Forget the Champions League, why Arsenal can now create a Premier League dynasty

Sunday may have felt like an awkward time to hold a victory parade, but when you've waited two decades to be Premier League champions, the Gunners didn't let their European disappointment get in the way of celebrating their domestic success. 

And nor should they, not just because they are deserving title winners in 2026, but also because the victory could really be the catalyst for what could come from this side and the opportunity that's staring them in the face. 

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A changing of the guard 

Arsenal's win may have been two decades in waiting, but the path now looks clear for Mikel Arteta and his side to really lay down a marker as the team to beat in the Premier League. 

Having finished runners-up in the previous three campaigns, the Gunners had already gatecrashed Manchester City and Liverpool's toing and froing at the top of the table, but now they have the trophy to really show they are the team to beat - and it may not come at a better time. 

Whilst the North Londoners were lifting the famous trophy at Selhurst Park, the man who's been the boss to beat ever since his arrival in England, Pep Guardiola, was saying goodbye to Manchester after ending his trophy-laden reign at City. 
 

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With the Pep-era over, City will now look to Enzo Maresca to try and fill his impossible shoes, and fans can rightly expect quite the drop-off next season, whilst Arsenal move on with the longest-serving manager in the country. 

And Guardiola isn't the only one. Free of his overbearing presence, there will also be huge changes for Arsenal's other potential title challengers, too. 

Manchester United have stuck with Michael Carrick, but it's anyone's guess how the former midfielder will do now the honeymoon period is over. Liverpool will be under new management after they binned off Arne Slot as soon as the season was over. 

Can Andoni Iraola replicate what he did at Bournemouth and step up to the plate if he's appointed? Or will it be a season of transition for the Reds, as well as City? 

Nevertheless, it's all good news for Gooners. They have a settled side, who have been moulded by the man in charge, and now they are champions, too. Will they need to really fear anyone next season?  

They'll improve too 

Not that everything will be standing still in North London either, because this team has the potential to do better, too. 

No Arsenal side has ever retained a Premier League crown, but this 2026 side has every opportunity to do so, even days after celebrating their first title win since 2004. 

This campaign was built on defensive solidity and backed up by a cast of top-drawer attacking talent to get Arsenal over the line when it needed to. 

In David Raya, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, they have some of the best performers of the season, and rightfully in the conversation for individual awards. 
 

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Yet, as good as their attacking options are, Arsenal perhaps lack a game-changer in their frontline and that was evident in the Champions League final when you compared their options to PSG. 

Bukayo Saka has that potential, but blows hot and cold, while Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres are all top quality names, but wouldn't be included in any team of the season, which is quite the quirk to a title-winning campaign. 

If Arsenal can add a bona fide difference-maker (or two) in attack, and keep the supporting cast intact, then they could really blow the opposition away next season, IF Arteta is comfortable in taking the handbrake off ever so lightly. 

The current crop will also improve just by being winners. For so long, that noose around the neck was down to the fact that they couldn't call themselves trophy winners, but that's all changed. 

This is an Arsenal team who are champions with a squad and an age profile that has a different mentality with medals in their pockets. Add a few more faces and the rest of the league are in trouble. 

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Europe...finally?

The dominance they can create domestically could also help them finally lift the big one, too. 

Arsenal are a Champions League-winning club in waiting and didn't lose a single game in the competition this season; they just need that one final push, that possible missing spark to finally see them become European champions. 

Whether that's by way of new faces or the current crop believing they are now winners - or a combination of both - Arsenal are so nearly there. 

Everything is in place now. The manager, the ownership and now the success. 

It's an ideal time to push on and really take advantage of what's in front of them in 2026-27, where we stand on the cusp of a Gunners revolution. 

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