There are seasons that deliver success, and then there are seasons that redefine belief.
For Arsenal, this campaign has done both.
Mikel Arteta has not only guided his side to the Premier League title, but he has also reshaped the mentality of the entire squad. Where previous seasons brought frustration and near misses, this time there was control, resilience and, ultimately, conviction.
However, success at this level rarely comes down to one factor alone. It demands alignment across the pitch, clarity from the manager and contributions from players stepping into moments when it matters most.
That is exactly what Arsenal have found.
Speaking exclusively to ReadArsenal via William Hill, who have written an Arsenal vs PSG kick-off time and odds piece, Winterburn discussed a variety of topics, including Mikel Arteta, the Spaniard’s key players and more.
Nigel Winterburn on Mikel Arteta
“[Arteta deserves] All of it [the credit]. You look how much Chelsea have spent and Man Utd too over the years. The clear vision and type of signing Arsenal have needed they have delivered and full credit to Mikel for that. He has had tough times, 2nd 3 times, some losses in the back end of seasons which have cost arsenal and this time they lost to City which then had everyone talking. But Mikel and also the players had something about them this season to get over the line and Mikel especially deserves all the credit.”
Arteta has built this success through clarity.
While others spent heavily without direction, Arsenal focused on profile, identity and long-term structure. As a result, the squad now reflects a clear idea rather than a collection of talent.
That difference has proven decisive.
Nigel Winterburn on what changed for Arsenal this season
“Mixture of players and Manager. You see the players admitted having meetings during the season. They, as a group, knew how much they needed to get over the line and they showed so much courage to get over the line. Leading for so much of the season, they were never going to be perfect, but they were strong and ended the season with 5 wins on the spin, to win the title and their belief after the City loss never changed and full credit to all of them as a group, to come together and believe it was possible.”
Crucially, Arsenal did not rely solely on quality.
Instead, they leaned into accountability.
Those internal meetings reflect a squad that understands responsibility. Rather than waiting for moments to arrive, they created them. Even after setbacks, they maintained belief and responded with consistency.
That shift has defined the season.
It also explains why this group found a way where others previously fell short.
Nigel Winterburn reveals who he thinks symbolises Arsenal’s title win
“Quite a few from the celebrations I saw; Rice, Gabriel Saliba off course but I could name most of them. Raya with his clean sheets, many at critical moments during a game. To pick one is disrespectful for the squad. Some of these players have come in and played more minutes than they would have normally played. Hincapie, Mosquera played really big parts, Mosquera especially, coming on at Liverpool to replace Saliba. Hincapie has played such a crucial role at times this season. You look at Madueke as well. He has really played his part when Saka was injured. Gyokeres as well has played a massive part as Havertz injury meant he was the number 1 all season.”
Ultimately, this title does not belong to one player.
It belongs to a group.
Rice and Saliba set the standard. Raya delivered in key moments. Meanwhile, players stepping into unfamiliar roles ensured the level never dropped.
Even when injuries disrupted rhythm, others responded.
That collective strength has defined Arsenal’s success.
And now, it positions them for what comes next.