When Would Arsenal Lift the Premier League Trophy?

If Arsenal were to win the Premier League this season, when would they lift the trophy?

(Above image of Leicester City lifting the Premier League trophy in 2016 by Peter Woodentop, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

We’re not trying to jinx anything, Gunners fans, but it’s a legitimate question. People really want to be there when the league is won, and they want to be there when the trophy is lifted. So when does the Premier League champion actually get the trophy?

How the Premier League Trophy Lift Works

The short answer is that the Premier League champions lift the trophy after the next home game following their clinching of the title — if they have another home game.

For more, let’s count backwards, starting with the last day of the season. If that is when the Premier League title is clinched, that is when the trophy is lifted — no matter where it happens. This season, Arsenal’s last game is at Crystal Palace on May 24. So if the league isn’t won until that day, and if they win it that day, they lift the trophy at Selhurst Park. (We sell Crystal Palace tickets, by the way.)

A week earlier is Arsenal’s last home game of the season, against Burnley — although that game will be moved to another day should Arsenal make the FA Cup Final on May 16. Welcome to springtime in Premier League planning! (Related: Why do Premier League Games Move?)

If that Burnley game is when Arsenal clinch the title, they lift the trophy right after that game.

If they clinch it the week before, at West Ham, they wait to lift it until after the Burnley game.

If somehow they clinch it May 2 after their game at home vs Fulham, they lift the trophy that day.

How Much Are Tickets for Arsenal’s Last Home Game?

As you might imagine, then, there is great interest in seeing Arsenal’s last home game of this season, against Burnley. We sell Arsenal tickets, so you can check that page for the latest pricing. But as of March 21, the cheapest is over $4,000! That is some four times their April game vs Newcastle.

And how much is Arsenal’s last game of the season, at Palace? Those start around $1,000, while a typical Crystal Palace home game starts well under $200.

How Does it Work With the Premier League Trophy on the Last Day?

If we get to the last day of the season, May 24, and no one has won the Premier League, that means that either Arsenal or Manchester City could still win it. In that case, there is a trophy at both places. Whether one of them is the real trophy is unclear, but even if the winners lift a replica, they soon receive the real one.

And where is Manchester City on the last day? At home against Aston Villa. We sell Man City tickets, and those start around $400. Why so low? Low demand, we think. Even when City have clinched and lifted on the last day of the season, prices weren’t that bad.

But back to the trophy: Let’s say Arsenal has a chance to clinch before the last game of the season. In that case, the real Premier League trophy makes the trip to The Emirates.

How Long do the Premier League Winners Keep the Trophy?

They keep the real Premier League trophy for about a year, then give it back to the league for presentation. They get a replica to keep forever.

What is a Guard of Honor?

That’s when the winners of something — usually the league, but it could also the FA Cup — are applauded on to the pitch by the opposing team before the game. So let’s say that Arsenal clinch the league at Fulham the weekend of May 9. At their next home game, against Burnley, they would be welcomed onto the pitch with a Guard of Honor. Presumably, in that case, Palace players would do the same the following week.

It’s not required, but it’s a nice tradition.