The wait felt endless for the Arsenal faithful. 2003-04 may have been a distant memory under Arsene Wenger’s invincible Premier League win, but after a few close calls and heartbreaks, it is Mikel Arteta who has finally delivered English top-flight success to the Emirates Stadium.
The title finally signals the end of an incredible 984-day period at the top of the table without a league title spanning across many campaigns and three consecutive runner-up finishes, but Arteta’s side has finally held its nerve to win the Premier League.
There have been times when it has looked like the Gunners’ challenge would crumble this season. Their downfall at Manchester City in April led to fresh concerns over whether the team possesses the mental fortitude to win a sustained title charge, and after the critics came out in full force, it has always seemed like we were destined for a late charge, but it’s not what the Gunders have done, as their resilience paid off in a determined run of form.
The board continued to back Arteta, who arrived in December 2019, and this unwavering faith has paid dividends as he has delivered the Premier League crown to the club for the first time in over 20 years.
The culture and detail have become Arsenal’s backbone, it’s one the manager instilled when he took over in 2019 and has spent his time since convincing every aspect of the club what this means to them, a phrase the Gunners have been so desperate for. Introducing an olive tree, the symbol of roots and growth, seemed like a strange idea at the time, but it has become the most visual representation of Arsenal’s cultural revolution.
After the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January 2021, the club have slowly and steadily rebuilt a younger and more disciplined squad with players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba leading the way.
A wealth of summer signings like Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres added significant quality to a defence that already stood strong as one of the most commanding in the division. Sporting Director Andrea Berta assembled a side that could withstand the pressure of the intensity of an injury and fixture pile-up with defensive players showing real strength and quality this season.
Many tipped Liverpool to romp home with the title after a major summer transfer window, but instead Arsenal has continued to be more consistent as they laid the foundations to success with a strong defence, and set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover, who continued to show his expertise to help Arsenal command the air.
However, it has been the mentality this season which has truly separated Arsenal from many of their rivals. After being involved in collapsed title bids in recent years, the players have continued to demonstrate fantastic resilience, with quote from Declan Rice after they beat the reigning champions Manchester City reading “It’s not over” highlighting the relentless determination and hunger to secure this title, with the Gunners proving they are more than capable of fighting and pushing until the end with a series of dogged performances that have now culminated in winning the Premier League.
The celebrations will now begin in North London with fans and players waiting for so long to get their hands on this trophy, and it will be a day of jubilation as the team look forward to a parade on Thursday afternoon.
It’s been more than just a trophy for Arteta, though, as this Premier League title signifies much more than just the winning of a trophy, as he has now answered questions from critics around the world, and many are predicting that with another Champions League final awaiting, it is the beginning of a dynasty for Arsenal.
