Manchester City win Premier League as Arsenal loses to Nottingham

Manchester City win Premier League as Arsenal loses to Nottingham. (Photo/AFP)

Manchester City have been confirmed as Premier League champions for the fifth time in six seasons without even having to kick a ball after second-placed Arsenal's challenge ended in defeat away at Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal, who enjoyed an eight-point lead over City as recently as mid-March, needed at least a point to stay mathematically in the hunt, but went down 1-0 on Saturday.

City, who host Chelsea on Sunday after which they will be presented with the trophy, have 85 points with three games to play, while Arsenal are on 81 with one game left.

It is City's seventh Premier League title since they were bought by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2008 and they are now just two wins away from completing a treble only previously achieved by Manchester United in 1999.

City face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3 and a week later take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final — starting big favourites in both games.

Manager Pep Guardiola has now won a total of 12 trophies since being hired by City in 2016.

Since losing to Tottenham Hotspur on February 5, The Citizens have taken 40 points from the next 42 on offer and have 11 successive league games, beating Arsenal comprehensively home and away.

City have now joined an elite group of clubs to win three successive English top-flight titles, with Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United the only others.

'Very special'

The club's website featured animated tickertape flittering down the screen with a live video showing an enormous banner being unfurled down the side of the Etihad Stadium stating "Three in a Row".

Club captain Ilkay Gundogan described the latest title as something "very special".

"The Premier League is, without doubt, the most demanding and competitive league in the world, so that tells you everything about what an achievement this is," he said.

While City have once again underlined their dominance in England, there remains a cloud on their sky blue horizon.

City were charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations from 2009 to 2018 and could face severe punishments if found guilty.

The club said at the time they welcomed the review and insist they have "irrefutable evidence" to support their position.

Arsenal will have to be content with the runners-up spot and a return to the Champions League after a five-year absence, but manager Mikel Arteta will have much to ponder as he analyses how the Gunners buckled under City's relentless pressure.

After Arsenal's loss, Manchester City won their ninth Premier League.

Their city rivals, Manchester United, still has the most league titles with 20 trophies, followed by Liverpool with 19 and Arsenal with 13.

The Citizens are yet to win any European trophy, which they could achieve against Inter in the UEFA Champions League Final next month.

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Source: TRT World