For 22 years, they waited. For 22 years, they watched rivals lift the trophy. For 22 years, they heard the whispers: “Bottlers.” “Nearly men.” “Next year, maybe.”
Next year finally came.
Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time since the Invincibles of 2003/04 . And Nigerian celebrities, from Afrobeats superstars to footballers, let the world know exactly how it felt. 
How It Happened: The Day the Wait Ended
Arsenal had done their part on Monday. A gritty 1-0 win over Burnley at the Emirates moved them four points clear at the top . Bukayo Saka’s pinpoint corner found Kai Havertz, and the header that followed may as well have been the header that ended two decades of heartbreak .
The official confirmation came on Tuesday. Manchester City travelled to Bournemouth needing a win to keep the title race alive. They didn’t get it. Eli Junior Kroupi scored first for the Cherries. Erling Haaland equalised in the 95th minute, but it was too little, too late .
The final whistle blew at the Vitality Stadium. 1-1. And just like that, 1,500 miles away in north London, a 22-year drought was over .
Davido: “Back a Gunner”
The Afrobeats king had a complicated relationship with Arsenal in recent years. At some point, he switched allegiance to Manchester United, a decision that did not go unnoticed by Arsenal fans who remembered his Gooner roots.
But on Tuesday night, Davido came home.
“Back a Gunner,” he posted simply on X .
The internet reacted. Some welcomed him. Others side-eyed the timing. But rapper Odumodublvck, one of the most passionate Arsenal voices in Nigerian music had the best response:
“Me and you never fight before. No be today e go start. I accept you back” .
That is how you welcome a prodigal Gunner. No grudges. Just vibes.
Chike’s Living Room Celebration
Singer Chike, never one to hide his Arsenal loyalty, shared a video of himself celebrating in his living room . The joy was uncontainable. The energy was pure. The living room?
Apparently, it stole the show.
One commenter noted that the space was so beautifully decorated, so warm, so tastefully arranged, that it must have been designed by Frank Edoho’s wife .
For those who do not know: Frank Edoho is the veteran media personality. His wife, Sandra, has been at the centre of recent online gossip involving Chike . So the comment landed like a perfectly timed through ball.
Comic relief in the middle of pure joy. Only Nigerian Twitter could pull that off.
Victor Boniface and Odumodublvck: Giveaway Kings
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface does not just celebrate with words. He celebrates with his wallet.
The Super Eagles forward announced a giveaway of ₦1.5 million for Arsenal fans . His caption was even better:
“My first ever football jersey na arsenal ooo. And na my mama buy am for me complete set with socks and boot self. Since then na gunners ooo. Make 1 arsenal fan drop acct for 1.5m. Make you share”
As for Odumodublvck? The rapper has been one of the most vocal Arsenal supporters in Nigerian entertainment. His “I accept you back” to Davido was warm. His energy throughout the season has been unwavering. And his presence in the celebrations? Essential.
The Celebrations Across Nigeria
It was not just the celebrities. From Lagos to Abuja, from Benin to Port Harcourt, Arsenal fans poured into the streets . Viewing centres erupted. Chants of “Arsenal! Arsenal!” echoed through the night .
Falz celebrated. Seun Kuti celebrated. Tiwa Savage posted: “Congratulations to Us Arsenal, The champions of England” .
Even former Vice President Atiku Abubakar joined in: “North London is red again” .
Tony Elumelu posted a video of himself on a treadmill in an Arsenal shirt. Pasuma shared a dancing video. Even Pastor Dolapo, who had previously predicted Arsenal would not win, offered an apology .
Football, in Nigeria, has always been more than football. And this? This was 22 years of suppressed emotion finally let loose.
The Men Who Made It Happen
Mikel Arteta became the first former Premier League player to win the title as a manager . David Raya claimed his third straight Golden Glove . Bukayo Saka, the boy who bled Arsenal from the academy, delivered when it mattered most.
Arsenal players themselves had the perfect response to years of “bottlers” taunts.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, holding a bottle of champagne, joked: “They called us bottlers, but now we’re holding the bottles!”
That is not bitterness. That is vindication.
SEE ALSO: Can Arsenal Win Both the Premier and Champions League for the First Time in 22 Years?
What Comes Next
The Premier League trophy will be lifted on Sunday at Selhurst Park . A victory lap. A coronation. A photograph 22 years in the making.
But the season is not over.
Arsenal have a Champions League final against PSG on May 30 . A double is still possible. A first-ever European crown is still within reach.
For now, though? Nigerian Gooners are not thinking about Paris. They are thinking about Tuesday night. About Bournemouth holding City. About Davido coming home. About Chike’s living room. About Boniface giving away ₦1.5 million.
About 22 years of waiting finally meaning something.
“Back a Gunner,” Davido said.
Welcome back. The trophy is real. And the celebrations have only just begun.
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