Mikel Arteta has revealed that he could not bear to watch Manchester City's draw at Bournemouth and was building a fire in his garden when Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years was confirmed. The Arsenal manager admitted his relief at being crowned champions after three successive runners-up finishes and confessed he had questioned whether he was good enough to lead the team to glory.
Arteta had initially planned to watch the match with the squad at the training ground, but 20 minutes before kick-off, he decided he could not handle the tension and returned home. "I was supposed to be here with the players, but I couldn't. I had to leave. I couldn't bring the energy that I wanted," he said. Instead, he went to his garden, started building a fire, and prepared a barbecue, avoiding the match entirely. His son Gabriel, who plays for Arsenal's under-18s, ran out to deliver the news, crying and hugging him, saying, 'We're champions, Daddy.'
Arteta described the moment as magical and later joined his players at a West End nightclub to celebrate. He also called Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, his childhood friend, to thank him for his role in the title triumph. Reflecting on the journey, Arteta said, "We won the league, but I'm most proud of how we won it. We showed perseverance, resilience, and composure in moments of doubt." He admitted to questioning his own abilities, asking, "Am I good enough to lead this team to a major trophy? Until you do it, you cannot validate yourself."
Turning Point: The Olive Tree Meeting
Arteta highlighted a pre-season meeting around an olive tree he planted at the training ground after his appointment in December 2019. He gathered the players and told them, "Look at each other, look at the squad we built. We are capable of everything. It only depends on us and our behaviors." He believes this moment helped the team reach a different level.
Looking ahead, Arteta is focused on the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain next Saturday. Arsenal are hopeful that Jurriën Timber will be fit, and Mikel Merino is back in training. "Now, of course, you want more," Arteta said. "We have the biggest one to play in Budapest."
