Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he missed the moment his side were crowned Premier League champions and had to be told by his son.
A first top-flight title in 22 years for the club was secured on Tuesday night when Bournemouth secured a draw with Manchester City, with the Arsenal squad gathering at their London Colney training base to watch the decisive moments.
Arteta had been due to be with his players, but returned home 20 minutes before the game and was otherwise occupied as the title triumph was confirmed.
“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” the Arsenal manager said. “I was supposed to be here, at the training ground, watching the game with the boys and the staff because that’s what they wanted – but I couldn’t.
“I think 20 minutes before the game I had to leave. I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted, and ultimately it was their moment to watch it together and be themselves.
“I went home, I went outside to the garden and had a BBQ and I didn’t watch any of it. I was just hearing some noises in the living room and suddenly the magic happened. My eldest son opened the garden door, started to run towards me, gave me a hug and said: ‘We are Champions, daddy!’ It was beautiful.”
Arteta’s squad are the first Arsenal title winners since the “Invincibles” of 2004 having finished as runners-up in each of the last three Premier League seasons.
The Basque coach has done excellent work in north London since taking over late in 2019, and was delighted to let his players have their moment.
“It was the team’s moment,” he stressed. “They had to be themselves. If I’m there, I don’t think it would have been the same. I think they enjoyed it. We had our moment together a few hours later.
“Your phone is a bit different when you finish second and when you win it! That’s sport. It’s a big lesson in life as well because the margins are so small, it can go either way. When you accomplish it, you realise how immense it is, how big it is for so many people. All of the things I have seen from our supporters in different countries is so good.”
Arsenal play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday. They could yet secure another trophy with the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain nine days away.
