Tens of thousands of Arsenal fans put aside their heartbreak over missing out on European glory to celebrate the club’s first Premier League title since 2004 during a vibrant parade in London on Sunday.
Reams of supporters lined the streets of north London to watch their heroes display the Premier League trophy from the top deck of an open-top bus.
Clad in red and white, the enthusiastic crowd chanted, waved flags, and set off flares to celebrate becoming champions of England for the first time in 22 years.
The good-natured London celebration contrasted sharply with violent unrest in France, where police arrested hundreds of people for vandalism and clashes following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory.
Arsenal had secured the domestic league title on May 19 after second-placed Manchester City drew at Bournemouth. The Gunners hoped to secure a historic double in Budapest on Saturday.
Still, they suffered a painful penalty shootout loss to PSG after a 1-1 draw in the final, extending their 140-year wait for a first European Cup.
Despite the weekend’s continental disappointment, fans travelled from across the United Kingdom to express immense pride in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The parade route spanned nine kilometres around the Emirates Stadium in Islington and featured four celebratory buses.
The procession also honoured the Arsenal Women’s team, who captured the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup earlier this year in February.
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