Mikel Arteta said winning the Premier League is one of the best feelings he’s ever had after we secured our first league title in 22 years.
Our manager, who took charge in 2019, revealed he did not watch Manchester City’s draw with Bournemouth, but was told by his family before receiving a call from captain Martin Odegaard as players celebrated at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” Mikel said in his pre-match press conference before we take on Crystal Palace.
“I was supposed to be here, at Sobha, watching the game with the boys and the staff, because that’s what they wanted, but I couldn’t. I think 20 minutes later, before the game, I had to leave.
“I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted and I think it was the moment as well to watch it together, to be themselves and just see what the outcome would be. I went home, I went outside to the garden, I started to build a fire, and I started to do some barbecue. I didn’t watch any of it.
“I was just hearing some noises in the background, in the living room and suddenly the magic happened. My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me, he started to cry, he gave me a hug and said: ‘We are champions, daddy.’
Read more
Photo gallery: Champions arrive for training
“Then my other two boys and my wife came over and it was beautiful. Just to see that joy on them as well, that they are always with me, it was magical. A minute later, Martin (Odegaard) called me on video.”
While there were celebrations up at our training ground, thousands of supporters descended on Emirates Stadium to celebrate our success, something which Mikel said was remarkable to see.
He said: “I think what they (supporters) have created around the club and the team is incredible to witness. That chemistry, that connection, that passion, it’s something beautiful. I mean, the trophy is great, but that is, in my opinion, something even bigger.
“We all are responsible, and I really want to make that clear, there’s been so many people in this journey throughout the years, not only since I’ve been here, but as well obviously everything that Arsene (Wenger) built, even though we didn’t achieve the Premier League.
“It was an explosion, an emotional explosion, because everybody’s been just, you know, keeping emotions, and lifting those emotions, but not being able to really express them. So when we opened that bottle, I think everybody had so much to release and it’s been incredible to witness.”
Read more
The 10 moments that won us the 2025/26 title
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
