{"id":2356,"date":"2026-05-20T04:11:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T04:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2356"},"modified":"2026-05-20T04:11:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T04:11:19","slug":"wednesdays-briefing-arsenal-secure-first-title-for-22-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2356","title":{"rendered":"Wednesday\u2019s briefing: Arsenal secure first title for 22 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-1ihz57b-0\" data-component=\"Newsletter\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"independent\">\n<div data-theme-wrapper=\"independent\" style=\"display:contents\">\n<aside class=\"sc-y4bm30-0 jwWhkK newsletter-component sc-1ge0fwe-0\" data-newsletter-key=\"receiveInsideSportNews\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/InsideSport1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Inside Sport\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-1 inRDZn\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-3\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-4 hfveGa\">\n<p><h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-6 fvoxRM cLEJmn\">Inside Sport newsletter: Get an expert guide to the biggest moments shaping the world of sport<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-8 fvoxRM iTZFOX\">Get our free Inside Sport newsletter<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-7 fvoxRM iGYpOF\">Get our free Inside Sport newsletter<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hKcUSR sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-1ix0cah-0 PYnPb sc-y4bm30-10 fUEDPX\"><use href=\"#600f53465147d717\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk sc-y4bm30-9 iQYNfz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/InsideSport1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Inside Sport\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/arsenal\">Arsenal<\/a> are celebrating their first Premier League title in 22 years after closest rivals <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/manchester-city\">Manchester City<\/a> were held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. After that game, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/city\">City<\/a> manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/pep-guardiola\">Pep Guardiola<\/a> refused to confirm reports he is set to leave the club.<\/p>\n<p>In another major story, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/southampton\">Southampton<\/a> have been expelled from the Championship play-off final.<\/p>\n<h2>Gunners end long title drought<\/h2>\n<p>Arsenal were crowned champions after City were held at the Vitality Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>The Gunners\u2019 long wait for a 14th top-flight title ended when Guardiola\u2019s side could only manage a late Erling Haaland equaliser after Junior Kroupi\u2019s opener.<\/p>\n<p>The result left Arsenal with an unassailable four-point lead at the top with one game remaining.<\/p>\n<p>Mikel Arteta\u2019s side will be formally presented with the trophy on Sunday after their final match of the season at Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n<h2>City boss refuses to clarify future<\/h2>\n<p>Guardiola will hold talks with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak about his future amid reports he is to step down at the end of the season.<\/p>\n<p>It has been widely reported since Monday evening that he will leave after Sunday\u2019s final game against Aston Villa.<\/p>\n<p>The 55-year-old, who has a year left on his contract, refused to clarify his position after the draw at Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith the club, I always talk but not now,\u201d said Guardiola. \u201cYou have to understand I should talk with my chairman first. And when I talk with my chairman, we will decide. We will talk in the next days.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Saints thrown out of play-offs with Boro reinstated<\/h2>\n<p>Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-off final after admitting to spying on opponents on three occasions this season, including Middlesbrough earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling by an independent commission denies Saints a shot at Premier League promotion, estimated to be worth at least \u00a3200million, unless they overturn the sanction on appeal.<\/p>\n<p>The club have also been docked four points for next season, with Middlesbrough reinstated and set to face Hull in Saturday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n<p>Saints\u2019 plight was the target of jokes on X from Wrexham co-owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, who posted altered film posters of Spies Like Us and Mr and Mrs Smith.<\/p>\n<h2>Spurs agony continues as Hammers given hope<\/h2>\n<p>Tottenham\u2019s battle to avoid relegation goes to the final day after a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea handed West Ham a lifeline.<\/p>\n<p>A point in west London would have effectively secured Spurs\u2019 safety, but they were punished by goals from Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez and Andrey Santos.<\/p>\n<p>Richarlison pulled one back late on, but Chelsea held on. Spurs now need at least a point against Everton to stay up but defeat could open the door for the Hammers, who face Leeds.<\/p>\n<h2>What\u2019s on today?<\/h2>\n<p>Aston Villa bid for their first trophy in 30 years when they face Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul. Victory would also make it a fifth triumph in the competition for manager Unai Emery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Inside Sport newsletter: Get an expert guide to the biggest moments shaping the world of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033.jpg",1200,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-768x512.jpg",640,427,true],"large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-1024x683.jpg",640,427,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033.jpg",1200,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033.jpg",1200,800,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28b1e2f7e150e521bee7762ea637589eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc5MzE2MTE5-2.84679033-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}