Rio Ferdinand Demands Apology from Patrice Evra After Arsenal Win Premier League Titlenewsline24

The agonizing 22-year wait is officially over. Arsenal Football Club have been crowned the 2025/26 Premier League champions, securing their first top-flight title since the legendary “Invincibles” campaign of 2003/04.

Mikel Arteta’s side officially sealed the championship on Tuesday night, after title rivals Manchester City were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The result leaves the Gunners with an unassailable four-point lead with just one match remaining, sparking wild celebrations across North London and ending a gruelling six-year major trophy drought.

Arsenal’s path to glory was paved with ruthless consistency and defensive mastery. Having endured the heartbreak of falling short in three consecutive seasons, Arteta’s men utilized their past failures to build an impenetrable mentality. They set the stage for their coronation with a gritty, high-pressure 1-0 win over Burnley earlier in the week. By grinding out crucial results, maintaining a historically rigid defensive record, and refusing to succumb to the late-season pressures that derailed their previous campaigns, Arsenal transformed themselves from perennial challengers into undisputed champions.

Rio Ferdinand’s Viral Reaction

As social media erupted with reactions following the final whistle at Bournemouth, one of the most notable responses came from former Manchester United and England legend Rio Ferdinand. Over recent years, Ferdinand has been a vocal critic of the Gunners, frequently using his podcast and YouTube channels to troll Arsenal fans and label the team as “bottle jobs.” However, the 47-year-old gracefully conceded defeat on Tuesday night. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ferdinand offered his congratulations to the fanbase and immediately called out a fellow pundit:

“Shout out Arsenal fans… Years of mockery… nearly men! Tonight, sealed it. @Evra where’s your apology 😂😂😂”
The post instantly went viral, racking up over 12,000 retweets and nearly 90,000 likes within hours, as football fans across the globe revelled in the sudden shift in narrative.

Ferdinand’s direct call-out of Patrice Evra stems from a long-standing, bitter history between the French defender and Arsenal. Evra has notoriously disparaged Arsenal’s mentality for over a decade, back in October 2024, Evra appeared on Ferdinand’s ‘FIVE’ YouTube channel and they discussed Arsenal’s title charge at the time, when the Frenchman compared the Gunners to Netflix.

“Watching Arsenal is like watching Netflix. You always have to wait for the next season!” he said. “Trust me, every season is going to be like that so don’t even get involved. I’m really nice, peaceful. Of course, United right now is a disaster. But please don’t speak about Arsenal because now, what, you’re going to cry for the referee, come on.”
Even throughout Arsenal’s recent resurgence under Arteta, Evra has remained one of their harshest doubters. He consistently questioned their championship intent, openly mocking their title credentials in the media and suggesting they lacked the physical and mental fortitude to cross the finish line.