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Mikel Arteta has shared insights into the mental transformation that propelled Arsenal to their first Premier League title in over twenty years. After several seasons of falling just short, the Spanish manager guided the Gunners to a memorable triumph, finishing ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a fiercely contested battle for the crown.

A landmark victory for the Gunners

Arsenal have finally reclaimed their place at the top of English football, securing the 2025-26 Premier League championship and ending more than two decades of waiting. Having finished as runners-up in three consecutive campaigns, Arteta’s men ultimately demonstrated the mental resilience required to surpass City.

The title was confirmed earlier in the week when Manchester City dropped valuable points against Bournemouth, enabling Arsenal to celebrate with their supporters at home on Sunday. After their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, Arteta looked back on the journey and pinpointed the decisive moments that convinced him this season would be different.

Pre-season groundwork and player dedication

According to Arteta, the groundwork for success was laid well before the season kicked off. While many attributed Arsenal’s progress to significant spending in the transfer market, the Spaniard maintained that the real change came from a shift in mentality during their summer training camp.

Speaking to BeIN Sports, Arteta said: “The very first moment probably came when we all came together in pre-season, the week before we played Manchester United. I gathered all the players and asked them what they were willing to give for the team. They said they would do anything for the team, and that’s when I knew we had a big chance to compete across all competitions because we had the depth and the quality to challenge.”

He added: “Their reaction was immediate and remarkable. It’s one thing to say it in a meeting, but another to live it out over ten months. The players deserve a huge amount of credit because they have delivered in a fantastic manner.”

The unexpected turning point at the Etihad

In a surprising revelation, Arteta shared that a defeat against their main rivals, Manchester City, was the moment he became most confident of Arsenal’s ultimate success. Rather than damaging the team’s self-belief, the loss reinforced their progress and showed they were capable of competing at the top level of European football.

“The second moment is when we lost at Manchester City,” Arteta explained. “That day I thought, ‘we are going to win it’. I looked at the players in the dressing room before saying anything. I could see they were deeply disappointed, but they also realised we could beat them and be better than them. It was in our hands, and we just had to do what was needed. After that, we stayed focused on becoming champions, and the reaction was immediate. From that moment on, I knew we were going to come very close to winning it.”

The Gunners now set sights on more silverware in Budapest

Arsenal must now turn their full attention to the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest, where they aim to dethrone current holders Paris Saint-Germain. The focus within the squad remains firm as they chase a historic double, with the final scheduled for May 30.