Manchester City celebrated their Premier League title on Saturday, with wild celebrations marking confirmation that they are English champions for a third successive season.
Arsenal's defeat to Nottingham Forest means that Pep Guardiola's side have won the title with three matches to spare. City play Chelsea on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, after which Ilkay Gundogan will lift the trophy for the first time as club captain since taking over from Fernandinho last summer.
The trophy could be the first part of a famous treble for Guardiola's side, with the FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3 before the Champions League final against Inter on June 10.
Ahead of their match against Chelsea on Sunday, City's players were gathered together to watch the Gunners' defeat to Nottingham Forest. This was captured on camera as the moment their title win was confirmed by the full-time whistle at the City Ground sparked wild celebrations.
Jack Grealish didn't watch the moment the full-time whistle went and can be seen filming the moment the full-time whistle blew in Nottingham before joining the celebrations with his teammates. Pep Guardiola is not in the footage, but other members of club staff can be seen in the background, with the viewing of the match believed to be taking place at City's Etihad Campus.
The scenes are reminiscent of other such celebrations down the years, with the most famous one being among Leicester City's players, who were gathered at Jamie Vardy's house to watch challengers Tottenham lose to Chelsea in 2016.
City are unbeaten in 23 matches and overhauled Arsenal ’s eight-point lead as Mikel Arteta’s side faltered, winning 11 Premier League games in a row including a 4-1 victory over their rivals at the end of April. City have won the Premier League for the third successive campaign and a fifth in the past six years.
Reacting to the win, City captain Ilkay Gundogan said on the Manchester City website: “To have helped the club win a third straight Premier League title is something very special.
“The Premier League is without doubt the most demanding and competitive league in the world so that tells you everything about what an achievement this is.
“This squad is so talented and so special and to have been captain this season has been an enormous privilege.”
“I would also like to thank Pep, all the backroom staff and everyone who works across this football club. Every single day they help provide us as players with everything we need in order to try to be successful. There is no way we could have won this title without all their support,” the midfielder said.
“To have won this trophy three times in a row and five times in six years is incredible. That quality and consistency helps sum up what Manchester City stand for and ensures the Club will continue to strive for success going forward.
“It has been a season I will never forget. Our amazing fans have been with us every single step of the way. Without their amazing backing I don’t think there is any way we would have been able to achieve what we have done these past six seasons.
“Their passion and support have been so important and inspirational for us all. Hopefully winning the Premier League title again is a fitting way for us to say thank you to our fans.”
Erling Haaland ’s goals helped fire City to the title, as the Norway forward set a new Premier League record with 36 so far. He wrote on Twitter : “Always give your best. Always believe. It pays off. C’MON CITY!”
City defender Aymeric Laporte posted: “What a season tho. Credit to absolutely everyone involved from top to bottom. Every one of use fought for this. More to come soon hopefully but we can already be proud of this one.”
