More than two decades later, Arsenal is English champion once again.
Manchester City's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday assured Arsenal a first Premier League title since Arsene Wenger's "Invincibles" in 2004.
Arsenal's Turbulent Journey Under Mikel Arteta
A Crucial Decision
It was Aug. 28, 2021. Arsenal had just suffered a humiliating 5-0 loss at Manchester City, slumping to the bottom of the Premier League standings.
Three straight defeats to open the season marked a first since 1954. Arteta, just 18 months into his first senior coaching role, questioned whether he was the right man to lead Arsenal forward.
Mesut Ozil, who had just left Arsenal after being frozen out by Arteta, sarcastically posted "Trust the process" on social media. It was a cutting reference to his former coach's methods.
Despite the crisis, the board, led by American owner Stan Kroenke, stuck with Arteta.
Building a New Culture
Arteta had already won the FA Cup at the end of his first season. Now he began the tough task of reshaping the club's culture.
This meant instilling greater discipline and removing players seen as destabilizing. Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were among those shown the door.
Still, it would take longer than planned—nearly six years—for the next trophy to arrive.
Trusting Youth, Then Spending Big
In the early years, Arteta placed his trust in younger players to revive Arsenal's fortunes. Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were promoted from the academy.
An 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli arrived from Brazil in 2019. Another 18-year-old, William Saliba, joined the same year from France and was initially loaned out.
Over the next couple of years, Arsenal signed more players under 23—including Ben White and Martin Ødegaard.
Arteta honed these youngsters into top-class Premier League players. But to make the final step, the club needed older, elite-level players.
Declan Rice cost a reported 105 million pounds ($138 million) in 2023—a British-record fee. Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze were signed for a combined price of around $160 million last summer.
Pressure Mounts
With these investments came heightened pressure. Arteta needed an immediate return.
Finishing as runner-up in the Premier League for three consecutive years saw Arsenal derided as "nearly men"—even chokers—by many pundits.
An alternative view is that these near-misses built the prerequisite experience and resolve to finally launch a successful tilt at the title.
Unconventional Methods
Arteta kept believing in his squad—and kept coming up with unusual methods to inspire his players.
A professional pickpocket was reportedly hired for a preseason dinner. The pickpocket took items from players, highlighting the need for alertness at all times.
Arteta brought a lightbulb into the locker room ahead of one game, linking it to his demand for the team to shine and light up Emirates Stadium.
Just weeks ago, TikTok videos featuring fan chants were played on big screens during practice sessions.
Mastering the Basics
Arsenal has been mentally tougher this season. The players held on after yet another strong start and saw it through to the end.
Despite City's trademark late-season rally, Arsenal didn't buckle.
Arteta's title-winning campaign has been ugly at times. It has been the emblem of a back-to-basics approach in English soccer—grind out results, stay solid defensively, and earn the right to win.