As the banner in the away end made clear, this was the ultimate party for Arsenal.
The Manchester City fans declared there was "panic on the streets of London" last month. That banner has now been rebranded, panic turning to party.
The 90 minutes of action at Selhurst Park felt almost like a sideshow. This was about what has happened and what was still to come.
Arsenal were already Premier League champions. The focus, then, was on the trophy lift later in the evening and the European finals in the week ahead for these two clubs.
By the time Arteta was being thrown into the air by his players an hour later, that was all forgotten.
Mikel Arteta is now airborne! ✈️😅 pic.twitter.com/eqnpI76kSy
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 24, 2026
Arsenal get their crowning moment
After nine months of tension, this was the ultimate release.
The Arsenal fans gathered in south London hours before kick-off. When the two Arsenal squad arrived, each player got a huge roar as he stepped off the coach.
With most of the Palace fans keeping themselves out of the intense heat until later in the day, the away end was packed almost an hour before kick-off.
The players trotted out for the warm-up and the Arsenal fans erupted, as though a goal had been scored. Eberechi Eze received warm applause from the home supporters too.
Even the sight of Arteta in a polo shirt, without his usual quarter zip fleece, added to the end-of-school vibe. So too the five half-time subs between the two sides.
The whole afternoon was a warm-up act to the trophy lift. Arsenal fans passed the time by revelling in their new status as champions, chanting "we are unbearable".
To sum up the mood, the away end bounced up and down when the Vengaboys blared out after Mateta's late header.
Arsenal fans had to wait slightly longer than they would have liked. Palace went through their end-of-season awards and bid farewell to Oliver Glasner after the match. Steve Parish asked for patience and quiet from the Arsenal fans - he did not get it.
Eventually, the stage was set. Stan Kroenke was in attendance and walked into the dressing room post-match with his son Josh.
Andrea Berta emerged drenched, suggesting he had been front and centre of celebrations. Each of Arteta's coaches wore a shirt with a different player's name on the bench.
That was except for goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, who had a special shirt with all three of Arsenal's goalkeepers on it.
Your 2025/26 Premier League champions...
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 24, 2026
ARSENAL! 🏆🔴 pic.twitter.com/wef2K3nJOj
The medals were collected. The trophy was lifted and perhaps the biggest cheer of all reserved for Arteta, spinning towards the away fans and lifting it in front of them.
Thousands of Arsenal fans in the home seats revealed themselves. North London Forever was sung. A generation-long wait was over.
Full-circle moment for Jesus
There is every chance this proves to be Jesus' final Premier League appearance for Arsenal.
The Brazilian will enter the final year of his contract next month and there is a strong likelihood that he could be on the move this summer.
If that is to be the case, this was a nice send-off for Jesus, a player Arteta said "changed our world" after joining Arsenal in 2022.
Injuries have taken their toll on Jesus. He has been hampered by knee problems and at the start of 2025 suffered an ACL injury.
For much of the match, this was a reminder of why Arsenal will move on from Jesus sooner rather than later. He could have scored four in the first half.
The first time he was played clean through he hit the post. The next time, with Gabriel Martinelli free next to him waiting for it to be squared, Jesus' dinked effort was saved by Henderson.
Jesus missed another big chance from a Madueke cross, nodding a free header into the side-netting, but he eventually got his goal. He was played in behind yet again and on this occasion fired low past Henderson at the near post.
That was a lovely moment for Jesus and one he deserved, having been a central figure in the Arsenal side that were transformed into title contenders in the summer of 2022. It was a full-circle moment, having been sensational at the start of that campaign at Selhurst Park.
Jesus got his goal here and more importantly he got his Premier League medal in an Arsenal shirt.
Dowman makes more history
What a ridiculous week it has been for Max Dowman.
On Tuesday night, the 16-year-old defied his age to get himself into Tape nightclub and enjoy the title celebrations alongside his team-mates.
Two days later, as the Arsenal players returned to training, Dowman was absent. It is exam season and the teenager had GCSEs to sit.
Despite being absent from training, Dowman was included in the lineup at Selhurst Park. That made him the youngest starter in Premier League history.
Arteta revealed that was a reward for his moment off the bench against Everton in March, when he sealed victory with a sensational individual goal.
“Max needs to be there because he created a moment where something changed,” Arteta explained.
Dowman did not have quite the same impact here. Palace were physical against him and there was a reminder of his age when he went down too easily appealing for a penalty.
An unimpressed Jefferson Lerma strolled over and swiftly lifted a helpless Dowman to his feet.
The teenager did still have one telling contribution. It was his lovely flick set Gabriel Martinelli away to create Jesus' opener.
He was replaced on the hour mark by Merino and the Spaniard's return will hinder Dowman's chances of featuring in the Champions League final.
Whatever happens next weekend in Budapest, it has been an extraordinary season for Dowman.
