India, May 20 -- Arsenal's Premier League title was confirmed without a final-day explosion, without a last-minute winner, without the kind of staged theatre that usually defines football's grandest endings. Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth, the chase died on the south coast, and Mikel Arteta's players became champions while watching another match decide their fate.

That quiet confirmation did nothing to reduce the scale of the moment.

Arsenal's 22-year wait is now over. The club that last ruled English football through the Invincibles has finally returned to the top of the Premier League. The final step came after Arsenal's 1-0 win over Burnley left City needing victory to drag the race into the last weekend. City could not find...