Mikel Arteta reveals the moment he knew Arsenal would be champions

Arsenal have secured the 2025-26 Premier League title, ending a two-decade wait for the trophy. After three consecutive seasons as runners-up, Mikel Arteta’s side finally displayed the mental resilience required to overcome Manchester City in the race for the summit.

The manager credits the foundation of their success to a shift in mentality during the pre-season, when the squad pledged total commitment to the team's cause. Arteta noted that while the words were easy to speak, the players demonstrated this mindset through every month of the campaign.

Perhaps most surprisingly, Arteta pointed to a defeat against their main rivals as the catalyst for his belief in their eventual success:

The second moment is when we lost at Manchester City. I looked at the players in the dressing room and I wanted to see their reactions before I said anything. And I could tell they were very hurt but they realised we can beat them and we can be better than them. From that moment I realised we were going to go very close to winning it. Mikel Arteta

The Gunners are now shifting their focus toward the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30. Arsenal aim to cap off their season by dethroning the current holders, PSG, and securing a historic double.