Arsenal crowned champions as City draw at Bournemouth

Premier League

AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Manchester City

Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth.

Amid reports manager Pep Guardiola will step down at the end of the season, City needed to win at Vitality Stadium to take the title race to the final day.

However, a goal from Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi six minutes before half-time left Guardiola’s side on the back foot.

Erling Haaland scored an equaliser in the fifth minute of injury-time to give Man City late hope but they were unable to find the winning goal that would have prolonged the title race until the final day.

Bournemouth’s historic achievement was a fitting way to mark the final home game of head coach Andoni Iraola, who was given a rousing send-off at full-time ahead of being replaced by Marco Rose in the summer.

Following a remarkable 17th league game without loss, the Cherries are guaranteed a top-seven finish and remain in contention for Champions League football ahead of Sunday’s season finale at Nottingham Forest.

City are now an insurmountable four points adrift of the table-topping Gunners, with speculation Guardiola is set to end his contract a year early and be succeeded by Enzo Maresca after the weekend visit of Aston Villa.

The 10-time English champions arrived on the south coast three days after lifting the FA Cup but with news of Guardiola’s possible departure dominating the headlines.

Travelling fans chanted “one more year, one more year, Guardiola” at regular intervals, while one fan unfurled a bedsheet with ‘Pep Stay’ written on it.

Former Cherries winger Antonie Semenyo had a 12th-minute finish disallowed for offside before Evanilson missed a golden chance at the other end, albeit the flag was again subsequently raised.

Ahead of kick-off, Bournemouth’s stadium announcer made reference to neighbours Southampton being kicked out of the Championship play-offs for spying as he attempted to whip up the home crowd.

Kroupi raised the roof with a stunning 39th-minute opener.

After being released by Marcus Tavernier, Adrien Truffert cut the ball back from the left and 19-year-old forward Kroupi curled a stunning finish into the right corner before celebrating becoming the outright highest scoring teenager in a debut Premier League season, with a somersault.

City almost levelled within a minute of the restart when Cherries goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic made a vital save to deny Nico O’Reilly.

Evanilson then tested visiting keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before Guardiola attempted to spark a comeback by introducing Phil Foden, Savinho and Rayan Cherki in an attacking triple change.

Bournemouth teenager Rayan, who was named in Brazil’s World Cup squad on Monday, struck the outside of the left post following a corner as the contest remained in the balance going into the final quarter.

Iraola had spoken openly of his desire to secure European football as a parting gift before departing Dorset.

His side defended resolutely to make the dream a reality, while substitute David Brooks squandered two golden late chances to put the result beyond doubt, including striking the right post.

Those misses were punished in the fifth minute of added time when Haaland swept home via the right post after Rodri struck the left upright during a goalmouth scramble.

But City’s hopes of a seventh title in 10 seasons under Guardiola were ultimately extinguished on a landmark evening for the hosts – and Arsenal.

Tonight’s other Premier League result:

• Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur