Mikel Arteta has revealed he once doubted whether he was capable of delivering a major trophy for Arsenal — a vulnerability he felt keenly before leading the club to their first top-flight title in 22 years. The Gunners clinched the Premier League after Manchester City’s draw with Bournemouth handed Arsenal the crown.
The season had tense moments, including April defeats to Bournemouth and City that briefly let Pep Guardiola’s side back into contention. Arsenal regrouped, showed resilience and ultimately secured the title. Arteta also pointed to a possible Wembley-sized prize ahead, with the biggest game of the season to come in Budapest.
Arteta said the way the team won the league made him most proud. He highlighted values beyond football — perseverance, composure under doubt and the willingness to be vulnerable. He admitted asking himself, in private, if he was “good enough” to guide this group to a major trophy, and that until you win you cannot fully validate yourself.
The manager emphasised lessons learned: stay humble, stay curious, focus on clear objectives and keep improving. He described the club’s progress as a step-by-step process: sometimes others are better, sometimes resources differ, but you must keep evolving and be creative to bridge the gap.
Reflecting on the season’s defining moments, Arteta said the start of the campaign was one of the toughest stretches. Early pressure — and persistent headlines suggesting the league would be over if they faltered — made the opening months especially demanding. Yet he believes a turning point came even before the first league game, when he gathered the squad alone at the training ground around a tree he had installed as a symbol of growth.
That players-only meeting, Arteta said, was crucial. He asked everyone to look at the squad they had built, to understand their daily roles and responsibilities, and to accept that managerial decisions were made to benefit the group rather than as personal judgments. Once the players internalised that, he felt they reached a different level and showed the capacity to handle tough moments throughout the campaign.
In a lighter anecdote from the title-clinching night, Arteta admitted he didn’t watch City’s draw live — he was barbecuing at home. He heard the celebration unfold at his house when his eldest son burst in crying “We’re champions, Daddy.” He later joined the players in London, but said he had no regrets about letting them share that moment together at the training ground.
Arteta also praised the supporters, saying the connection between the fans and the team felt even bigger than lifting the trophy. Using a “bottle” metaphor, he described the emotional release that followed the title — a powerful, collective outpouring that has deepened the club’s bond with its community. The trophy is treasured, he said, but the chemistry and passion surrounding the squad may be the greater prize.