
Arteta: Arsenal want to have a parade with two trophies
Mikel Arteta has expressed his desire to celebrate two trophies with Arsenal this season ahead of his side's final Premier League game of the campaign against Crystal Palace.
Arsenal were crowned the top-flight champions for the first time in 22 years in midweek after second-placed Manchester City could only draw away to Bournemouth.
The Gunners' first title push under Arteta came in 2022-23, which was the first of three consecutive second-place finishes as City and Liverpool came out on top.
Since the start of that season, Arsenal and City have won the same number of Premier League points (329), while the Gunners have spent the most days at the top of the competition.
The club have already confirmed a trophy parade will take place in the capital on May 31, the day after they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Asked whether the title win had eased the pressure on his team going into that match in Budapest, Arteta said: "I think so.
"It's a lot of emotion – joy, happiness, being proud – and it is also a relief.
"When you see so many people waiting for something to happen for so long, and you achieve it, everything we have done is worth it, and now we need to sustain that energy.
"We had so many injuries to big players throughout the season. We had to find ways to win a lot of games and achieve with the team that we had."
After building for six-and-a-half years under the Spaniard, Arsenal have the chance to end this campaign in historic fashion by also winning the club's first-ever Champions League.
"Now we have to show we have the ambition, the quality and the consistency to do that," Arteta added. "That is the next step. We want to have the parade with two trophies!"
Mark your calendar
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 20, 2026
We are delighted to announce that we will come together with our supporters and community for a special parade, starting from 2pm on Sunday 31 May
Arsenal come up against a Palace side who also have their eye on a first piece of European silverware, with the Eagles taking on Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final.
Oliver Glasner's team will travel to Leipzig next Wednesday as Palace's Austrian boss hopes to bring the curtain down on a memorable two-year stint at Selhurst Park.
Palace have won the FA Cup – the club's first major trophy – under Glasner's stewardship, as well as winning the Community Shield against Liverpool at the start of the campaign.
Glasner said that defender Chris Richards, who was injured in last week's draw with Brentford, was doing everything he could to be fit in time for the Conference League final.
However, the Eagles boss said that their clash with Arsenal provides his players with the chance to play their way into the starting line-up in their European showpiece.
"It's always possible. It was [this week] in training, and players can show up," Glasner told reporters. "Of course, we won't make 10 changes for the final.
"Because now it will be the 60th game and, let's say, Maxence Lacroix will play if he's fit. He's in for almost every single game.
"But we will start with 11, but we will definitely end the game with a different 11 players. That means probably five subs. If it goes to extra time, probably six subs.
"That means 16 outfield players can be directly involved on the pitch, and I can promise you we don't win the game with just 16 players. We need every single one with support.
"Of course, we need every single one on the pitch, but we need everyone who is not playing as well, because Vallecano are such a good team. We need to perform on a top level."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Crystal Palace – Ismaila Sarr
Sarr has scored eight goals in his last eight starts for Palace in all competitions, netting in each of his last four.
Since their return to the top-flight in 2013, the only player to score in five consecutive starts for the Eagles is now Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze between April and May last year.

Arsenal – Gabriel Jesus
Despite only scoring twice in 13 Premier League appearances this season, Jesus may get his chance to start from the off at Selhurst Park.
And that decision would be merited, given the Brazilian has been involved in seven goals (five goals, two assists) in his team's final top-flight match of the season, boasting the most MD38 goals and goal involvements of any current player in the division.
MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN
This is the second time Palace have faced the Premier League champions after having the title confirmed, with the Eagles drawing 1-1 with Liverpool at Anfield last season.
The Eagles have, however, lost six of their last seven top-flight games against Arsenal, with the exception being a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in April last season.
But Glasner's men will want to sign off for the Conference League final on high. As a top-flight side, Palace have never lost when playing their final league match of the season at home (W8 D4), most recently beating Aston Villa 5-0 in 2023-24.
However, they come up against an Arsenal side that have lost two of their 16 Premier League away games against Palace (W10 D4), winning the last three by an aggregate score of 8-1.
Arsenal have also won their final Premier League game of the season more often than any other side (24). The Gunners have won on MD38 in each of the last 14 campaigns, while their last defeat came back in 2004-05 at Birmingham City (1-2).
The Gunners have won 29 games while keeping a clean sheet in all competitions this season. A win-to-nil here would equal their club record across a campaign, doing so 30 times in 1970-71.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Crystal Palace – 25.5%
Draw – 23.1%
Arsenal – 51.4%











