Arsenal have reportedly finalised tentative plans for a potentially historic victory parade through North London later this month.
The Gunners are on the verge of creating history, with the possibility of securing a famous double now looking increasingly achievable after a series of major developments this week.
On Monday night, Manchester City’s slip-up away to Everton handed Arsenal control of the Premier League title race, putting them in pole position to secure their first top-flight crown since 2004.
Just a day later, Mikel Arteta’s men sealed their spot in the Champions League Final after winning their two-legged semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
As per reports from the Daily Mail, Arsenal have pencilled in Sunday, May 31, as the provisional date for their trophy parade, set to take place just a day after the Champions League Final in Budapest.
This scheduling poses a logistical challenge for many Arsenal supporters, numerous of whom are expected to travel to Hungary for the Champions League finale.
With the final being played at Budapest’s Puskas Arena on the evening of Saturday, May 30, thousands of fans will be in a race against time to return to the streets of Islington for the celebrations, which are expected to start ‘earlier in the day rather than the evening’.
Arsenal’s hopes of a title-laden season grew stronger after Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday night, a result that left Pep Guardiola’s side five points adrift of the Gunners.
Although City still have games in hand, the result dealt a psychological blow to the reigning champions. Arsenal now only need to match City’s results in their remaining three fixtures to clinch their first league title in over twenty years.
Arsenal’s remaining Premier League fixtures appear relatively favourable compared to typical title run-ins. They are set to face relegation-threatened West Ham United, already-relegated Burnley, and conclude their campaign against Crystal Palace on the final day.
If Arsenal can navigate the last few domestic fixtures successfully and then defeat either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in Budapest, the planned May 31 parade could become the largest celebration the club has ever witnessed.
For fans hastily arranging flights and Eurotunnel journeys, the possibility of witnessing Arsenal lift both the Premier League and their first-ever European Cup is likely to outweigh any fatigue from their travels.