Here’s where the story ends. Congratulations, Arsenal, champions of England after 22 years. Farewell then, Pep Guardiola, 10 years of dominance ending in anticlimax. Two domestic cups counts as a disappointment in Pep terms. Eli Junior Kroupi wrote his name in north London legend for ever, as the title race reached its conclusion on the south coast. Erling Haaland’s late equaliser was nowhere near enough.
Andoni Iraola has been able to keep his future movements far more secret, and he received a post-match send-off from a club grateful for three seasons of progressive, exciting football, capped off by qualifying for Europe for the first time. “What a night,” he said. “We played so well.”
