Nobody in the Arsenal end cared about the scoreline at full time. Not really.
2-2. Crystal Palace equalised in the 88th minute through Mateta’s header. The Arsenal players barely reacted. They were already somewhere else in their heads. The trophy ceremony was 20 minutes away. Managers congratulating managers. Twenty-two years ending at Selhurst Park.
This was Arsenal’s title party. The result was a footnote.
Gabriel Jesus Gave Them the Lead
41st minute. Martinelli played the ball through. Jesus was in behind, composed, slotted it past Henderson. 1-0.
He was booked earlier for a foul in midfield — playing loose, relaxed. The game did not have the intensity of a normal Premier League match because it did not need to. Arsenal were already champions. Crystal Palace had their Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano three days away. Both clubs had their minds elsewhere.
Havertz came very close to a third — miraculous defensive block stopped it going in. One of those moments that fills the highlights and changes nothing about the story of the afternoon.
Madueke Right After Half-Time
47th minute. Corner for Arsenal. Aerial play in the box. Madueke arrived and finished crisply. 2-0.
Noni Madueke scoring in the title party game. A player who came in this January. Seven goals and five assists since. One of the most impactful mid-season signings in the Premier League this year.
The away end celebrated. Then carried on celebrating from the last time they celebrated. The noise at Selhurst Park from the Arsenal supporters barely dipped between the goals.
Palace Pulled One Back. Then Another.
The home side had their moments. Crystal Palace came very close to pulling one back with a chance inside the box that looked impossible to miss — they somehow wasted it.
Mateta got the goal in the 88th. Header. 2-1. The home crowd made noise. The away end did not care.
Then 2-2. Crystal Palace found a second late. Selhurst Park celebrated both. Arsenal’s players barely broke stride. The trophy ceremony was coming regardless of what the scoreboard said.
Twenty-Two Years
Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke ensured Arsenal celebrated their Premier League title in style. Jesus slotted the first from Martinelli’s throughball, Madueke scored with a crisp finish after the restart.
The Invincibles were 2004. Wenger’s era. Henry and Bergkamp and Vieira and Pires.
Now it is Arteta’s era. Rice and Saka and Gyökeres and Ødegaard. Different players. Same city. Same trophy.
Twenty-two years between the two. The wait is over. Whatever happens at Budapest against PSG on May 30 — Arsenal are Premier League champions and that does not change.
Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke vowed that KSE will provide financial backing for future success after hailing the “slow burn” success of the club’s first Premier League title win in 22 years.
Slow burn. That is one way to put it. Twenty-two years is a slow burn. The fire is lit now.
What Comes Next
Budapest. May 30. PSG in the Champions League final.
Arsenal have gone from not qualifying for the Champions League to winning the league and reaching the European final in three seasons under Arteta. That trajectory is extraordinary.
The squad is young. Saka is 25. Gyökeres is 28. Rice is 27. Ødegaard is 27. This team has years ahead of it.
Palace’s season ended with 2-2 on the final day. They now turn to Leipzig and the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano. Glasner has built a team capable of winning European trophies. Friday he finds out if they can.
For more Premier League coverage visit FawaNews football. Full final standings and awards at the official Premier League website.
Crystal Palace 2-2 Arsenal Premier League Round 38 | Sunday, 24 May 2026 | Selhurst Park, London
Goals: Gabriel Jesus 41′ | Noni Madueke 47′ (ARS) | Jean-Philippe Mateta 88′ + 1 late (CRY)
Arsenal XI: Raya | White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly | Rice, Ødegaard | Saka, Jesus, Martinelli | Gyökeres Subs: Madueke, Havertz, Trossard, Merino, Calafiori
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson | Muñoz, Lacroix, Riad, Canvot | Lerma, Hughes | Johnson, Pino, Devenny | Strand Larsen Subs: Mateta, Sarr, others
HT: 0-1 | FT: 2-2 Arsenal: Premier League champions 2025-26 — first title since 2004 West Ham: Relegated after Spurs won at home — 48-year top-flight stay ended
