Mikel Arteta’s first phrases after Arsenal win Premier League
Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth, with one game still to play
Mikel Arteta is a Premier League title-winning manager(Image: Getty)
Mikel Arteta’s initial reaction to Arsenal clinching the 2025-26 Premier League title has been unveiled. The Gunners secured their first championship in 22 years courtesy of Manchester City’s 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth on Tuesday. This came a day after Arsenal edged past Burnley 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium. These outcomes have given Arsenal a four-point cushion over City with just one match remaining.
In a video shared on Arsenal’s social media platforms, Arteta declared: “We made history again, together. I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that is involved in this football club. Let’s enjoy the moment.” The club’s last title-winning manager prior to Arteta, the legendary Arsene Wenger, stated in the same clip: “You did it. Champions go on, when others stop. This is your time. Now, go on and enjoy every moment.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Declan Rice uploaded a photo of himself alongside Kai Havertz, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, captioning it: “I told you all.. it’s done.”
Arsenal’s official channels broadcast footage of the entire squad celebrating wildly as they watched City’s game at Bournemouth from their London Colney training ground. The final whistle at the Vitality Stadium triggered scenes of sheer jubilation, complete with a massive group huddle and chants of ‘championes, championes!’
In claiming the league for the first time since the 2003-04 Invincibles, Arsenal have brought an end to their longest title drought since their maiden triumph back in 1931. This marks the north Londoners’ 14th league crown and their fourth in the Premier League era.
Bournemouth’s stalemate at the Vitality Stadium means Arsenal will collect the trophy away at Selhurst Park on Sunday. They face Crystal Palace in the final fixture of the league season, six days before they meet Paris Saint-Germain in their first Champions League final since 2006.
The Gunners have never claimed the European Cup in their 139-year existence so could still achieve an historic double in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola praised Arsenal following their draw, stating: “[I need to] congratulate Arsenal, Mikel and the backroom staff, the fans for the Premier League which they deserved.
“I would love to have arrived in the last moment [and taken the title race to the last day]. Today the fatigue was there. Bournemouth had 12 days to prepare. The impact from the fresh players was not good enough. We fought a lot and we prepare next season.”
Arsenal supporters assembled in their thousands outside the Emirates Stadium to witness City’s deadlock and exploded when the final result confirmed their long-awaited title success. Arsenal had concluded as runners-up in three straight campaigns prior to this. In successive seasons during 2023 and 2024, Arteta’s side were hunted down by Guardiola’s City and fell short in heartbreaking fashion.
The North Londoners squandered another opportunity last year when they came second to Arne Slot’s Liverpool while City endured a disappointing campaign, but have now finally grasped their moment to conclude a 22-year drought.
In a statement on their website, Arsenal wrote: “After guiding us to the 2025/26 Premier League title, Mikel Arteta has cemented his place in our history as one of our greatest managers of all time.”
“Our former captain has become the first former Arsenal player to go on and lead us to a top-flight championship as a manager, having ended our 22-year wait after overseeing a huge transformation in our fortunes since taking charge in December 2019.”
