For years, Mikel Arteta faced ridicule, criticism and endless questions about whether he could truly restore Arsenal to the top of English football. Now, after delivering the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years, the Spaniard has finally silenced every doubt surrounding his project at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s title triumph, confirmed after Manchester City dropped points against Bournemouth, marked the culmination of a rebuilding process that began when Arteta arrived in December 2019. At the time, Arsenal were drifting badly under Unai Emery, sitting in 11th place with a fractured squad and a disconnected fanbase.
The Emirates had become a toxic environment, performances were poor and Arsenal had fallen far behind Europe’s elite. Arteta inherited a squad lacking balance, leadership and identity, but from the beginning he insisted supporters needed to “trust the process” despite difficult results during his early seasons.
That phrase quickly became a target for rival fans whenever Arsenal struggled.
There were also several moments that drew widespread mockery. From drawing diagrams of a heart and brain holding hands during team talks to blasting “You’ll Never Walk Alone” during training before facing Liverpool at Anfield, Arteta’s methods were often questioned publicly.
Results initially did little to help his reputation. Arsenal finished eighth in each of his first two full Premier League seasons, their lowest finishes in decades. Even after winning an FA Cup in 2020, many supporters remained unconvinced that Arteta was capable of leading the club back to the summit of English football.
But behind the scenes, Arsenal’s hierarchy continued backing the Spaniard financially and strategically.
The turning point came during the 2022-23 campaign when Arsenal unexpectedly challenged Manchester City for the title. Although they eventually fell short after leading the table for 248 days, Arteta recognised the foundations were finally in place for sustained success.
Arsenal doubled down on their recruitment strategy, signing key players such as Declan Rice while improving squad depth across multiple positions. Arteta also focused heavily on improving standards throughout the club, from tactical preparation to atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium.
This season, everything finally came together.
Arsenal became the Premier League’s strongest defensive side, conceding just 26 goals while also breaking the league’s record for goals scored from corners. Their squad depth proved decisive, with substitutes contributing more goals and assists than any other team in the division.
Perhaps most importantly, the players fully embraced Arteta’s demanding philosophy. Arsenal consistently outran opponents throughout the campaign, reflecting the intensity and commitment the manager demanded daily.
Now, after years of near-misses and criticism, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into one of the best teams in world football.
The challenge moving forward will be maintaining that dominance both domestically and in Europe. But after everything Arteta has built over the last six years, few would bet against Arsenal continuing their rise.
