Following a barnstorming, high-octane 10-match winning streak in all competitions, during which Arsenal did not concede for eight successive victories, the Gunners began to come unstuck on their travels in the Premier League last November. Brian Brobbey's dramatic stoppage-time equaliser snatched Sunderland a point at the Stadium of Light before the frustrated challengers were held by 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after Moises Caicedo's 37th-minute red card. Then came a sickening hammer blow at Aston Villa, where a flustered and fatigued Arsenal failed to clear their lines, allowing Emiliano Buendia to steer home a last-gasp winner that, at the time, seemingly blew the title race wide open.
Mikel Arteta's troops responded professionally in Belgium, thrashing Club Brugge 3-0 before hosting basement boys Wolves, who were winless from their opening 15 top-flight matches, in a Saturday 8pm kick-off. On paper, it was a procession, but Wolves battled and scrapped for newly appointed boss Rob Edwards, and Arsenal did not take the lead until the 69th minute when Bukayo Saka's corner hit the post before fortuitously bouncing in off Sam Johnstone's back. However, dogged Wolves refused to lie down and deservedly levelled on 90 minutes when Tolu Arokodare glanced home Mateus Mane's shot, only for defender Yerson Mosquera to head past his own goalkeeper moments later to gift Arsenal all three points. Arteta exploded, booting the turf by his technical area.
The stats pointed towards one-way traffic: Arsenal had 69.2 per cent possession and 16 shots to Wolves' three. However, there was no escaping that it was a jittery and alarming home display that lacked quality against a side dubbed one of the worst teams in Premier League history. As Arteta made his way inside for his post-match debrief with his coaches, which takes place before he addresses his players, the Spaniard, according to well-placed sources, was adamant Arsenal had in fact played well amid a testing fixture schedule. It is said other key members of his backroom team did not necessarily agree, and some of the underlying data presented to Arteta, including that Arsenal had lost possession 11 times in their own defensive third and 39 times in the centre of the pitch, began to irk the Gunners boss.
It takes a lot for Arteta to criticise his players, particularly after a crucial victory. He will defend them to the hilt, and if certain aspects of a performance are not up to scratch, he would usually self-reflect and take accountability himself. Upon arrival at his post-match press conference, his tune had drastically changed on this occasion. Arteta labelled the performance "unacceptable" and lambasted Arsenal's "horrible defensive habits," which in his view were "nowhere near the level required against a team that did not have a single shot." It was a stinging assessment that felt entirely justified. A string of crucial results also followed, begging the question: was this discreetly a sliding doors moment in the season? Standards were certainly not allowed to slip.
Arsenal then edged an awkward rescheduled away fixture at Everton, reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, swatted Brighton aside despite suffering a late injury blow to Riccardo Calafiori during the warm-up, before pulverising Aston Villa and winning a five-goal thriller at Bournemouth. The arrival of Arteta's 'big brother' Gabriel Heinze proved game-changing for Arsenal on the back of three successive second-place finishes. The pair forged a unique bond during their time together at PSG in the early 2000s and have remained in loose contact ever since. Per sources close to Arteta, he had been trying to bring Heinze on board for a period of time before his arrival last July, but the stars just would not align.
However, after Heinze watched Arsenal ruthlessly crush his former side Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in April 2025, he met up with Arteta after the game, and there was an appetite to make the collaboration happen. Carlos Cuesta's departure for Parma in June represented a timely opening to finally make ends meet. When Mirror Football approached one of Heinze's former Los Blancos teammates to provide some background and insight into his character during the September international break, they immediately stressed that the Argentine and Arteta were a match made in heaven. Speaking anonymously, they remarked: "When I first heard Gabi was joining Arsenal, I could honestly see it. He was an animal in training, a 'volcano', very competitive, very superstitious and super dedicated. Arteta basically just gained another limb!"
Heinze has respectfully challenged Arteta while driving Arsenal's defence to new heights and fixing their problematic disciplinary record. Last season, the club received 67 yellow cards and more reds, six, than any other Premier League side. The majority of those dismissals proved costly and ultimately hindered their chances of glory. One year on, Arsenal top the fair play standings with 50 cautions, no red cards, and no penalties conceded, highlighting a drastic turnaround. The 1-0 triumph over Burnley was also the Gunners' 32nd clean sheet in all competitions, more than any other team in Europe's top-five leagues has managed this season. Only in 1970-71, with 37, and 1979-80, with 33, did they register more. The backline has been Heinze's baby, but Arteta still confides in both him and Albert Stuivenberg before making key selection decisions.
For instance, following Ben White's recent MCL injury at West Ham, Arteta was spotted asking Heinze on the touchline: "Mosquera or Zubi?" Zubimendi eventually received the nod. Heinze has given Arteta fresh energy. They share a deep, emotional understanding of one another, and their relationship is built on respect and trust. When Arsenal were gearing up for one last assault on the title following the bitter 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on April 19, Heinze took 'the boss' for some Argentinian steak. It is understood they dined at La Patagonia on Camden High Street before the 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
Around that time, back in Heinze's homeland, several media outlets speculated that he is also playing a backstage role in the club's pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, whom sporting director Andrea Berta is keen to sign again. The current noise is that Alvarez could yet stay at the Metropolitano, but if he were to move, Barcelona would be his preferred destination despite PSG interest. It means that if Arsenal were to somehow land the two-time Premier League champion, they would have to pull out all the stops. Intriguingly, just days after Heinze and Arteta visited La Patagonia, Alvarez also attended the restaurant and tried the cuisine while in London for the Champions League semi-final second leg.
Alvarez's surprising and mysterious appearance does not necessarily point towards direct contact with Heinze, but it is clear he received a glowing recommendation from someone. A few weeks later, it was Arteta's turn to light the 'parrilla' as he opted to share Arsenal's crowning moment with Heinze. Captain Martin Odegaard had asked to gather the coaching staff and playing squad for Bournemouth's clash with Manchester City. It was effectively a request on behalf of the entire dressing room. Arteta swiftly approved, and the club arranged to screen the game at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. But just as the match began, the anxiety became all too consuming, and he decided to drive home. Heinze and another member of Arsenal's coaching staff accompanied him.
Upon arrival, Arteta greeted his three excited children and wife Lorena Bernal before heading straight to the garden to start the barbecue. While it initially seemed tranquil, it soon became impossible to ignore the array of squeals echoing from the living room and booming from neighbouring gardens. When the backdoor finally swung open, Arteta's eldest son Gabriel, who made his debut for Arsenal U18s last month, leapt on his father to confirm the Gunners were champions. Teary-eyed siblings Daniel and Oliver soon followed. The fact that Heinze was there to witness the outpouring of emotion, nearly six-and-a-half years' worth, is a glowing reflection of the role he played in helping both Arteta and Arsenal over the line. It is a moment that will undoubtedly stay with them forever.
