Arsenal’s title party was about more than a trophy. After a 22-year wait ended when Manchester City drew 1-1 away at Bournemouth, Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly used the moment to swat away the old “bottlers” label. Arsenal had already beaten Burnley 1-0 at home 24 hours earlier, and the title was then confirmed when City dropped points.

Why the celebration had an edge

The bluntest line came from Lewis-Skelly: “They called us bottlers, and now we're holding the bottles!” That was the mood at London Colney, where the champagne, the chants and the edge all pointed in the same direction. Saka was just as direct. “Let me tell you something, 22 years, they were laughing and joking, they're not laughing anymore, look, it's going to be shining,” he said.

There is no need to overcomplicate the reaction. Arsenal have earned the right to be sharp about it because they finished top of the Premier League with 82 points, and they did it after stringing together four league wins in a row to recover from their wobble. Arsenal did not stumble over the line; they put enough pressure on City to make the title theirs before the final whistle in Bournemouth.

Lewis-Skelly’s own season gives the celebration some weight too. He has already made 19 Premier League appearances, while Saka played 31 league matches. These are not fringe voices trying to claim a bit of the limelight, they are two of the season’s most visible contributors speaking from inside the group.

What the medal debate adds

There was also a smaller wrinkle around Kepa Arrizabalaga. He has 0 Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season, although he has featured 11 times in cup competitions. That leaves his winners’ medal status uncertain, and it is the kind of detail that reminds you how strict the appearance rules can be even after the title is sealed.

Tommy Setford’s only appearance this season came in the FA Cup win over Wigan, which shows how many squad roles sit outside the league column that decides who is eligible. The wider picture is straightforward, though. Arsenal are champions, they will lift the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park after the Crystal Palace game on Sunday, and the people who most wanted to answer the “bottlers” line have already done it in public.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →