Top five factors behind Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years

Arsenal has concluded a 22-year wait to claim the Premier League championship, following a 1-1 draw between Manchester City and Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta's squad successfully navigated the challenge posed by Pep Guardiola's second-place City, securing the title with one match remaining in the season.

The following are pivotal factors that enabled the Gunners to achieve this long-anticipated triumph after finishing as runners-up for three consecutive seasons:

Back to basics

Arsenal's journey to the title this season has featured moments of struggle. In recent years, Arteta's team has epitomized a return to fundamental strategies within English football.

The style of intricate passing seen under Guardiola and the high-tempo play associated with Jurgen Klopp has transitioned into a focus on set pieces, long throw-ins, and direct play from defense.

Arsenal has excelled in this domain, with Gabriel Magalhaes proving to be a dominant force during corners, Declan Rice contributing precise throws and set-piece deliveries, and Victor Gyokeres serving as a strong, traditional striker.

While some rival fans have mockingly dubbed them "Set Piece FC" due to perceived limitations in creativity, specialist coach Nicolas Jover has implemented innovative tactics that have provided Arsenal with a tactical advantage.

Over 40 percent of Arsenal’s goals in the Premier League this season originated from set pieces. Of the 28 goals scored from dead ball situations, 18 came from corners, setting a new record for a single season in the league.

Additionally, Arsenal boasts the best defensive record in the league, with only 26 goals conceded over the 37 match days this season—a testament to the solidity and resilience that define this title-winning side.

Rice's leadership, Raya's saves, Gyokeres's goals

Declan Rice and goalkeeper David Raya have emerged as standout players for Arsenal this season, positioning themselves as contenders for the Player of the Year award in English football.

Rice's leadership skills, midfield dynamism, and proficiency in set-piece execution have made him an essential component of the team and a key player for the England national team as they approach the World Cup.

Raya's contributions have been equally significant, as he has helped the team secure 19 clean sheets, earning him the Golden Glove award for a record third consecutive year.

"David Raya, for me, has to be the player of the season," former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira remarked to Sky Sports. "I think he was outstanding from the first game until the end of the season. I think he was really impressive."

Adding to this, Gyokeres has scored 21 goals across all competitions in his inaugural season with the club, indicating that Arteta has successfully assembled the most comprehensive team of his managerial era.

Strength in depth

Injuries played a detrimental role in Arsenal's unsuccessful title bid against Liverpool last season.

However, the decision to invest significantly in expanding Arteta's squad has proven beneficial this season, despite injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber.

New acquisitions Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie, and Cristhian Mosquera have all made substantial contributions, helping Arsenal secure the Premier League title and advance to the brink of winning the Champions League for the first time.

Unorthodox methods

Finishing as runners-up in the Premier League for the preceding three years led to Arsenal's players and Arteta being labeled as "nearly men," and even "chokers," by numerous football analysts.

Conversely, this experience fostered the necessary resilience and determination for the team to successfully contend for the title.

Arteta maintained faith in his squad and consistently employed unconventional, sometimes derided strategies to motivate his players. For instance, a professional pickpocket was reportedly hired for a pre-season dinner to emphasize the importance of alertness among players.

A lightbulb was introduced into the locker room before a particular match as a symbolic gesture linked to Arteta's expectation for the team to "shine" and illuminate the Emirates Stadium. Recently, TikTok videos featuring fan chants were exhibited on large screens during training sessions.

This season, Arsenal demonstrated improved mental fortitude, maintaining composure after a robust start to the campaign and successfully navigating challenges as they approached the finish line, despite Manchester City's typical late-season resurgence.

Faltering rivals

Arsenal gathered more points two years ago but fell short to City, despite achieving 16 victories in their final 18 matches.

Historically, Manchester City and Liverpool have set a formidable standard, frequently winning the league with point tallies exceeding 90.

This season, however, 82 points sufficed to secure the championship for Arsenal.

While the title race remained competitive until the final week of the season, City struggled to exhibit the consistency and relentless performance typical of Guardiola's finest teams, while Liverpool’s title defense faltered significantly.