<p>Manchester City were confirmed as Premier League champions for the fifth time in six seasons on Saturday without even having to kick a ball after second-placed Arsenal's challenge ended in defeat away at Nottingham Forest.</p>.<p>Arsenal, who enjoyed an eigth-point lead over City as recently as mid-March, needed at least a point to stay mathematically in the hunt, but went down 1-0.</p>.<p>City, who host Chelsea on Sunday, have 85 points with three games to play, while Arsenal are on 81 with one game left.</p>.<p>It is City's seventh Premier League title since they were bought by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2008 and they are now just two wins away from completing a treble only previously achieve by Manchester United in 1999.</p>.<p>City face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3 and a week later take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final -- starting big favourites in both games.</p>.<p>While Arsenal have threatened to knock City off their perch this season, it all proved an illusion in the end as Pep Guardiola's side again proved relentless in the run-in.</p>.<p>Since losing to Tottenham Hotspur on Feb. 5 they have taken 40 points from the next 42 on offer and have won their last 11 matches. They have also comprehensively beaten Arsenal home and away.</p>
<p>Manchester City were confirmed as Premier League champions for the fifth time in six seasons on Saturday without even having to kick a ball after second-placed Arsenal's challenge ended in defeat away at Nottingham Forest.</p>.<p>Arsenal, who enjoyed an eigth-point lead over City as recently as mid-March, needed at least a point to stay mathematically in the hunt, but went down 1-0.</p>.<p>City, who host Chelsea on Sunday, have 85 points with three games to play, while Arsenal are on 81 with one game left.</p>.<p>It is City's seventh Premier League title since they were bought by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2008 and they are now just two wins away from completing a treble only previously achieve by Manchester United in 1999.</p>.<p>City face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3 and a week later take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final -- starting big favourites in both games.</p>.<p>While Arsenal have threatened to knock City off their perch this season, it all proved an illusion in the end as Pep Guardiola's side again proved relentless in the run-in.</p>.<p>Since losing to Tottenham Hotspur on Feb. 5 they have taken 40 points from the next 42 on offer and have won their last 11 matches. They have also comprehensively beaten Arsenal home and away.</p>