Mikel Arteta has admitted he could not bear to watch Arsenal's greatest night in 22 years. The Gunners boss revealed that he spent Tuesday evening in his garden constructing a barbecue rather than watching Bournemouth secure the title by holding Manchester City to a draw.
Arteta organised a later training session for his players so they could watch the Bournemouth game together, but had a last-minute change of heart. He said: "It was one of the best feelings I ever had. I was supposed to be here, watching the game with the boys, and that's what they wanted, but I couldn't. I think 20 minutes later, before the game, I had to leave."
"I couldn't bring the energy that I wanted and I think it was the moment to watch it together, to be themselves and just see what the outcome would be. I went home, I went outside to the garden, I started to build some fire, I started to do a barbecue, I didn't watch any of it."
Arteta described the magical moment his oldest son informed him of the title win: "My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me, he started to cry, he gave me a hug and said, 'We are champions, Daddy'. And then my other two boys and my wife came over and it was beautiful."
Captain Martin Odegaard then called Arteta and insisted he join the players for a nightclub celebration. Arteta said: "Martin called with the video on his phone, 'Where are you? Come over', he said. I said, 'Guys, enjoy it for a while and I'll see you in a few hours somewhere in London'. And yeah, it was beautiful."
Now Arteta wants to complete a historic Double by winning the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest next Saturday. Arsenal already have a victory parade booked for Sunday, May 31, and Arteta added: "I understand that, but I want to have the parade with the two big trophies."
