Arsenal's Premier League victory parade: Huge crowds greet players as they parade trophy

Summary

This live coverage has closed - see our replacement story here
The Arsenal victory parade has ended after players made their way through north London on open-top buses
"This is without doubt the biggest event I've seen, people wise, in any sport across any country,"writes our sports reporter
"Well done to all, let's enjoy what we have achieved, rest and then go for even more next season," says Arsenal FC fan Tim
Arsenal women's team has also been celebrating winning the first-ever Women's Champions Cup back in February
Arsenal WFC put their shades on as they waded through a sea of red smoke to mark their victory. One fan tells us it's "so cool seeing the actual players"
The parade might be over but if you're still out and about, here's how it could still affect travel in the capital

Live Reporting

Edited by Rorey Bosotti and Angus Thompson, with reporting from BBC Sport

'North London forever': A momentous day for Arsenal fanspublished at 17:57 BST
Rachel Flynn
Live reporter
Image source, Getty Images
So, the Gunners are victorious - and the whole of north London wants us to know it.
Hundreds of thousands of fans - some just stepping outside their houses,others who have travelled from afar - have spent today celebrating their club.
And there's much to celebrate. The women's team won the first ever Fifa Women's Champions Cup in February, then earlier this month Arsenal FC marked their first Premier League win in 22 years.
The five-mile route around north London, circling the Emirates Stadium, saw tears, cheers and a whole lot of flares. Chants of "north London forever" echoed across the red-painted sky, as one fan told the BBC it's been "one of the best days of my life".
Supporters don't know how long they're going to have to wait to do this again, sports reporter Matt Graveling writes from the parade, but these are memories of a lifetime.
We're ending our coverage. Thanks for following along - and for those who attended the event, get home safely.
You can read our story here
Image source, Getty Images
A glinting trophy, packed streets and an ocean of red - the Arsenal parade in picturespublished at 17:42 BST
It was quite the spectacle. Hundreds of thousands of people turned the streets of north London into an ocean of red and white - and let's not forget the flares.
As the team buses made their way along the parade route they were met with the roar of fans finding any vantage point they could to witness a celebration 22 years in the making.
The crowds - and the players - were treated to a memorable show. Here are the pictures to prove it:
Image source, Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Image caption,
Manager Mikel Arteta and captain Martin Odegaard hoisted the Premier League trophy as the open-top buses started off from Emirates Stadium
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Fans turned much north London red and white - even the statues got into the spirit
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Supporters told the BBC of their exhilaration celebrating a moment 22 years in the making
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
People in their thousands turned out to celebrate with their players and get a glimpse of the trophy
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
The players were clearly having a ball as they took turns holding up the trophy, waved and threw scarves to the crowd
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
And then there were the flares. Red smoke filled the streets wherever the buses passed
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
The Arsenal WFC players also showed off the Women's Champions Cup trophy
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Every available spot was taken to get the best views
Image source, Pool
Image caption,
Fans even watched from rooftops along the parade route where ground level was packed

Large crowds lingering around parade route: Met Policepublished at 17:32 BST
Image source, PA Media
We've just heard from the Metropolitan Police.
In a post on social media, the force says a large number of supporters are still in the area surrounding the parade route following the conclusion of the event.
"A small number have breached a security fence near the Emirates Stadium," it adds. "The area remains closed, with officers in place to prevent access and ensure public safety."
'It's still sinking in,' says Barry, who's been a fan since he was threepublished at 17:23 BST
Kesewaa Browne
BBC London reporter, at the parade
Image source, Kesewaa Browne/BBC
Barry, from south London, tells me he's been an Arsenal fan since he was three year's old.
“It’s still sinking in," he says.
"Twenty-two years is a long wait and the last few years haven’t been good. We won an FA Cup of course, but that’s not the same as the premiership."
Barry says he owes his club allegiance to his dad, "who sadly passed away 4 years ago".
"But I know he’s watching down. I’ve passed my love for the club onto my son to carry on the legacy," he says.

'It's only up from here,' says Gunners fan Michaelpublished at 17:14 BST
Kesewaa Browne
BBC London, at the parade
Image source, Kesewaa Browne/BBC
Image caption,
Michael (left) and Teju came out in support today
The parade may have finished but the celebrations haven't. I caught up a little earlier with Michael and Teju. Michael tells me he's been "an Arsenal fan since [Thierry Henry] - and Teju as my partner is one by default".
He says the club's win is "a dream come true", adding, "it's only up from here. I'm over the moon."
He says his favourite player at the moment is Myles Lewis-Skelly. Teju says she supports Bukayo Saka - and his partner Tolami Benson, whose outfits she admires.
As the party continues, so does our Arsenal quizpublished at 16:50 BST

'Well done to all. Rest, and go for more next season'published at 16:40 BST
Andrée Massiah
BBC News
We're still hearing from Arsenal supporters about their joy over the club's first Premier League trophy in more than two decades.
Tim Selves is thrilled to see how far the team has come, and has words of encouragement for the club's next season: "If told at the beginning of the season that Arsenal would get to two finals – albeit lose them both – and be champions, I think nearly all fans would have taken it.
"If that had been proposed 10 years ago, when fans were fighting amongst themselves, it would have been considered sheer fantasy. You can’t build Rome in a day, but brilliant strategy, management and players at the club are now paying dividends.
"Well done to all, let’s enjoy what we have achieved, rest and then go for even more next season."
As the parade comes to a close, these are memories that last a lifetimepublished at 16:34 BST
Matt Graveling
Sports reporter, at the parade
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
As the victory parade comes to a close, you can bet some people will be heading to the pub, while others will hang around and enjoy the party.
They don't know how long they're going to have to wait to do this again.
Most people I've been speaking to today don't think it's going to be another 22 years, but you never know.
Out of all the events I've ever covered in my 15 years as a broadcast journalist, this is without doubt the biggest event I've seen, people wise, in any sport across any country.
These are memories that last a lifetime.

Buses arrive back at Arsenal home groundpublished at 16:33 BST
Image source, Pool
The Arsenal teams and staff have made it back to Emirates Stadium.
After a two-and-a-half hour loop around north London, and a 22-year wait, it doesn't look like fans are ready for the celebrations to end quite yet.
Image source, Pool
Even the rooftops are getting crowdedpublished at 16:22 BST
Image source, Pool
It's not just street level that's standing room only.
The rooftops are getting crowded too as almost everyone in north London scrambles for a glimpse of the victors as they pass.

It's a red alert for north Londonpublished at 16:18 BST
Arsenal fans are giving the saying 'painting the town red' a whole new meaning today.
If you can't see the parade for the smoke - like this family earlier, you can always follow the live stream at the top of the page.
Image source, PA Media
Love for the club spans generations in this familypublished at 16:13 BST
Emma Jones
BBC London
We've just bumped into three generations of Arsenal fans.
Grandmother Val Fenner - from Hertfordshire - has been a fan 40 years. She's with her daughter Carly Bowers and Carly's sons.
Carly was in Budapest for the Champions League Final last night
"It was a really good experience. Sadly not meant to be… this time - but I am so proud of the team."

Fans find their perch for a perfect view as thousands cheer their heroes onpublished at 16:06 BST
Image source, PA Media
Image source, Reuters
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Image source, EPA
Even non-supporters are getting into the funpublished at 16:01 BST
Andrée Massiah
BBC News
Grace Abwooli says that she's not a fan of the club, but the red and white vibes are contagious.
She tells us: "I’m at home watching the parade with my four-month-old baby. I’m not an Arsenal fan myself, but I have friends and family who are. Hats off to Arsenal — it’s lovely to see everyone in such happy spirits despite yesterday’s loss. Congratulations on a fantastic season.
"It’s great to see such happy spirits and beautiful chaos in North London! Let’s continue with this same energy for the World Cup!"
Image source, Getty Images

Fans who couldn't make it out are still shouting COYG from homepublished at 15:54 BST
Andrée Massiah
BBC News
Image source, Reuters
More now from club fans who couldn't make it to the parade:
Liam Sinnott says a bout of chickenpox has kept his family at home.
"I could not go to the parade as my two young daughters have chicken pox. Been a supporter of Arsenal since 1986 and this title means the most out of all the First Division and Premier League trophies I've experienced as a fan of the Gunners. I am with all the players and fans in spirit today. COYG - North London is red."
And Chris Carter-Gordon has been thwarted by injury.
"Watching from home with a broken ankle - so excited for (and jealous of!) my husband and friends who are watching in the crowd. I’ll be at the next one, promise!!"
Chemotherapy tomorrow for Jonathan Patrick's son means the pair have stayed in - but spirits are high, he says:
"My two sons watching the Arsenal parade today, would of loved to been there but my eldest son is off for chemotherapy tomorrow morning, but watching Arsenal show off the Premier League trophy is putting a smile on his face."
Parade proceeds down Essex Roadpublished at 15:50 BST
The buses are still going, with the players of both Arsenal FC and Arsenal WFC slowly making their way down Essex Road, towards Angel.
The crowd is not thinning - and the clouds of red smoke aren't either.

North London feels more red than everpublished at 15:43 BST
Emily Brown
BBC News, at the parade
It’s an amazing atmosphere here in north London. There’s a cloud of red smoke from the flares, making the area feel even more red today.
We’ve spoken to people who live just metres away from the stadium and have been talking about the sense of community since Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions a few days ago.
"People have actually been talking to each other in the street!" one resident tells me.
North London is very much alive.
Three generations of Arsenal fans celebrate something to 'scream and roar about'published at 15:41 BST
"You're speaking to two elderly ladies who have known Arsenal since when we were small," lifetime fan Theresa tells the BBC's Emily Brown at the parade.
Theresa was born streets away from Arsenal's Emirates stadium. "So you could say I've been a fan since I was born," she says.
While Theresa and Mary did see Arsenal win the same trophy 22 years ago, Theresa says, "it has been a long time since Arsenal has had anything to scream and roar about".
Theresa, who still lives in the area, says everybody has been in great spirits over the last week, waving and congratulating passers-by.
"And now, we're all together," Mary says.
That includes one of Arsenal's youngest fans, Freddy, whose mum Jo says he has no choice in the matter.

Shades on as WFC champions soak in the glorypublished at 15:37 BST
Ever wondered what a sea of fans bathed in red flare looks like through sunglasses?
Donning their shades, Arsenal WFC's players are taking the time to bask in the victory of their Champions Cup title back in February.
And if you need a refresher on what happened three months ago, check our earlier post.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, EPA
'It means a lot seeing the players in real life'published at 15:29 BST
The BBC has spoken to two young fans along the parade route who say they are very much enjoying the day.
"It's just so cool seeing the actual players, I've only ever actually seen them on TV. It's just so different seeing them in real life," the young girl says.
"I was waiving at [Alessia] Russo, she waved back."
The boy adds: "It means a lot seeing them in real life, it gives me a lot of inspiration to be a professional footballer when I'm older."