British PM Starmer congratulates Arsenal as title celebrations go deep into the night

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took time out from dealing with his own sticky political situation to congratulate his favorite soccer team, Arsenal, on winning the Premier League.

“22 long years for the Arsenal,” Starmer posted on X soon after the title was clinched late Tuesday. "But finally, we’re back where we belong.

“Champions!”

For Starmer, a lifelong Arsenal fan, the victory was rare good news at a time when he is clinging to power after woeful results for his Labour Party in local and regional elections on May 7.

Dozens of Labour lawmakers have called for him to resign, a member of his Cabinet has quit, and a popular rival, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, is running for a seat in Parliament so he can challenge Starmer for the party leadership.

On this occasion, London got the better of Manchester, with Arsenal outlasting big rival Man City to the biggest prize in English soccer.

The new champions celebrated into the night, with midfielder Eberechi Eze posting pictures on his Instagram account up to 5 a.m. local time.

One showed Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard leaning his head back with an Arsenal-branded bottle in his mouth, likely a nod to those critics who accused the team of being “bottlers” — a British term for collapsing under pressure — after three straight runner-up finishes in the Premier League and no major trophy since 2020.

Odegaard will be lifting the Premier League trophy after the away match against Crystal Palace on Sunday, the final day of the league season.

There was footage on social media of many Arsenal players, including Eze, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, walking around the club's Emirates Stadium home as the sun came up.

Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this story.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal supporters gather at the Arsenal stadium after Arsenal's soccer team won the Premier League title in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Former Arsenal player Ian Wright arrives at the Arsenal stadium to celebrate with supporters after Arsenal's soccer team won the Premier League title in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Arsenal supporters celebrate in a pub near the Arsenal stadium after Arsenal's soccer team won the Premier League title in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Arsenal supporters gather to celebrate at the Arsenal stadium after Arsenal's soccer team won the Premier League title in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Former Arsenal player Ian Wright celebrates with Arsenal supporters at the Arsenal stadium after Arsenal's soccer team won the Premier League title in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.

His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.

Having won Europe's secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.

Spot a pattern?

If his club's fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with Villa in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.

Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.

“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition," he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. "I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.

“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”

Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season's Champions League, is favorite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago was playing in Germany's second division.

This is its first European final.

“It is very special," Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous, we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Freiburg's coach Julian Schuster smiles during a press conference ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)

Aston Villa fans gather in the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa. (AP Photo)

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery instructs his players during a training session ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery looks down during a press conference ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)

Aston Villa fans light flares and chant as they gather in the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ahead of the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa. (AP Photo)