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Declan Rice led Arsenal’s jubilant Premier League title celebrations on an open-top bus through north London, but the midfielder quickly turned his focus toward future successes. Despite the sting of their Champions League final defeat just hours before, the England international insisted that the Gunners’ journey is only beginning.

Gunners bounce back from European disappointment

Arsenal held a grand parade to mark their 2025–26 Premier League championship. Mikel Arteta’s squad departed the Emirates Stadium at 2:15 pm for their 5.6-mile route through the city. Captain Martin Ødegaard was the first to board the bus, which proudly displayed the words ‘Champions 25–26’, carrying the Premier League trophy aloft. The team had hoped to turn the event into a double celebration by adding a maiden Champions League crown to their domestic triumph — something the club has chased for 140 years.

In the final held in Budapest, Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead, but Paris Saint-Germain equalised through an Ousmane Dembele penalty. The game went to a shoot-out, where Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missed their spot-kicks. Speaking after the loss, Gabriel described the result as “painful” but expressed pride in the team’s progress, writing on Instagram: “I’m proud of this team and everything we achieved together this season.”

Rice steals the show with confident message

Declan Rice celebrated Arsenal’s Premier League crown by performing ‘Ice Ice Baby’ on the team’s open-top bus and then boldly declared that the Gunners will be “coming back for more” next season. The England midfielder, microphone in hand, hyped up the thousands of fans lining the streets of north London as they celebrated the club’s first league title in 22 years.

The celebrations remained lively despite the heartbreak of their Champions League shoot-out defeat to PSG less than a day earlier. Speaking to Sky Sports, Rice said: “I love this team, I love the manager. To see the joy we can bring to people — it’s crazy. But next year, we’re coming back for more. You heard it here first. Lock in or get locked out.”

A new chapter under Mikel Arteta

For Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was just 19 and not even born when Arsenal last lifted the league title in 2004, the triumph carried extra meaning. The young midfielder, who started in the Champions League final, told Sky Sports: “First of all, I’m so proud of the boys. I’m proud of the club and the way everyone helped us get here because it hasn’t been an easy season. But we’ve ended it as champions of England.”

He continued: “It’s disappointing because when you’re so close to achieving a dream, falling short hurts. But as Mikel said, it’s fuel for the fire — and we’ll use it. I’m going to see my family here today, and it’s going to be emotional. The last two weeks have been incredible — sharing those moments with people you love and go to battle with. It’s amazing. For me, the future is bright. I feel like this is the start of a new era, and we’re ready to go and achieve our dreams. Arteta has supported me throughout my journey, and I’m so grateful for the trust he’s placed in me. Thank you — and we’re not done yet!”

Fans flood London for a historic celebration

Gabriel and Eze were all smiles during the parade despite the previous night’s heartbreak, while Arteta looked delighted as he waved to the adoring supporters. Members of Arsenal’s backroom staff followed in a second bus, while the women’s team rode on a third, proudly displaying the FIFA Champions Cup they won in February. An estimated half-a-million fans turned out for the event, with red smoke filling the air as hundreds of flares were ignited, creating an unforgettable scene in north London.