The long, agonizing twenty-two-year drought that had cast a shadow over North London has finally been broken. In a season defined by unrelenting drama, tactical genius, and emotional rollercoasters, Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad have officially ascended to the throne of English football, capturing the 2025-2026 Premier League championship. The sheer relief and ecstasy that reverberated through the Emirates stadium during the week marked the end of a generation of heartbreak, three consecutive seasons of finishing as bitter runners-up, and an era of relentless skepticism.

For the Arsenal faithful, the moment of triumph arrived in the most breathless and nerve-wracking fashion imaginable. As rival powerhouse Manchester City put immense pressure on the Gunners, all eyes turned to the Vitality Stadium where Erling Haaland managed to salvage a draw for the Citizens against Bournemouth. However, the resilient Cherries held their ground, preserving a crucial point and mathematically sealing the Premier League crown for Arsenal with a four-point cushion heading into the final matchday of the season. The streets of London and global fanbases, including thousands of passionate supporters who paraded in celebration across Vietnam, erupted in joy. The heavy burden of a twenty-two-year wait was lifted, and Mikel Arteta had finally repaid the unwavering faith of the club’s board and executive hierarchy.

Yet, despite the confetti, the champagne showers, and the historic parades that dominated the midweek headlines, the footballing calendar waits for no one. The curtain has not yet fallen on the 2025-2026 campaign, and Arsenal must step back onto the pitch for one final dance. This Sunday, the newly crowned champions travel to South London to face a dangerous and highly unpredictable Crystal Palace side at Selhurst Park for Matchday 38. While the pressure of the title race has dissipated, this encounter carries immense historical weight, pride, and tactical intrigue for both organizations.

For Mikel Arteta, complacency is an absolute enemy. While this Arsenal side might not be remembered as the most explosive or high-scoring champion in the modern era of the Premier League, their consistency, defensive solidity, and mental fortitude have been elite. Should the Gunners secure a victory at Selhurst Park, they will finish the campaign with an incredibly impressive total of 85 points, providing a resounding exclamation mark to their championship status. Furthermore, Arsenal boast an astonishing modern record on the final day of the season. The North London club has emerged victorious in each of their last fourteen season-finales in the Premier League, and they have not tasted defeat on the closing day of the league since the distant 2004-2005 campaign. Maintaining this proud tradition and entering the summer holidays on the back of a victory remains a high priority for the competitive Spanish manager.

However, entering the roaring cauldron of Selhurst Park on the final day of a long season is an incredibly daunting task. Crystal Palace possess a historic final-day record of their own that rivals the champions. The South London club remains undefeated in their last twelve home matches when hosting the season finale at Selhurst Park, securing a spectacular eight victories in those fixtures. The passionate home crowd will be eager to see their team lay down a marker and potentially claim the ultimate scalp of defeating the freshly crowned Premier League kings.

Despite their formidable home record on the final day, the current reality for Crystal Palace and their manager, Oliver Glasner, is deeply complicated. The minds and hearts of the Palace players and supporters are understandably divided. While they must honor their domestic commitments, the entire club is currently bracing for the biggest match in their history: the upcoming UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig next week. Standing on the precipice of securing their first-ever European trophy, it is completely natural that domestic form has taken a secondary role in recent weeks.

This European distraction has resulted in a severe dip in Premier League form for Oliver Glasner’s men. Crystal Palace enter this final matchday entirely starved of momentum, having failed to secure a single victory in their last six league outings. This poor run of form has seen them slide dangerously down the table, leaving them vulnerable to finishing as low as 16th place if Nottingham Forest manage to defeat Bournemouth on the final day.

The biggest vulnerability for the Eagles lies in a heavily compromised defensive unit. In their previous outing, Palace played out a chaotic 2-2 draw against Brentford. Despite showing great offensive intent and taking the lead twice during the match, their defensive vulnerabilities were laid bare once again. This disappointing result marked the fifth consecutive Premier League match in which Crystal Palace have conceded at least two goals. To make matters worse, Selhurst Park has not been the fortress it once was this season, with the Eagles managing to secure only four victories on their home turf throughout the entire domestic campaign.

The tactical headache for Oliver Glasner has expanded into a full-blown personnel crisis ahead of Sunday’s clash. The bruising battle against Brentford left the squad severely depleted, particularly across the backline. Star defender Chris Richards has been completely ruled out of the Arsenal fixture after sustaining a severe ankle ligament tear. Compounding this loss, fellow central defenders Maxence Lacroix and Chadi Riad were both forced off the pitch during the midweek match. While Glasner remains hopeful that their issues were merely severe muscle cramping, any failure to recover in time will force a massive defensive reshuffle. In a worst-case scenario, the manager may be forced to deploy midfielder Jefferson Lerma or veteran fullback Nathaniel Clyne out of position into a makeshift central defensive pairing to counter Arsenal’s lethal attack.

On the other side of the pitch, Arsenal’s camp is a picture of celebration, yet Arteta must navigate his own selection dilemmas. Summer signing Mikel Merino and versatile defender Jurrien Timber were central figures in the ecstatic title celebrations earlier in the week. Merino has successfully returned to full first-team training and stands a very strong chance of featuring in the season finale. However, the medical staff remains incredibly cautious regarding Jurrien Timber. With a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League final on the horizon and the upcoming World Cup dominating the international calendar, the club will not take any unnecessary risks with the Dutch defender’s fitness. Additionally, key figures such as golden glove winner David Raya, defensive rock William Saliba, and talismanic winger Bukayo Saka are undergoing late fitness assessments to evaluate whether they will start or be rested ahead of the summer international break.

Historically, Arsenal will arrive in South London overflowing with confidence. The Gunners have established a dominant psychological edge over their cross-town rivals in recent years, winning eight out of their last nine head-to-head encounters against Crystal Palace. Fans will fondly remember the spectacular 5-1 thrashing that Arsenal delivered on their last visit to Selhurst Park, a performance that highlighted the massive gulf in class between the two squads when Arsenal are operating at the peak of their powers.

As the clock ticks closer to kickoff, this match presents a beautiful contrast of narratives. For Crystal Palace, it is a balancing act of avoiding further injuries, restoring a sense of defensive pride, and honoring their home fans before jetting off to Germany for their date with European destiny. For Arsenal, it is a victory lap, a chance to show the world the elite mentality of true champions, and an opportunity to push their points total to historic heights. Under the bright lights of Sunday evening football, Selhurst Park will play host to a fascinating battle where history, pride, and celebration collide.