Critics cannot mock us anymore – Bukayo Saka after Premier League triumph

English international of Nigerian descent, Bukayo Saka,, said that Arsenal’s critics were “not laughing at us anymore” as the club celebrated their first Premier League title in more than two decades.

The Gunners have been crowned champions for the 2025/26 Premier League season following Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday night at the Vitality Stadium.

The result gave Arsenal an unassailable four-point lead at the top of the table with just Sunday’s final round of matches remaining.

As the Arsenal squad relished the club’s first Premier League title since 2004, there were also joyous scenes at the north London side’s Emirates Stadium, where thousands of supporters gathered to mark the occasion by lighting fireworks and flares.

Arsenal, runners-up in the league for the previous three seasons, had faced accusations of “bottling” their title bid, with several observers questioning their temperament and ability to handle pressure following a 2-1 defeat at City on April 19.

But while City subsequently drew at Everton and then at Bournemouth, Arsenal won their next four league games without conceding a goal.

Arsenal’s success meant Gunners boss Mikel Arteta joined a select group who’ve won English titles both as a player and manager.

Arteta, who rejoined Arsenal as manager in December 2019 with the club in dire straits, installed a blacked-out Premier League trophy at Colney, which would light up only when the Gunners won the title

“Light that up,” Saka said in footage posted by defender Jurrien Timber on his Instagram account.

“Let me tell you something. Twenty-two years, 22 years there was laughing, there was joking, they’re not laughing anymore,” the England international added.

“Look, it is going to be shining, it is going to be shining bright.”

Arsenal will be presented with the Premier League trophy after their final match of the domestic season at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Gunners could yet end the campaign with an impressive double when they go in search of their first Champions League title against Paris Saint-Germain in a Budapest final on May 30.