Arsenal Football Club has been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years, securing the title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The decisive goals came from Gabriel Jesus in the 41st minute, followed by Noni Madueke who doubled the lead three minutes after the interval. Despite a late consolation goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta for Crystal Palace, and a disallowed stoppage-time strike from Yeremy Pino, Arsenal held on to claim the victory and the coveted league trophy.

The Gunners avoided the intense pressure of a final-day shootout, thanks to Manchester City's earlier draw at Bournemouth. The coronation at Selhurst Park, which also marked Oliver Glasner’s final home fixture as Palace boss, was met with immense jubilation. One thousand Arsenal fans lined Holmesdale Road to greet the champions' coaches, while 15 miles north in the capital, delirious supporters filled pubs around the Emirates Stadium, some queuing since 9 am, to revel in the club's achievement. This triumph arrives two decades after Arsene Wenger’s legendary 2004 ‘Invincibles’ team last lifted the league trophy.

The day was also historic for Max Dowman, a teenager who, despite being absent from training to complete his GCSEs, became the youngest player to start a Premier League match at 16 years and 144 days. Dowman broke former Everton player Jose Baxter’s 18-year record by 54 days and also surpassed Phil Foden’s reign as the youngest Premier League winner, making it a truly memorable occasion for the young talent.

Mikel Arteta's current squad has replicated a feat not seen since the 2003-04 season, when Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' created history with an unbeaten record of P38 W26 D12 L0. That legendary team went an entire league season without a single defeat, a feat unmatched in the Premier League since. Many of those iconic players have since embarked on diverse careers, both within and outside football.

Goalkeeper **Jens Lehmann**, known as 'Mad Jens', played all 38 games in the Invincible season, sharing the Golden Glove with 15 clean sheets. After spells with Stuttgart and a brief return to Arsenal, he ventured into management and now works as a football analyst on German TV.

In defense, **Ashley Cole** made 32 league appearances. He controversially moved to Chelsea, winning the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, and later played for Roma and LA Galaxy before retiring at Derby County. He is currently coach of Serie B side Cesena. **Sol Campbell**, an academy product of rivals Tottenham Hotspur, made 35 league appearances for Arsenal and formed a formidable defensive partnership. After leaving Arsenal, he managed Macclesfield and Southend United and has been a critic of the lack of diversity in English football's managerial roles. **Kolo Toure** was the other half of Arsenal's central defense, with 37 appearances. He later won the Premier League with Manchester City, played for Liverpool and Celtic, and embarked on a coaching career, including assisting Brendan Rodgers and an ill-fated spell at Wigan. Toure is currently an assistant coach for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Indefatigable right-back **Lauren** made 32 appearances, and after his playing career, he became a FIFA technical analyst and an Arsenal club ambassador.

The midfield and attacking prowess of the Invincibles included **Robert Pires**, who scored 14 goals in 36 appearances. He later played for Villarreal, Aston Villa, and FC Goa, and is now an Arsenal club ambassador. Captain **Patrick Vieira** made 29 appearances despite an injury-hit campaign, scoring the final goal that sealed the unbeaten season. After winning the 2004-05 FA Cup with his final kick for Arsenal, he moved to Juventus, Inter Milan, and Manchester City. Vieira has had a lengthy managerial career with New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and was most recently in charge of a Serie A side in Genoa, where he was recently let go. He also makes frequent appearances as a pundit. **Gilberto Silva** was crucial in Arsenal's midfield, making 32 appearances. He later played for Panathinaikos and in Brazil, and now serves as a club ambassador for Arsenal and FIFA. Swedish winger **Freddie Ljungberg** made 30 appearances, and after a journeyman career, returned to Arsenal as a coach, eventually serving as interim head coach before Mikel Arteta's appointment. **Edu** was a crucial squad player, making 30 appearances. After playing for Valencia and Corinthians, he became general co-ordinator for the Brazil national team, then Arsenal's technical director. He later became 'Global Head of Football' for Evangelos Marinakis' partner clubs, though his position currently faces uncertainty.

Upfront, **Dennis Bergkamp**, the 'Non-Flying Dutchman', made 28 appearances, scoring four goals. He retired after the 2005-06 season and later served as an assistant coach at Ajax. **Thierry Henry**, arguably Arsenal's best player, scored 30 goals in 37 appearances, taking the Golden Boot. After Arsenal, he won titles with Barcelona and played for the New York Red Bulls. Post-retirement, Henry managed AS Monaco, Montreal Impact, and the French team (winning silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics), and is currently a pundit with CBS Sports. **Jose Antonio Reyes**, who made 13 appearances in 2003-04, tragically died in a car crash in 2019 at age 35. **Nwankwo Kanu** made 10 appearances and is now a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador. **Jeremie Aliadiere** made 10 league appearances and now works in Arsenal's media department as a commentator and analyst. **Sylvain Wiltord** made 12 appearances and, after his playing career, had a brief spell on French reality television.

Other notable players from the squad include defensive stalwart **Martin Keown**, now a pundit on English television; **Pascal Cygan**, who took up youth coaching; **Gael Clichy**, who later won the league with Manchester City and is now head coach of Ligue 3 side Caen; and **Ray Parlour**, now a pundit with talkSPORT and the BBC. While he did not receive a winner's medal for the 2003-04 Premier League, **Cesc Fabregas** made his debut for Arsenal in the League Cup during that season and is currently head coach of Como in Serie A.

Finally, the architect of the Invincibles, **Arsene Wenger**, after achieving unparalleled league success in 2003-04 and winning three more FA Cups, left the club in 2018. He is currently FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development and makes infrequent appearances as a pundit.