Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Team news and updates as Mikel Arteta rings changes on Premier League final day

Swipe for next article

Liveupdated

Bruno Fernandes beats Declan Rice to Premier League player of the season

Bruno Fernandes has pipped title-winner Declan Rice to the Premier League player of the season award after a sensational individual campaign.

The Manchester United talisman has produced a season for the books, equalling the assist record of 20 that was first set by Arsenal great Thierry Henry in 2002/03 before Kevin De Bruyne notched the tally for Manchester City in 2019/20.

The Portuguese international could yet take the record for himself on the final day as United travel to Brighton, with third place in the table already secured.

Fernandes’ main competition for the award was Arsenal midfielder Rice, who has been integral to the Gunners ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

Bruno Fernandes beats Declan Rice to Premier League player of the season

Fernandes equalled the Premier League assist record last time out against Nottingham Forest and could take the throne for himself on the final day of the season

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 14:10

Arsenal quartet make England's World Cup squad

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke were all called up by Thomas Tuchel for England’s 2026 World Cup squad, though Myles Lewis-Skelly misses out.

Ethan Nwaneri will also be part of the group in Florida for the friendlies, helping with training matches due to the Gunners quartet’s time off between the Champions League final and joining up with the Three Lions.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City).

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).

Attackers: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 14:00

Mikel Arteta lauds Arsenal fans after 'emotional explosion' following title win

"I think what they [supporters] have created around the club and the team is incredible to witness,” Arteta said on the bond between the team and the supporters. “That chemistry, that connection, that passion, it’s something beautiful. I mean, the trophy is great, but that is, in my opinion, something even bigger.

"We all are responsible, and I really want to make that clear, there’s been so many people in this journey throughout the years, not only since I’ve been here, but as well obviously everything that Arsene [Wenger] built, even though we didn’t achieve the Premier League.

"It was an explosion, an emotional explosion, because everybody’s been just, you know, keeping emotions, and lifting those emotions, but not being able to really express them. So when we opened that bottle, I think everybody had so much to release and it’s been incredible to witness."

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 13:50

Mikel Arteta on Arsenal fans celebrating title

"It’s one of the best feelings I've ever had," Mikel Arteta says ahead of today’s match against Crystal Palace.

"I was supposed to be here, at Sobha, watching the game with the boys and the staff, because that’s what they wanted, but I couldn’t. I think 20 minutes later, before the game, I had to leave.

"I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted and I think it was the moment as well to watch it together, to be themselves and just see what the outcome would be. I went home, I went outside to the garden, I started to build a fire, and I started to do some barbecue. I didn’t watch any of it.

"I was just hearing some noises in the background, in the living room and suddenly the magic happened. My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me, he started to cry, he gave me a hug and said: 'We are champions, daddy.'

"Then my other two boys and my wife came over and it was beautiful. Just to see that joy on them as well, that they are always with me, it was magical. A minute later, Martin [Odegaard] called me on video."

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 13:41

Vieira lauds Odegaard after joining him as title-winning captain for Gunners

“I think you have a different profile of captain. You had a profile of Tony Adams who was quite really vocal. Me, I was a bit the opposite. I was more leading by example on the field, by putting my head where the people would put their feet.

“Then you have Martin Odegaard who is more a technical leader of the team on the field, and I think he fulfilled his role really well in not being scared to get the ball on his feet and [dictate] the tempo of the game.

“So that’s three captains and three different profiles of a captain and I think we all did it quite well.

“When you are the captain and you're leading the team, of course it is a proud moment.

“But when I look at the pictures again it's not just about lifting the trophies, it's the joy that all the players [feel] behind it. A group of players who have been up and down and managed to win that title - the pride of leading a group of players who achieved something quite special.”

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 13:33

How Lewis Hamilton is seeking to evoke Arsenal’s success with Ferrari in Canada

For all the celebratory messages of jubilation emanating from the never-ending group of high-profile Arsenal supporters this week – from Sir Keir Starmer and Hugh Lawrie to Piers Morgan and Jess Glynne – Lewis Hamilton’s repost on Instagram was altogether more understated. “COYG,” the 41-year-old said, the common abbreviation for “Come on you Gunners.”

How Lewis Hamilton is seeking to evoke Arsenal’s success with Ferrari in Canada

Montreal’s street circuit is one of Hamilton’s favourites – but Mercedes and McLaren appear to be a step ahead right now

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 13:25

Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri added to England pre-World Cup training camp

Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri will join three other England talents for Thomas Tuchel’s pre-World Cup training camp in Florida.

Tuchel has drafted in the 19-year-old, who has spent the second half of the season on loan at Ligue 1 Marseille, alongside Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Fulham’s Josh King and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha, to play their part in getting the team prepared in Miami.

Scott, King and Ngumoha’s participation was confirmed on Friday as the German announced his 26-man squad for the finals, and Nwaneri was added to the party on Saturday.

Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri added to England pre-World Cup training camp

Nwaneri joins Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Fulham’s Josh King and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha to help England prepare for the World Cup

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 13:17

Keir Starmer urges TNT Sports to make Champions League final free to watch

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has written to TNT Sports, urging the broadcaster to make the upcoming Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain free to watch.

TNT (owned by Warner Bros Discovery) hold broadcast rights for the Champions League in the UK and have made the final available to stream for free in previous years. However, earlier this month it caused outrage by confirming that viewers will only be able to watch the clash at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday 30 May on either its own platform or HBO Max, both requiring a subscription.

The broadcaster said subscriptions to HBO Max were available from £4.99, calling it “exceptional value”.

Keir Starmer urges TNT Sports to make Champions League final free to watch

Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the biggest game in European football next weekend but, for the first time in the modern era, it won’t be free to watch in the UK

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 13:08

How Mikel Arteta banished the banter era to bring glory back to Arsenal

After a few minutes of hugging and celebrating at London Colney on Tuesday, when Arsenal had finally been confirmed as champions again, the players just let go. There had already been a few guttural roars from the pure relief of winning. They then all jumped into the swimming pool.

Bukayo Saka of course had an inflatable, if not this time a unicorn. Some older staff members were chuckling that this was rather different to how the Premier League-winning squad of 1998 to 2004 celebrated. The point, however, was that they were actually celebrating again.

The players did end up going to a club in central London. They’ve very much come of age in other ways, but so has the manager.

How Mikel Arteta banished the banter era to bring glory back to Arsenal

Through a long, arduous process, Arteta turned Arsenal from a joke back into a serious club and has been rewarded with a first Premier League title for 22 years. Miguel Delaney explains how the Spaniard masterminded the transformation

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 13:00

Arsenal train before Premier League final day

Jack Rathborn24 May 2026 12:50

Click here to read article