Sunday. Six stadiums, simultaneous kick-offs, and a table that nobody dared predict at the start of August. The final day produced upsets, tears, and one of the most emotional title clinches English football has seen in years.
Here are the final day scores from across the Premier League :
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Crystal Palace vs Arsenal | 1–2 |
| Man City vs Aston Villa | 1–2 |
| Sunderland vs Chelsea | 2–1 |
| Liverpool vs Brentford | 1–1 |
| Brighton vs Man Utd | 0–3 |
| West Ham vs Leeds | 3–0 |
Arsenal finished with their first league title since 2004, ending the longest drought among traditional top-six clubs. Aston Villa secured fourth place with 65 points, beating Manchester City 2–1 at the Etihad — Unai Emery’s side finishing above the champions-elect of recent years. West Ham, despite beating Leeds 3–0, could not escape relegation. The result elsewhere sealed their fate, and Nuno Espirito Santo was left apologising to fans who gave everything until the final whistle.
Sunderland’s 2–1 victory over Chelsea confirmed their place in European football next season. Regis Le Bris has built something genuinely remarkable at the Stadium of Light — a collective identity that most Premier League clubs would envy. Chelsea interim boss Callum McFarlane acknowledged the defeat bluntly : “Sunderland deserved to win the game.”
Arsenal title confirmed : Arteta’s journey and the Gunners’ historic moment
For Arsenal fans, 22 years without a league title is not a statistic — it is a lived experience. Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle at Selhurst Park, admitted he had doubted himself during the toughest moments. “There were doubts,” he said. “Thank god we have done it.” That honesty lands harder than any rehearsed press conference line.
Former Leeds and Everton striker Jermaine Beckford put it well on Final Score : Arsenal had spent years being labelled bottlejobs, and every near-miss added weight to that narrative. This title does not just erase that tag — it buries it. Former England striker Ellen White added that Arsenal now possess the winning mentality and squad depth to potentially dominate the next era, provided they recruit well in the summer.
Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke was visibly emotional pitchside. “If anyone deserves this, it’s this group,” he told Sky Sports. He described the Premier League title race as a grind compared to American playoff formats — and he is right. Grinding 38 games, staying consistent from August to May, is a different kind of pressure entirely.
The scenes at full-time were exactly what you would expect after a two-decade wait. Goalkeeper David Raya, brilliantly, received his medal still wearing his gloves. That detail alone sums up the spirit of this squad.
Pep Guardiola’s farewell and the goodbyes that defined the day
Beyond the title, Sunday, May 24 marked the end of several defining chapters in Premier League history. Pep Guardiola said goodbye to Manchester City after a decade at the club. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, his words were unusually tender : “I leave with an incredible sense of peace. I gave everything.” He spoke of his 95-year-old father attending the game, of wanting his children to feel the love Manchester showed him. Guardiola leaves an extraordinary legacy — multiple titles, a treble, and a style of football that genuinely changed how the Premier League is played and watched.
Unai Emery, whose Aston Villa beat City on the day, called Guardiola “the best coach in the world” and noted that beating him was a career highlight. That context matters : Villa defeating City 2–1 was not a farewell gift — it was a hard-fought result from a team that finished the season at full intensity.
At Anfield, two more icons departed. Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah played their final games for Liverpool. Robertson, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, described an emotional week of goodbyes before breaking down : “The reception I got will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Arne Slot, Liverpool’s manager, summed up their combined contribution simply — two players, nine trophies, nine years. Salah’s children were still on the pitch after full-time, kicking a ball around. A fitting image for a footballer who gave Anfield some of its greatest modern memories.
For context, here are the defining storylines from the final day beyond the title race :
- West Ham relegated despite a 3–0 home win over Leeds
- Bruno Fernandes broke the Premier League all-time assists record at Brighton
- Sunderland secure European football under Regis Le Bris
- Guardiola, Salah and Robertson all make their last Premier League appearances
If you want an honest read on what comes next : the summer transfer window will define whether Arsenal can convert this title into genuine sustained dominance — or whether 2026 remains a glorious one-off. Given the squad Arteta has built and the resources behind the club, betting against them would take some nerve.
