Arsenal are champions of England again after 22 years. Not because they exploded in the final round - but because Manchester City stumbled at Bournemouth and could no longer hide behind excuses. A 1-1 draw on the south coast, and the trophy left for north London.

City had to win to keep the title race alive into the final round. They didn't. Which means Arteta and his men have lifted the first league trophy of the post-Wenger era - twenty-two seasons since they last held it.

On the pitch, the picture was even harsher for Guardiola. Bournemouth went ahead through Junior Krupi, who curled the ball into the top corner - a fine strike, typical of a team with nothing to lose and no fear. The hosts then missed at least three more chances to finish them off, and they were spared only because Haaland in injury time rescued a point for City.

But a point is worth nothing when you need three. Guardiola's calendar had been packed - five matches in three weeks, plus the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday. The team looked spent. The changes didn't work: Kovačić for Marmoush brought nothing, and Semenyo and Bernardo Silva were so pale that Pep pulled them before the 60th minute.

Cherki and Foden came on to inject freshness. They created not a single chance. When your super-class off the bench can't make a difference against Bournemouth at home, the problem isn't the rotation - the problem is in the head.

Guardiola now heads to Sunday's match against Aston Villa with a broken dream of another title, but with two cups in the cabinet and (by all accounts) a goodbye from the club. Enzo Maresca, his former assistant, is being mentioned as a replacement. An Italian from City's academy who found the road back - a familiar Balkan script, only with us that usually ends in scandal, not in a contract.

And Arteta? After years of the snipe that "Arsenal always slip up in the final stretch", he now has the title. The question now is different: can he build a dynasty, or is this just one good cycle in the middle of a City era that is ending? City will be different next season. The Premier League too.