Tears as Man City break Arsenal’s heart to win Premier League

There has been some late drama on the final day of the Premier League season with Arsenal falling short on a strange day of results.

Kai Havertz was in tears. Photo: AFP and Twitter.

Manchester City has strengthened its case to be ranked as English football’s greatest-ever team after winning the Premier League title for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year on Monday morning.

Arsenal star Kai Havertz’s face said it all as the German broke down in tears when hearing the news the club had fallen just two points short of the title.

Arsenal’s dreams of a first Premier League crown in 20 years were dashed as their 2-1 win against Everton was rendered irrelevant by City’s title-clinching victory over West Ham.

Mikel Arteta’s side had gone into the last day of the season needing to beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium and hope City drew or lost in Manchester if they were to steal the title in miraculous fashion.

But the Gunners were forced to settle for second place after relentless champions City beat West Ham 3-1.

Elsewhere on the final day of the Premier League season:

— Luton’s relegation was confirmed with a 4-2 loss at home to Fulham. They will join Burnley and Sheffield United in the Championship next season.

Matheus Nunes of Manchester City celebrates with the Premier League Trophy. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

— Tottenham beat Sheffield United 3-0 to seal fifth spot and a place in next season’s Europa League while Chelsea guaranteed a sixth-place finish and European football with a 2-1 win against Bournemouth.

— Newcastle’s 4-2 win at Brentford condemned Manchester United to an eighth-place finish — their lowest since 1990. Erik ten Hag’s men have a chance to salvage something from a disastrous season in next week’s FA Cup final against City but if they lose that they will miss out on European football.

Arsenal fans were perhaps the most emotional in all of English football on Monday morning.

Havertz scored his team’s winner in the 89th minute, but City was already well on course to retain its title.

In a post-match speech to Arsenal fans, a visibly emotional Arteta said: “This team are unbelievable. You started this by believing in us. Please keep pushing, keep inspiring them.

“Don’t be sad. We want much more than that and we’re going to get it.”

Arsenal had been almost flawless in 2024, with 16 wins and one draw, away to City, in their 18 league matches.

However, one costly slip-up in a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa last month proved decisive in denying them a first title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2004.

Kai Havertz was in tears. Photo: AFP and Twitter.

An emotional Havertz said on the field: “What can I say? I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans, for us. We gave our best but it wasn’t enough.

“Maybe in two or three months we can say it was a good fight but right now I feel like we deserved more.

“It wasn’t enough in the end but we go again next year.

“We showed again great character, they didn’t make it easy for us.

“Since the first minute, they just played with the time - every throw, every ball they take time.

“My opinion is that sometimes it’s not fair in football but we have to accept that football is hard.

“Hopefully we can go again next year and give Arsenal fans what they need and what they are all here for.

“It’s so frustrating - it’s tough. Next year we’ll be an even better team and give everything.”

"Sometimes it's not fair in football but we have to accept it..."

Kai Havertz says he "feels sorry" for Arsenal fans and looks ahead to next season to "give them what they need"...

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Arsenal finished two points behind City, who have won an unprecedented four successive titles and six in the last seven years.

On top of six Premier League titles, City has been crowned world and European champions for the first time in the club’s history, won two FA Cups and lifted four League Cups.

Another FA Cup triumph could come next weekend when they are favourites to beat Manchester United in the Wembley showpiece for the second straight season.

Their 3-1 victory over West Ham to seal the title on Sunday took the champions past 90 points for the fourth time in seven seasons.

Kai Havertz consoled by teammate Aaron Ramsdale. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images.

“I think to win the Premier League four times, no team has ever done it before, so to do it means we are up there,” said City midfielder Phil Foden on the debate over which side is England’s greatest.

In past seasons, City have been pushed hard by Liverpool, who interrupted their dynastic spell by winning the 2019/20 title, while Arsenal finished just two points behind the champions this season.

Liverpool racked up 97 points in 2018/19 and 92 points two years ago but still missed out on the title due to City’s relentlessness.

This time a club-record 28 wins in a season and 89 points was not enough for Arsenal’s first title in 20 years.

“In the beginning of the season, we didn’t think about it,” said Guardiola, speaking last week about the possibility of winning four in a row.

“But then we were in February, March and April, we were still there (in the title race). After that, it ignites something in all our heads.

“No team has done it. That shows how hard it is. Liverpool in the 1980s, Alex Ferguson’s United in the 1990s. Chelsea with (Roman) Abramovich and Jose (Mourinho), Arsenal with (Arsene) Wenger didn’t do it.”

— with AFP

Originally published as Tears as Man City break Arsenal’s heart to win Premier League