Mikel Arteta has described winning the Premier League as one of the best feelings he has ever experienced after Arsenal were officially crowned champions. The Gunners boss originally planned to watch Manchester City’s decisive match against Bournemouth at the training ground alongside his squad. However, 20 minutes before kick-off, Arteta admitted he simply couldn’t bring himself to stay and returned home to watch the drama unfold in private. After Bournemouth secured a draw against Pep Guardiola’s side to hand Arsenal the trophy, Arteta immediately phoned Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola to express his gratitude. Reflecting on an emotional two days, Arteta declared that the last 48 hours have been incredible, acknowledging that lifting the title has eased significant pressure on his players ahead of next week’s Champions League final.
The triumph follows an intense campaign where high standards were demanded at every turn, even during frustrating setbacks along the way. Earlier in the race, Arsenal suffered disappointment in a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, where Sean Dyche took charge against the Gunners for the first time as Forest manager. Dyche extended his personal record against Arteta to two wins, five draws, and four defeats, keeping back-to-back clean sheets in the process. With Liverpool dropping points on the same weekend, Arsenal failed to capitalize against the 17th-placed side despite dominant spells. Arteta was left deeply upset with his much-changed lineup, lamenting four big missed chances and a denied penalty when VAR opted not to intervene for a handball by Ola Aina near the end line, insisting that opportunities of that magnitude must be put away.
That determination to push forward was rooted in previous heartbreak, having finished as runners-up to Liverpool last term in what was their third consecutive second-place finish. In pursuit of their first league title since 2004, Arsenal established a six-point lead at the top of the table before confronting the reigning champions, with Arteta emphasizing that his team had a point to prove. That relentless ambition has defined Arteta’s touchline approach, where even individual brilliance is met with demands for more. When captain Martin Odegaard scored a clinical match-winner in a 1-0 victory over Napoli—taking his tally to four goals in five games—Arteta still offered pointed feedback to his star midfielder despite widespread acclaim.
Arteta’s message to Odegaard was deeply personal, referencing the physical struggles that saw the skipper miss 27 out of 63 matches last season—failing to appear in 43 per cent of Arsenal’s fixtures while battling for full fitness. The manager challenged Odegaard to imagine what it would feel like to lift a major trophy and stand front and centre in the celebration pictures, urging him to ensure his influence justified those iconic moments. That elite mindset continues to drive the squad as Arsenal prepare to host Chelsea on Sunday, where Arteta will line up in the dugout opposite lifelong friend Xabi Alonso.
Looking ahead, Arsenal aim to keep their 100 per cent Premier League record intact when they travel to face Brighton on Saturday afternoon. As the club seeks to cement its dominant position at home and abroad, transfer discussions remain active behind the scenes, with the Gunners eyeing AFCON star Diomande in a potential €100m deal to further bolster their ranks. With major silverware now secured and a European final on the horizon, Arteta’s demanding ethos has established Arsenal as the definitive force in English football.
