Mikel Arteta has revealed he was alone in his garden preparing a barbecue when Arsenal F.C. were finally crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years.
The Gunners secured the title on Tuesday night after Manchester City F.C. were held to a 1-1 draw away to AFC Bournemouth, mathematically confirming Arsenal as champions before the final weekend of the season.
For Arteta, who has spent six and a half years rebuilding Arsenal into title winners, the moment was one of overwhelming emotion.
The Spaniard admitted that despite plans to watch the decisive fixture together with players and staff at Arsenal’s training ground, he ultimately could not bring himself to stay.
Arteta explained that, emotionally, he felt unable to share the squad’s tension and instead returned home shortly before kick-off.
Rather than watching the game live, the Arsenal manager tried to distract himself by preparing a barbecue in the garden while listening to reactions from inside the house.
The moment Arsenal officially became champions, then unfolded unforgettably.
Still feeling like this 🥰 pic.twitter.com/hvzcKDqhwr
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 21, 2026
According to Arteta, his eldest son suddenly ran outside in tears before embracing him and shouting: “We are champions, daddy.”
The Arsenal manager described the scene as “magical” and admitted it was one of the greatest feelings he had ever experienced in football.
The title triumph represents the completion of one of the most remarkable rebuilds in recent Premier League history. Since replacing Unai Emery in 2019, Arteta has transformed Arsenal from a struggling side lacking identity into the champions of England.
After suffering painful near misses in recent seasons against the relentless dominance of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Arsenal finally managed to break through this year with a younger, more mature, and tactically complete squad.
The triumph also ends Arsenal’s long wait for a league title since the famous “Invincibles” campaign under Arsene Wenger in 2004.
Despite securing the Premier League crown, Arsenal’s season could yet become even more historic.
The North London club are now preparing for the UEFA Champions League Final in Budapest, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on May 30. Malta Sport will be present in Budapest to update its followers on all the recent developments.
Victory there would hand Arsenal a remarkable league and European double, cementing Arteta’s side among the club’s greatest ever teams.
