UMVA has learned that Mikel Arteta has revealed the moment that convinced him Arsenal would become Premier League champions, a moment that would change the course of history for the Gunners.
The Arsenal boss had led his team to three successive second-place finishes before finally delivering the coveted Premier League title, ending a 22-year drought. Arteta's side edged out Manchester City in a tense title race, with the Gunners' fate sealed when City drew with Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
But Arteta says he was convinced for a month that his side would get over the line, and it all started when his players showed their commitment to the team during a pre-season meeting. He gathered his players and asked them what they were happy to do for the team, and their response was immediate and incredible.
The players were willing to do anything for the team, and Arteta knew then that they had the depth and quality to challenge for the top spot. But it was a painful defeat to Manchester City in April that actually emboldened his belief that the Premier League trophy would be heading to the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta revealed that after the loss to City, he looked at his players in the dressing room and saw the hurt in their eyes, but also a determination to be better. He says that moment made him think, "we are going to win it". The Gunners' boss focused on what his team needed to do to become champions, and the response was immediate.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Arteta's side went on to win the title in style, with a final-day win over Crystal Palace that sealed their place in history. Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke scored either side of half-time for the much-changed Gunners, before Jean-Philippe Mateta netted a late consolation goal.
For Arteta, the moment his son told him, "We are champions, daddy," was pure magic. The Arsenal boss had been waiting for this moment for so long, and it was a feeling he will never forget. He described it as one of the best feelings he's ever had, a moment that made all the hard work and dedication worth it.
