Mikel Arteta has revealed that he learned Arsenal had won the Premier League title from his tearful son while building a fire in his garden. The Spaniard, speaking publicly for the first time since the club ended their 22-year wait for the crown, described the moment as ‘magical’.
Arteta, whose side secured the title with a game to spare after Manchester City drew with Bournemouth, had chosen not to watch the match with his players. Instead, he headed home and was preparing a barbecue when his eldest son Gabriel, who plays for Arsenal’s Under-18s, ran out crying to deliver the news.
‘I went outside to the garden, and I started to build some fire and started to do some barbecue. I didn’t watch any of it. I was just hearing some noises in the background... suddenly the magic happened,’ Arteta said. ‘My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me, he started to cry, gave me a hug, and said: “We are champions, Daddy”. Just to see the joy, it was magical.’
The Arsenal manager admitted he had doubted himself during the journey, asking whether he was ‘good enough’ to lead the team to a major trophy. ‘There is a lot of emotion, joy, happiness, being proud. And as well, relief,’ he said. ‘Until you do it, you cannot validate yourself.’
Arteta joined his players for celebrations at a Mayfair nightclub and now turns his attention to the Champions League final against Paris St Germain in Budapest. ‘The thing now is you want more,’ he said. ‘We have the biggest one to play in a few days.’
