Mikel Arteta has revealed he discovered Arsenal F.C. had won the Premier League title through his emotional son while enjoying a barbecue in his garden.
The Arsenal manager chose not to watch Bournemouth’s crucial 1-1 draw with Manchester City F.C. — the result that officially handed the Gunners their first league crown in 22 years. Although the Arsenal squad and staff gathered to watch the match together at the training ground, Arteta admitted he could not handle the tension and left shortly before kick-off.
Instead, the Spaniard went home, lit a fire in the garden and started preparing a barbecue without following the game. The unforgettable moment arrived when his eldest son ran outside in tears to break the news.
“My oldest son opened the garden door, ran towards me crying, hugged me and said, ‘We are champions, Daddy,’” Arteta recalled.
He described the moment as one of the greatest feelings of his life, with his wife and other children quickly joining the celebration before captain Martin Odegaard called him on video.
Arteta also revealed he personally phoned Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola after the match to congratulate him and thank him for helping Arsenal secure the title. The two share a long history, having grown up together in Spain’s Basque region and played youth football for Antiguoko.
Despite celebrating the Premier League triumph, Arteta insists Arsenal’s focus has already shifted to the UEFA Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. later this month, with the club hoping to complete a historic double-winning season.
