Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was not present to witness the moment Manchester City’s draw at Bournemouth secured Arsenal’s Premier League title, despite fans worldwide closely following the event. Instead of joining his squad at the club’s training ground in London Colney, Arteta chose to remain at home, explaining he lacked the energy to attend and preferred to spend the occasion quietly in his garden.
“I went outside, started a fire, and made a barbecue. I didn’t watch any of it,” Arteta shared with reporters. After finishing as runners-up three consecutive times, the confirmation of the title brought an emotional moment for him. His eldest son, Gabriel, who plays for Arsenal’s Under-18 team, ran to him in tears, announcing they were champions.
“My son opened the door, ran towards me crying and hugged me, saying, ‘We are champions, daddy,’” Arteta recalled. “Then my other two boys and my wife joined us. It was a beautiful moment.” Meanwhile, Arsenal players celebrated enthusiastically at their training centre, dancing and chanting as the news arrived.
Arteta believed it was better for the players to enjoy the moment without his presence. “If I had been there, I think it wouldn’t have been the same,” he said. Arsenal captain Martin also called him shortly after to check on his whereabouts, to which Arteta responded, “Enjoy it for a while, I’ll see you in London later.”
Reflecting on the challenging season, Arteta admitted he sometimes questioned his own capabilities. “At times I asked myself: am I good enough to lead this team? But you only get the answer when you actually achieve it,” he noted. He added that winning the title has significantly boosted the squad’s confidence ahead of their Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal will conclude their league campaign and officially receive the trophy during their match at Crystal Palace on Sunday. Following that, Arteta mentioned the team will have a brief celebration before turning their focus to making further history.
