Boats, fire and a TikTok song - inside Arsenal's title win

The elements of a boat message, a training ground fire, and an AI-generated TikTok song have played pivotal roles in helping Arsenal achieve their first Premier League title in 22 years. While these components may seem unconventional, they have significantly contributed to the success that Mikel Arteta has brought to north London.

Arsenal secured the championship on Tuesday after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth. The question arises: how did they achieve such a momentous title win?

The Wobbles, Fire, and Belief

Arteta has demonstrated a unique affinity for the concept of fire. Just last month, while grappling with a challenging spell that threatened their title aspirations, he encouraged his players to symbolically toss their negative thoughts into a fire that had been ignited at the club's training facility.

On a broader scale, Arteta has a tradition of hosting barbecues for the players, staff, and their families at the London Colney headquarters, underscoring the importance he places on fostering relationships.

As the flames of success continue to blaze, the Gunners now set their sights on Champions League glory, facing Paris St-Germain on May 30. A victory in Budapest would affirm this Arsenal team's status as one of the greatest in the club’s history.

This narrative is not solely about a single triumphant season; rather, it represents the culmination of a meticulously crafted six-year project. "Trust the process," Arteta declared in June 2020, and with the benefit of hindsight, he proved to be correct.

Arteta stands as the driving force, shaping the team into one of the most remarkable in European football, along with sporting director Andrea Berta, who will justifiably receive accolades for their season's accomplishments. However, the foundation of success was laid over many years.

Former sporting director Edu, along with the team he assembled—including assistant Jason Ayto and technical director James Ellis, both of whom have departed in the last year—has significantly influenced recruitment practices and transformed the squad into one admired globally.

Of the club's top 15 appearance-makers in the Premier League this season, ten were signings made during Edu’s tenure.

Richard Garlick, who ascended to the position of chief executive in September, has fervently supported the club’s rebuilding strategy since joining from the Premier League - initially as director of football operations - in 2021.

Josh Kroenke, co-chairman and vice-president of Arsenal owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, has reportedly increased his engagement in club matters, frequently visiting the training facility this season. Noteworthy was his November trip to London to witness Arsenal's women’s team receive the Freedom of Islington, where he spent time with players and supporters, discussing the community’s role in the club's success. Following a defeat to Manchester United in January, he returned, coinciding with Arteta’s impassioned appeal for fans to "jump on the boat" with the team.

The contributions of the club's academy staff are also significant, with first-team players Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman all being products of the youth system.

Arsenal's impressive season reflects the power of collective effort and has not been without complications. The Gunners have missed numerous chances to ease the tension in the title race and experienced a setback in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

Arteta is known for his unwavering approach as a manager, but his decision to field Kepa Arrizabalaga at Wembley was an instance when sentimentality prevailed, ultimately contributing to their failure to secure silverware.

Despite further defeat against City in the league—establishing a direct contest for the title—Arteta and his squad seemed to embrace the challenge more resolutely.

The Gunners' head coach began to rely on feelings and intuition in decision-making, a shift from his earlier management style.

Throughout, Arteta has consistently employed innovative methods. An AI-generated song, which features the names of all squad members—of which Arteta only indicates "came from somewhere"—has emerged as an anthem for the season, resonating deeply with the players. This song encapsulates one of Arteta's favorite mantras: "make it happen." Now, having led Arsenal to the title, he can assert that they indeed did.

Arteta, Intensity, and Building a Legacy

For Arteta, the goal is to establish a legacy of enduring success. While winning once is commendable, repeating such successes is the true hallmark of greatness.

With the Spaniard's contract set to expire at the end of the next season, the immediate focus for all stakeholders is to negotiate an extension. This process is currently underway and is expected to gain momentum following the Champions League final, with a mutual desire to finalize the arrangement ahead of the new season.

The expectation is that Arteta will agree to a new contract, which is likely to substantially increase his current financial package of £10 million per season, with an additional £5 million contingent on Champions League qualification.

There has been internal discourse regarding the possibility of Berta engaging in talks to extend his contract, particularly amid speculation about potential opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Arsenal now embodies Arteta's vision, evident from his transition from head coach to manager in September 2020. The manager serves on the football leadership team alongside Kroenke, Garlick, James King, and Berta, forming the group responsible for driving the club's footballing direction.

Arteta’s coaching staff mirrors his intense and passionate ethos, with all analysts contributing to the high-energy atmosphere from the stands. Last summer, he was joined by long-time friend and former teammate Gabriel Heinze as an assistant coach, who has significantly influenced the squad this season with a motivational huddle for defenders before each match.

Arteta's approach is hands-on, knowing when to provide strong feedback and when to guide. He has also developed a skill for delegating responsibilities, ensuring that the backroom team leads various sessions to maintain freshness in the players’ training.

Now that Arteta has secured silverware for this group, the focus shifts to the next season. Arsenal is intent on acquiring a midfielder, left-winger, and striker, yet a sharper emphasis will likely be placed on player departures after last year’s significant investment of £250 million. Notably, the only senior player to exit last summer was Albert Lokonga.

Thus far, Arsenal has agreed to sell defender Jakub Kiwior to Porto for an initial £14.7 million. It is understood that Christian Norgaard, who moved for up to £15 million, will be allowed to leave, with the club open to offers for Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Fabio Vieira.

The club is also contemplating a notable homegrown sale that would enhance their financial standing. Discussions are ongoing regarding the potential transfer of Nwaneri, who is currently on loan at Marseille, or Lewis-Skelly, even as the latter's rise as a legitimate central-midfield option for Arteta has not gone unnoticed.

Maintaining a manageable wage bill is also a priority. This objective, however, faces challenges, particularly with defender Jurrien Timber and midfielder Declan Rice positioned for new contracts soon, alongside recent renewals for Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, and Nwaneri.

Given lucrative bonuses anticipated for players following this season’s achievements, and expectations for Arteta’s salary to approach £20 million, stringent management of the club’s expenses will prove difficult.

There is a growing recognition within the organization that planning for a squad rebuild is essential, particularly as several key players approach their late twenties.

This summer, Arsenal is particularly interested in signing Leicester teenager Jeremy Monga. With Dowman, Marli Salmon, Edwin and Holger Quintero, and Lewis-Skelly all in their teens, there is optimism that this rebuild might not result in any significant decline in performance levels.

When the Work for the Season Started

The framework for this exceptional season was established in November 2024 during a meeting with Kroenke in the United States, where the board articulated its objectives.

Berta, who facilitated Arsenal’s £250 million transfer expenditure last summer, was appointed as sporting director in March 2025 and presented with red ties for the executive team. His reputation among Arsenal supporters has flourished since arriving, especially following a transfer window that transformed the team from nearing excellence to championship winners.

It is crucial to note that Berta’s appointment following Edu's departure in November 2024 was essential. Edu’s decision to join the ownership group of Nottingham Forest led to his exit; there is a strong chance he would still be at Arsenal had he remained.

The focus on recruiting young, ambitious players who could enhance the club's performance and trading capabilities was central to Edu’s philosophy.

Berta's mandate was decidedly straightforward: to achieve victory. Under Edu, Arsenal had made significant strides, but the final hurdle is often the most challenging.

His influence in shifting the club's approach to player recruitment is exemplified by the £64 million acquisition of striker Viktor Gyokeres. Berta shares Arteta's fervor, a trait showcased when he found himself engaged in a scuffle with former colleague Diego Simeone during the closing minutes of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final triumph over Atletico Madrid.

Arsenal placed considerable emphasis on acquiring players with high availability, durability, and resilience heading into last summer's transfer window. Additionally, a deliberate choice was made to recruit physically imposing players—a strategy that has proven effective.

The Striker Hunt

Following a third consecutive second-place finish last season, Arsenal recognized the need to secure a proven goalscorer.

Though Benjamin Sesko, who signed with Manchester United, was of interest, Gyokeres was deemed the more immediate fit for success. While Sesko presented a compelling investment opportunity, the financial requirements for the deal—reportedly as high as £73.7 million—aligned with those for an established player.

Alexander Isak and Julian Alvarez received widespread support from Arsenal's recruitment team; however, their high price tags were a barrier to acquisition.

Following Berta's appointment, Arsenal shifted its attention to Gyokeres. Arteta required complete assurance before endorsing the pursuit of the Swedish player, but ultimately approved the move.

So eager was the club to finalize the transfer and announce it during their tour in Asia that Gyokeres' medical was conducted while he was en route to Singapore.

To maximize Gyokeres' strength of running behind opposing defenses, Arteta implemented a tactical adjustment to adopt a more direct style of play. Early on, Gyokeres experienced some difficulty adjusting to this approach.

However, after leading Sweden to World Cup qualification during the March international break, Gyokeres significantly improved. Having netted only five league goals by mid-January, he has since accumulated 14 league goals and 21 across all competitions.

Stories of the Season

Defensive prowess has been integral to Arsenal's title narrative, with Gabriel and Saliba forming one of the finest central-defensive partnerships globally.

A significant indication of the season's trajectory emerged when the Gunners shared their squad photo on social media. This image featured the team that had consistently finished second, alongside the £250 million in new signings—Max Dowman, then only 15, was included.

Dowman's ascent has attracted considerable attention, with many agents and scouts labeling him as the best academy talent they have ever encountered. Even Arteta, who is cautious about placing undue pressure on young players, has favorably compared Dowman's abilities to those of Argentina's Lionel Messi.

This season, Dowman has set records as the youngest player to start for the club, the youngest player in Champions League history, and the Premier League's youngest scorer.

Rice, an essential component of the Arsenal squad, has had to elevate his performance this season due to injuries to key players. He has logged the most minutes of any outfield player this season, expressing a preference for a busy schedule of three games per week to maintain momentum during a protracted season.

Rice, along with goalkeeper David Raya and Gabriel, has been pivotal this season. However, this title victory is a testament to collective effort and the long-term vision that has ultimately come to fruition.