Hundreds of thousands of Arsenal fans filled the streets of north London to participate in the parade celebrating the team's first Premier League title after 22 years of waiting.
Despite the disappointment of losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the penalty shootout in the Champions League final held in Budapest, festive atmosphere still enveloped the whole city as the bus convoy carrying Arsenal players moved through a route about 9km long.
According to estimates by local authorities, from 750,000 to one million fans poured into the streets to welcome coach Mikel Arteta and his team. Fans stood crowded on both sides of the road, many people climbed balconies, roofs or poked through windows to see their idols amidst a sea of red and white flags and flares.
The Premier League title this season is of special significance to Arsenal. After many consecutive years of second place and continuously missing out on titles, the "Gunners" finally ended their drought that lasted for more than two decades with a convincing performance, ending the season with a 7-point gap ahead of Manchester City.
For many Arsenal fans, this is a moment that they once thought would be very difficult to realize. Therefore, the defeat in the Champions League arena cannot overshadow the joy of domestic championship and the historical milestone that the London team has just created.
Besides the men's team, the parade also includes the Arsenal women's team, after just winning the FA Cup women's championship at the beginning of the year. The appearance of both teams turned the festival into a big celebration, closing a memorable season for the red and white team's fans.
