Mikel Arteta has revealed how he celebrated securing Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years.
The former Arsenal captain has become the first club skipper to win the trophy as a manager, describing the achievement as “one of the best feelings” he has ever experienced.
Speaking at Arsenal’s dedicated media day ahead of the Champions League final in nine days time, Arteta said: “I was supposed to be here [at the training centre], watching the game with the boys, and that’s what they wanted, but I couldn’t.
“I think 20 minutes laters, before the game, I had to leave,” he revealed.
“I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted and I think it was the moment to watch it together, 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 some barbecue, I didn’t watch any of it.
“I was just hearing some noises in the background in the living room and suddenly the magic happened. 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.”
Arsenal did their part by beating Burnley on Monday night to move five points clear at the top of the table, before rivals Manchester City dropped crucial points away at Bournemouth to confirm the Gunners as this season's champions.
After finishing as runners-up in the last three seasons, Arteta was keen to praise those who helped build the foundations for the title success.
“We are all responsible because, and I really want to make that clear, there have been so many people in this journey throughout the years, not only since I've been here, but what Arsene [Wenger] built, everything that has happened, even though we didn't achieve the Premier League.
“It was an explosion, an emotional explosion, because everybody's been keeping emotions and lifting those emotions, but not being able to really express them. So when we opened that bottle, I think everybody had so much to release, and it's been incredible to witness,” he said.
However, Arsenal's season is not over yet, with the chance to complete a historic double when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest.