Arsenal have confirmed a special parade around the home borough of Islington, starting from 2pm on Sunday 31 May, to celebrate their Premier League title.
The timing is significant: the procession follows the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest the previous evening, meaning the celebrations could double as a party for the greatest season in the club’s modern history.
A first league title in 22 years will naturally demand a bigger occasion, something for which the club had plans in place in each of the past three seasons, all of which ended with them finishing as runners-up.
Arsenal topped the table for much of the season, but their title bid looked to have hit shaky ground in April. A 2-1 defeat at Manchester City seemed to hand the title advantage to Pep Guardiola’s side, but the Gunners rallied and held off City to win the league for the first time since the Invincibles in the 2003/04 season.
City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last week meant the Gunners were crowned Premier League champions with a game to spare. Fans took to the streets in north London and around Emirates Stadium to celebrate long into the night, while players and staff partied at their training base in Hertfordshire. The Gunners then won their season finale 2-1 at Crystal Palace, finishing the season on 85 points, seven clear.
Arteta’s men could win the club’s first ever European Cup when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest at the end of May, creating more history and making more memories. Should that come to pass, north London will have witnessed a summer unlike anything it has seen in living memory.
The club urged supporters to plan carefully, warning that large numbers are expected to turn out across the Islington area throughout the day.
Full route details are yet to be confirmed, but the mood among the Arsenal faithful is one of barely contained euphoria heading into what promises to be an extraordinary week.