For Arsenal fans, patience has finally paid off, marking the end of a long wait since the iconic unbeaten season of 2003-04 under manager Arsène Wenger. Throughout a staggering 984 days, the team has held the lead in the league without securing the championship—until now.
After enduring a string of disappointments in the final years of Wenger’s tenure and finishing as runners-up for three consecutive seasons, Arsenal has managed to break free from this unwanted trend. The current campaign, helmed by Mikel Arteta, has showcased the team’s resilience, even amidst skepticism, particularly during a challenging April where they faced two defeats against their main rivals, Manchester City, and suffered four consecutive losses across various competitions. This victory is a testament to the confidence the club hierarchy placed in the relatively inexperienced manager, who took the reins just before Christmas in 2019 with the goal of reviving the club’s former glory.
Arteta, known for his meticulous approach, dedicated his initial three months to engaging with every member of the club to gather insights on what it means to be part of Arsenal. However, he found their collective input unsatisfactory. “That word didn’t resonate with me, so we had to change it,” he remarked last month. “We needed something that would be a constant part of our daily operations. That’s when I introduced the olive tree.”
This olive tree, symbolizing the club’s rich history dating back to its founding in 1886, was intended to embody the roots and culture Arteta aims to nurture. He emphasized the need for attention to detail in maintaining this culture, explaining, “In our environment, it requires constant care. We can cope when conditions are favorable, but how do we handle the storms?” The tree serves as a living representation of this challenge.
While some might view Arteta’s initiatives as mere gimmicks, the outcomes speak for themselves. After parting ways with former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in December 2021 due to disciplinary issues, Arteta has had the opportunity to cultivate a squad reflective of his vision, with support from American owners who trust his judgment. The apparent progress in the following season reassured co-chairs Stan Kroenke and Josh Kroenke that they had made the right choice in retaining Arteta. A dynamic young squad, bolstered by the talents of academy graduate Bukayo Saka, astonished many by finishing second, even if they felt let down after leading the league for a record 248 days only to be overtaken by City.
The board’s confidence in Arteta solidified further after finishing as runners-up again in 2024 and 2025, despite some fans questioning his ability to lead the team to the title. The unexpected exit of a key ally, Edu Gaspar, led to the crucial appointment of Andrea Berta as the new sporting director last March. With significant contributions from Arteta—illustrated by his son’s appearance in an Eberechi Eze jersey after the Burnley victory—the Italian played a vital role in assembling a squad capable of weathering injuries.
While many anticipated Liverpool to dominate the league again after investing nearly £450 million in new players, Arsenal’s management maintained a quiet optimism, having spent £250 million on eight new signings, including Eze from Crystal Palace for £67.5 million and Viktor Gyökeres for £64 million. Most of these players, with the exception of Christian Nørgaard, have made a noteworthy impact, and a well-established defense that has been consistent over the last three seasons has been the foundation of Arsenal’s title aspirations.
Following a close defeat to Liverpool in August due to a remarkable free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, Arsenal managed to concede only two goals in their next seven Premier League matches, achieving a club-record eight consecutive clean sheets across all competitions, a streak that ended against Sunderland in November. By that point, they had established a six-point lead, demonstrating an ability to rebound from setbacks—a key characteristic of their title run.
Despite predictions that a late defeat to Aston Villa in December would derail their momentum, Arsenal managed to respond by becoming the first team to win all eight of their Champions League group stage matches. They also secured five consecutive league victories during the bustling holiday period, reinforcing their hold on first place. When asked about what pleased him most about his team’s performance this season, Arteta highlighted their ability to adapt and thrive under challenging conditions.
Set pieces have significantly contributed to Arsenal’s success, thanks to the expertise of Nicolas Jover. They set a Premier League record for goals from corners against Chelsea on March 1 and extended it to 19 against Burnley at a crucial moment. Over a third of their 69 goals—one of the lowest totals for a champion in Premier League history—came from set pieces.
Crucially, the team’s newfound belief has enabled them to recover from their two defeats against City, a significant achievement for Arteta and his squad. Many players are still grappling with the disappointment of falling short to City and Liverpool in previous seasons, leading to ongoing questions about their mentality. However, since Declan Rice’s rallying cry of “It’s not over” after the match at the Etihad, Arsenal has demonstrated their fighting spirit by going on to win four straight games without conceding.
While the journey may not have been aesthetically pleasing, this will be of little concern to fans who are set to gather in Islington for their title-winning parade following Arsenal’s second appearance in a Champions League final.
