Nine arrests were made during Arsenal's Premier League trophy parade in north London on Sunday, as thousands of fans celebrated the club's first league title in 22 years. The Metropolitan Police reported charges including drunk and disorderly behaviour, drugs offences, sexual assault, and assaulting emergency workers.
Around 500 police officers were deployed for the event, which saw an open-top bus carrying the men's and women's teams parade through Islington. The men's side had returned from Budapest after losing the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain, while the women's team had won the Champions Cup.
Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade rescued approximately 75 people from a hotel after a flare sparked a fire. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said the fire caused only minor damage to the exterior, but pyrotechnics triggered alarms at several other locations. He urged supporters to avoid using pyrotechnics near buildings and flammable materials.
Despite the incidents, Goulbourne described the event as a “fantastic sight” with the majority of fans celebrating safely. The parade featured DJs and live entertainment, with red flare smoke and vuvuzelas creating a party atmosphere. A major clean-up operation began after crowds dispersed late in the afternoon.
