The Arsenal manager said that he did not watch Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, as Junior Eli Kroupi’s first-half goal effectively handed the Gunners their first league title for 22 years.
The Arsenal players gathered at the Sobha Realty Training Centre before becoming elated as the club shared video footage of the squad celebrating the moment at the full-time whistle at the Vitality Stadium.
“It’s one of the best feelings I have ever had. I was supposed to be here, at Colney, watching the game with the boys and certain staff because that’s what they wanted, but I couldn’t,” Arteta told the press on Thursday.
“Twenty minutes later, before the game, I had to leave. I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted, and I think it was their moment (the players') to watch it together, to be themselves and just see what the outcome would be.
“I went home. I went outside to the garden, and I started to build some fire and then started to do some barbecuing. 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 and started to cry. He gave me a hug and said, 'We are champions, Daddy.'
“Then my other two boys and my wife came over, and it was beautiful. Just to see that joy on them as well – that they are always with me – it was magical. I think a minute later, Martin Ødegaard was with a video: ‘Where are you? ’.
'I said, "Guys, enjoy it for a few hours, and I will see you in a few hours somewhere in London."'
“It was beautiful.”
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola celebrated leading the Cherries to European qualification for the first time in the club’s history after the draw with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Iraola, Arteta’s childhood friend from growing up in San Sebastian and rising through the ranks in Real Sociedad’s academy, will leave Bournemouth at the end of the campaign.
Arteta was asked whether he had been in contact with Iraola. “I didn’t message him; I called him. I called him yesterday, first of all, to congratulate him for the incredible job that he’s done with Bournemouth. I told him he almost took the Premier League away from us, and now you help us to win it on the last day,” he said.
“It was a quick call to say thank you and to show my admiration towards him and to wish him the best in the next chapter of his career, which I’m sure is going to be very, very successful.”
Arsenal will lift the Premier League trophy in the aftermath of Sunday’s final-day clash at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, but Arteta’s side are preparing for the chance to take two pieces of silverware back to north London for the trophy parade on May 31 – less than 24 hours after the Gunners face PSG in the Champions League Final.
“Now, you want more. We have the biggest one to play in Budapest in a few days,” Arteta added. “We’re going to prepare that game with the intention to win it and write a new story in the club’s history, that’s for sure.
“We know what it is going to mean. We need to earn it, to prepare so well, and I am really confident that we’re going to get in the best possible place. It’s going to be, for ninety minutes, showtime at the biggest that you can play in club competition against a tough opponent.”
After the party on the streets of north London this weekend in celebration of the club’s first Premier League title since 2004, Arsenal travel to the Puskas Arena in Budapest to face the holders of the UEFA Champions League, PSG, on Saturday May 30.