On Matchday 33 of the 2025–26 Premier League season, Arsenal played against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The game ended 2–1 in favour of City. At full-time, Manchester City players were doing victory laps while rival fans flooded social media with posts about Arsenal bottling the league.
But in the middle of all the gloom, one man lifted his head, looked at his captain Martin Ødegaard and said:
“It’s not done.”
That man was Declan Rice.
Arsenal went on to win every remaining league game, storming to the Premier League title and finishing 7 points clear of Manchester City.
But why do I look back on Matchday 33 with such nostalgia?
Because ladies and gentlemen, it’s been exactly 33 days since Arsenal won the league title.
Noni Madueke wins the penalty before Harry Kane put England in front.
Declan Rice assisted from a corner to put England back in front.
Bukayo Saka comes off the bench and sets up Marcus Rashford to seal the win.
The Arsenal boys have done it for England.
It’s what they do. Easy. 🏴
In the Premier League, a club can submit a maximum of 25 senior players for the official squad registration (the “25-man squad list”).
But the question many are asking is, why 25? Because 25 in this case is exactly the same number of days since Arsenal won the league title.