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.
The Decision to Stick With Arteta
On Aug. 28, 2021, Arsenal had just lost 5-0 at Man City, slumping to the bottom of the Premier League standings with a third straight loss—something that hadn't happened since 1954.
Arteta, a year and a half into his first senior coaching role, questioned whether he was the right manager. Mesut Ozil, who had just left Arsenal, sarcastically posted "Trust the process" on social media.
The board, led by owner Stan Kroenke, stuck with Arteta. He'd won the FA Cup at the end of his first season and was building a new culture at the club—instilling discipline and reshaping the squad by removing players viewed as destabilizing.
Trusting Youth, Then Spending Big
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.
Over the next couple of years, players under 23—such as Ben White and Martin Ødegaard—were signed.
To make the final step, the club needed older, elite-level players. Declan Rice cost a reported 105 million pounds—then a British-record fee—in 2023. Gyokeres and Eze were signed for a combined price of around $160 million last summer.
Near-Misses and Unorthodox Methods
Finishing as runner-up for the past three years saw Arsenal derided as "nearly men" by pundits. But it built the experience and resolve needed for a title push.
Arteta kept believing in his squad—and kept using unorthodox methods. A professional pickpocket was reportedly hired for a preseason dinner to highlight the need for alertness. He brought a lightbulb into the locker room to demand the team "shine."
Arsenal has been mentally tougher this season, holding on after strong starts and seeing it through despite City's late-season rally.