NAIROBI, Kenya— The confetti had barely settled, the celebrations were still echoing around Selhurst Park and emotions were running high. But while Arsenal players and fans soaked in a long-awaited Premier League triumph, Mikel Arteta had already started looking ahead.
For Arsenal, ending a 22-year wait for the English title was history. For Arteta, it appears to be only part of the mission.
The Gunners capped off their title-winning season with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke helping secure a campaign that ended seven points ahead of Manchester City.
While Arsenal had already mathematically secured the league after City’s draw against Bournemouth earlier in the week, the trophy presentation delivered the emotional moment supporters had waited decades to see.
Emotional scenes as Arsenal finally lift the trophy
Thousands of Arsenal supporters packed one end of Selhurst Park as captain Martin Odegaard lifted the Premier League trophy draped in red and white ribbons.
The moment sparked wild celebrations.
Players tossed Mikel Arteta into the air as emotions took over. The Spanish manager appeared overwhelmed by the occasion and was seen wiping away tears before embracing his wife on the pitch.
After years of near misses and frustration, Arsenal had finally crossed the finish line.
“It is very difficult to put into words,” Arteta said.
“What a moment. A lot of emotions, a lot of joy, pride.”
He admitted the journey had included painful setbacks after three runner-up finishes before finally delivering the breakthrough season Arsenal had been chasing.
“We fell short on three occasions, and that was very painful,” he said.
“But I think that’s what has driven all of us to find new ways to show what we are made of.”
Attention turns quickly to the Champions League
Even amid celebrations that stretched for nearly two hours, Arteta’s focus appeared to shift quickly.
The Arsenal manager made it clear that becoming Premier League champions should not lower expectations but raise them.
“I said to the boys that this shirt now represents something else,” he said.
“We are the champions, and that brings a lot of confidence and a different kind of presence and energy to it.”
For Arsenal, the next target carries even greater historical significance.
The club will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday — only the second Champions League final appearance in Arsenal’s history after their defeat against FC Barcelona in 2006.
PSG arrive as defending champions and also eliminated Arsenal in last season’s semi-finals.
But Arteta believes momentum from the title-winning campaign can carry into Europe.
“We need that energy to flow, and going against that will be a big mistake,” he said.
A chance to write another chapter
For years Arsenal’s biggest challenge was getting back among English football’s elite. Then came the struggle of turning promise into silverware.
Now the challenge looks different.
The Premier League title has removed one burden, but another opportunity has appeared immediately. Winning Europe’s biggest club competition would move this Arsenal team into an entirely different conversation.
As celebrations begin to fade, Arteta and his players now stand one match away from potentially delivering another historic moment — one that could redefine the club’s modern era.
