Declan Rice and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were among the first to react on social media after Manchester City's draw with Bournemouth ended Arsenal's 22-year wait for Premier League glory.

Arsenal are champions with a game to spare after City were unable to find the three points they required on the south coast, even after Erling Haaland cancelled out Junior Kroupi's wonderful strike late on.

The Gunners' 22-year gap between an invincible season in 2003-04 and reclaiming the crown this year was the longest wait they had endured since first lifting the trophy in 1931.

It is also the longest wait a team has had between being champions of England since Liverpool went 30 years between their successes in 1989-90 and 2019-20.

Members of Mikel Arteta's squad gathered to watch City's game and wild celebrations broke out at the full-time whistle, with Rice then leading the tributes on social media.

In an Instagram post, Rice – who warned supporters after Monday's 1-0 win over Burnley that the job was not yet done – wrote: "I told you all... it's done!"

Full-back Jurrien Timber also took to X, writing: "How good is God, man?"

Arsenal's final position in the Premier League table has never regressed year-upon-year under Arteta – they finished eighth in 2019-20 and 2020-21, fifth in 2021-22, second in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, then first this season.

Only Manchester United and Liverpool (20 each) have won more top-flight titles than Arsenal's 14 in the history of the English Football League, with four of those coming in the Premier League era.

The Gunners are one of just two sides to win a top-flight title in eight different decades, alongside Liverpool.

And, following triumphs for Liverpool in 2024-25 and Man City in 2023-24, this is the first time the Premier League has seen a different champion in three consecutive seasons since 2015-16 (Leicester City), 2016-17 (Chelsea), 2017-18 (City).

And the congratulations also rolled in from former players, with ex-Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny writing on X: "I can't describe my feelings right now… 

"Football always gives back to those who keep believing. To the fans who kept believing, you deserve this. Arsenal; the club that will stay in my heart forever, you deserve this… 

"The players and everyone at the club who made it happen, you deserve this. Congratulations to the best club in the world!"

And former goalkeeper David Seaman, who was part of three title wins during his long stay at Highbury, wrote: "Longest 22 years (and three minutes) of MY LIFE…"

Arsenal had gotten closer and closer to the trophy in recent years. Since the start of 2022-23, their first runner-up finish under Arteta, they have won the exact same amount of Premier League points as Man City (329), who have won two titles in that time.

The Gunners have also been top of the table for 557 days in that same timeframe, with Liverpool second by that measure, with 355 days at the summit.

Between October and April this season, Arsenal spent 200 consecutive days top of the Premier League. 

They lost their grip on top spot after Man City defeated them 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium before beating Burnley 1-0 in their next match, but a 3-3 draw with Everton sent Guardiola's side off the rails and allowed Arsenal to claim the title with four wins in a row.

The congratulatory messages were not only limited to football, though, as former NBA MVP and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid write on X: "It's been a long time coming... proud to be a Gooner!"

Arsenal still have another trophy to play for, too, as they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30. 

They could become only the sixth team to win both the English top flight and the European Cup/Champions League in the same campaign, after Liverpool in 1976-77 and 1983-84, Man Utd in 1998-99 (also won the FA Cup to make it a treble) and 2007-08, and Man City in 2022-23 (also won the FA Cup to make it a treble).

Arteta's team even received a message from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, an Arsenal fan, who wrote: "22 long years for the Arsenal.

"But finally, we're back where we belong. Champions!"