Paul MacInnes

“Twenty-two years,” said the father to his son, shaking his head reflectively. “Twenty-two effing years.” Standing outside the Emirates Stadium among an ever-growing crowd, he was not alone in trying to get a handle on his feelings. Arsenal had just won their first league title in a generation, after all.

From the moment Eli Junior Kroupi gave Bournemouth a first-half lead over Manchester City, the red part of north London was preparing to party. Arsenal’s only rivals for the title had to win to take their duel to the final day. A half-time deficit was not a good start. The landlord of the gridlocked Gunners pub on Blackstock Road had a glass of champagne in his hand, though it may have been something to do with the prospective takings.

Over in the Tollington, the pub closest to Arsenal’s home of the past 18 years, there was similar confidence in the outcome, even when City equalised in second-half added time. “It’s just two minutes, just two minutes, they’re going to do it!” insisted one girl to her brother as they stood transfixed by the pictures on an iPad hung from the gate of the venue.