Mikel Arteta has a knack for using imagery to capture attention and stir emotions among his players. Since taking over Arsenal in 12/2019, he has used this approach consistently. Three years ago, a silhouette of the Premier League trophy was hung on a wall at the London Colney training center. Finally, after more than two decades without a league title, the Gunners brought home the actual trophy.

Coach Mikel Arteta (right) thanks fans after Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Burnley in round 37 of the Premier League at Emirates Stadium, London, England on 18/5/2026. *Photo: Reuters*

Prior to this celebratory moment, Arsenal had finished second for three consecutive seasons. There were many concerns: draws, injuries, suspensions, and the lack of a prolific striker left the London club 10 points behind the 2024-2025 champions, Liverpool. Last season at Anfield, a mocking banner even declared: "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride."

Arteta did not stand idly by. His final task before the 2025 summer break was to discuss transfer targets with co-chairman Josh Kroenke. Afterward, Arteta traveled to his usual resort in Portals Nous, near Palma on the island of Mallorca, with his wife Lorena Bernal, to celebrate the birthdays of their three children, Gabriel, Daniel, and Oliver, all born in June.

However, Arteta was never truly off duty. His phone rang constantly during the holiday, including discussions about changes to his coaching staff. Carlos Cuesta, a close assistant, left Arsenal to manage Parma, and Arteta needed a replacement.

Gabriel Heinze, a former teammate at PSG, was chosen. Arteta admired the former Argentina defender's decisive personality. Heinze was unemployed after leaving Newell’s Old Boys in 11/2023. He is known for his strictness; during his time at Velez, Heinze limited players' phone use and prohibited PlayStation during breaks. His intense work ethic also contributed to his departure from Atlanta United after a year in MLS.

Roy Keane, Heinze's captain at Man Utd, once described his teammate in his autobiography as a "very difficult" player in training. Arteta believed Arsenal needed more of that grit to elevate their game. Heinze joined the coaching staff, primarily working with defenders on individual duels and game reading abilities.

Arteta and Heinze placed particular emphasis on discipline. Last season, Arsenal received 70 yellow cards and 6 red cards—the most in the league—many of which contributed to them losing matches. This season, the change is evident: Arsenal topped the fair-play table with 50 yellow cards, no red cards, and no penalties conceded.

Heinze also had another task: guiding Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker was signed to solve Arsenal's goal-scoring problem but was initially labeled as only effective against weaker teams and failed to meet expectations when the team struggled. Gyokeres also needed to improve his ability to hold up play and link up. Heinze intervened late in the season, and Gyokeres' improvement was clear in his performance against Atletico in the Champions League semi-final.

Coach Mikel Arteta during Arsenal's training session at the Arsenal training center in London Colney, England on 16/3/2026. *Photo: Reuters*

Connecting past, present, and future was a key theme. New signings arrived rapidly as Arsenal prepared for their Asian tour. During the integration process, Arteta recounted the club's rich history, actively bringing Arsene Wenger's achievements back to London Colney, with images of past glories re-hung on the walls.

On his first day joining Arsenal from Chelsea, Noni Madueke watched a video of iconic Arsenal moments, including Tony Adams' half-volley against Everton in 1998, when Wenger first won the Premier League. Madueke also received a gift box with a letter from Declan Rice, who knew him from youth football. Arteta understood that small details could yield significant value.

Arteta knew Martin Zubimendi had a dog named Lea. When the midfielder arrived from Real Sociedad, Arteta welcomed him with Win, the club's chocolate Labrador dog. Win immediately rolled over affectionately for Zubimendi. The Spanish newcomer also received messages from Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard, who had played with him at Sociedad.

Gyokeres received a letter from Odegaard, in which the Arsenal captain encouraged him to reach out if he needed help. Eberechi Eze, an Arsenal fan since childhood, was one of the last to arrive. The former Crystal Palace player beamed as he watched a video from Thierry Henry, the greatest striker in the club's history. Earlier, Eze had nearly moved to Tottenham.

The 2025-2026 season also saw Arsenal looking to the future. The 14/3/2026 will be etched in memory as Max Dowman, just 16 years and 73 days old, came on when Arsenal were struggling against Everton. In his 16 minutes on the field, this rising star assisted Gyokeres for the opening goal and then scored himself to seal a 2-0 victory.

After the match, the atmosphere at Emirates was electric. The Dowman family was sent champagne. Two days later, Dowman returned to school. The teenager quickly understood that the performance did not grant special privileges. Weeks later, Gabriel yelled at Dowman for not providing enough defensive support in a late-game situation against Sporting Lisbon, a play that would have sent the Champions League quarter-final into extra time if it had resulted in a goal.

Dowman (center) celebrates his goal, sealing a 2-0 victory over Everton, at Emirates Stadium, London, England on 14/3. *Photo: Reuters*

Set pieces proved decisive this season. In Brazil, Gabriel Jesus and his teammates might face strong criticism if their team scored 24 goals from set pieces, 18 of which came from corners. But that is exactly what Arsenal achieved in the Premier League this season.

"As a Brazilian, coming from the streets with a love for beautiful football, sometimes it's not great, it's even a bit annoying," Jesus said. "But in the end, I have another championship, and I want more. I'm fine if we win and decide titles this way. How many World Cups or titles have been decided by set pieces?"

The importance of set pieces was emphasized by a large banner at the training center: "Set pieces win games." After practice, specialist coach Nicolas Jover often stayed to work with players on complex strategies of pulls, blocks, and movements, including runs behind the goal line in combination plays. Arsenal also liked to delay taking free kicks to increase anxiety for opposing goalkeepers. Many Arsenal players revealed that criticism only motivated them to further hone their set-piece routines.

Arsenal's first goal this season came from a corner in the 13th minute at Old Trafford. William Saliba blocked goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, and Riccardo Calafiori headed in the goal. Set pieces later contributed to the Gunners' victories against Newcastle with scores of 2-1 and 1-0, Fulham 1-0, Crystal Palace 1-0, and Chelsea 2-1.

For Arteta, every detail holds value. He has a large team of coaches and analysts working behind the scenes, so numerous that some were once denied access when trying to join the celebration in the tunnel at London Stadium.

Arteta also sought to exert influence, which many called tactical ploys, from the touchline. The Arsenal manager once made it difficult for opposing wingers to break away quickly. Arteta employed this tactic against Aston Villa, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, and Atletico.

Riccardo Calafiori (right) celebrates his goal in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Man Utd in round one of the Premier League at Old Trafford, Manchester on 17/8/2025. *Photo: Reuters*

Changing the culture was paramount. Upon arriving at Arsenal, Arteta implemented many changes at the training center. This season, he invited nutritionist Pamela Ibarra from Man City to improve the team's diet and physical condition. Steak appeared on the menu before match days, although Bukayo Saka preferred octopus with rice and potatoes.

Creating a large family with a warm atmosphere to help players integrate quickly and build close relationships among members was central to Arteta's management. Recently, he organized a barbecue for players and the coaching staff, then hosted a separate party for other club employees.

Arteta also devised many unusual training exercises. After losses to Man City in the League Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup, he instructed players to hold felt-tip pens between their fingers while controlling the ball with their feet. The exercise aimed to improve concentration when doing two things at once.

Days later, Arsenal trained to music from a TikTok video displayed on a large screen. The players enjoyed it and created their own versions, while Arteta perfected the melody using an AI application. After Arsenal won the Champions League semi-final, Arteta danced to the song and requested the video be played in the dressing room.

Arteta firmly believes in using visuals to evoke emotions and reinforce messages. A pack of hunting wolves reminded players of collective strength. An F1 car implied they needed to exploit space. Before the match against Man City at Etihad, he asked players to write down what they disliked others saying about Arsenal, then burned them. To keep that image in mind, he repeatedly used the word "fire" during the press conference that day.

After losing to Man City, Arteta did not need to find any images to motivate his players because they had to watch Man City begin celebrating. Gianluigi Donnarumma jumped into the stands behind the goal. Fans unfurled a banner: "Panic on the streets of London." The reaction of Arsenal players was encapsulated in a widely circulated social media conversation between Rice and Odegaard: "It's not over yet."

Arteta gave the players two days off after the Man City loss. Gyokeres returned to Lisbon and rekindled his relationship with Portuguese model and actress Ines Aguiar over dinner. Later, in the match against Atletico, Arteta and his players were seen holding hands, demonstrating unity.

Arteta also appreciated that Win, the club's dog, sometimes inadvertently wandered into important tactical meetings. The dog calmed the atmosphere, was embraced by players, and occasionally stayed at players' homes, including Ben White's. However, Win was not allowed on the training pitch due to chemically treated grass.

Odegaard dribbles during Arsenal's 1-2 loss to Man City in round 33 of the Premier League at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England on 19/4/2026. *Photo: AFC*

Arteta learned and grew as a coach. During difficult times, Arteta and the players often received encouraging messages from Josh Kroenke, who regularly attends matches. January was a difficult period. After a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at home, Arteta told his players it could be an important point. Internally, however, he was angry, and he was not the only one.

Rice shook his head in disappointment when the next Premier League match also ended 0-0, this time at Nottingham Forest. According to sources, Rice earned great respect, having been voted captain when Odegaard and Saka were absent. Rice led discussions in the dressing room, fiery and emotional after Arsenal allowed Wolves to equalize from a 2-0 lead in February.

Consecutive defeats against Bournemouth and Man City also contributed to Arteta's evolution, as he used more technical players in the final sprint and became bolder. Myles Lewis-Skelly was unexpectedly chosen to play central midfield instead of Zubimendi, and Eze consistently featured in the starting lineup.

During the season, Arteta sometimes admitted he needed time to better understand Eze and Lewis-Skelly. This indicated his growth as a coach. Arteta also learned from experts in other sports, including rugby union. He liked the tradition of rugby players not printing names on the back of their shirts, only numbers.

Arteta preferred to call players coming onto the field "finishers" rather than "substitutes." He believed the final 15 minutes were when the team needed players to contribute the most, but ego could hinder this.

The Spanish tactician often wakes up at 5 a.m. and is among the first to arrive at the office, staying until late afternoon even on his birthday. On one occasion, Nacho Monreal and Santi Cazorla visited Arteta's home for dinner to watch football. They were surprised to see Arteta still busy taking notes.

Arteta is so meticulous that he once consulted with Royal Air Force fighter pilots to learn how to use more precise language in communication. He dislikes losing at padel or tennis, sports he enjoys because they demand mental resilience. Arteta used this to emphasize to his players that they must control their emotions and quickly regain focus after every mistake.

Coach Mikel Arteta gives instructions during Arsenal's 1-0 victory over West Ham in round 37 of the Premier League at London Stadium, England on 10/5/2026. *Photo: Reuters*

Arteta's growth was supported by the Kroenke family's long-term plan, which gave him confidence that they would be patient if Arsenal did not immediately achieve glory. Pep Guardiola, David Moyes, and Mauricio Pochettino were among hundreds who sent congratulatory messages after Arsenal reached the Champions League final.

"I replied: ‘All of you are a part of this, because you all helped me develop’," Arteta said.

After 22 years, Arsenal is finally no longer the runners-up. This championship came from many stages of change: more discipline, greater grit, better utilization of set pieces, stronger unity, and increased maturity under pressure. It is a deserved reward for Arteta, but also the result of a club that has learned to think, train, and win like champions.

*Compiled by Vy Anh*