Mikel Arteta revealed he was not watching the match that secured Arsenal’s Premier League title because he chose to leave the training ground before kick-off and spend the evening at home with his family.
Mikel Arteta revealed he was not watching the match that secured Arsenal’s Premier League title because he chose to leave the training ground before kick-off and spend the evening at home with his family.
Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth confirmed Arsenal as champions, ending the club’s 22-year wait for the league crown. While Arsenal’s players and coaching staff gathered together to follow the decisive game on Tuesday night, Arteta admitted he felt unable to stay with them for the occasion.
The Arsenal manager explained that he did not believe he could bring the right energy to the group while waiting for the result. Instead, he left around 20 minutes before the match began and returned home without planning to watch any of the action.
According to Arteta, he went into the garden, lit a fire, and started preparing a barbecue while hearing distant reactions from inside the house as the game unfolded.
The moment Arsenal officially became champions arrived unexpectedly for Arteta. He described how his oldest son suddenly ran outside into the garden in tears before hugging him and announcing that Arsenal had won the title.
Shortly afterward, his wife and two other sons joined the celebrations, creating what Arteta called one of the most emotional moments of his life. He said witnessing the happiness of his family, who support him throughout his work, made the achievement even more special.
Only minutes later, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard contacted him through a video call as celebrations began among the squad and staff elsewhere. Arteta described the overall experience as magical and one of the best feelings he had ever experienced in football.
The Spaniard also took time after the match to personally contact Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who played an unexpected role in Arsenal’s title success by taking points off Manchester City.
Arteta and Iraola share a long-standing connection dating back to their childhood in the Basque Country, where both played for youth side Antiguoko in San Sebastian. Rather than sending a message, Arteta phoned Iraola directly to congratulate him on Bournemouth’s season and thank him for his contribution to Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.
During the conversation, Arteta joked that Bournemouth had nearly damaged Arsenal’s chances earlier in the season when they defeated the Gunners 2-1 in April before later helping them secure the championship by drawing with Manchester City.
Iraola recently confirmed he will leave Bournemouth once his contract expires at the end of the season, and Arteta said he wished his friend success in the next stage of his career. The Arsenal manager added that he has great admiration for the work Iraola has done.
Attention now turns to Arsenal’s opportunity to complete the season with a second trophy. The club will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on 30 May, while the title parade is scheduled for the following day.
Although Arsenal celebrated winning the Premier League, Arteta stressed that preparations for the coming matches remain the priority. He explained that the squad enjoyed 48 hours celebrating the title before immediately returning focus to training and maintaining their standards.
Arsenal still has a final league fixture against Crystal Palace before travelling to Budapest for the Champions League final. Arteta wants the team to use the remaining days to prepare properly and attempt to add another major trophy to the season.
The manager also spoke about reconnecting with supporters during the celebrations and acknowledged the thousands of fans already gathering around the stadium to enjoy the achievement. However, Arteta made clear that the squad’s ambition is to celebrate with two trophies rather than one.
He said the team now has six days to try to create another important chapter in Arsenal’s history.
