Mikel Arteta has revealed that he found out Arsenal F.C. had won the Premier League title while having a barbecue in his garden with his family.
Arsenal were confirmed champions after AFC Bournemouth held title rivals Manchester City F.C. to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night.
The result gave Arsenal their first league title in 22 years.
Arteta said the Arsenal players and coaching staff gathered at the training ground to watch the match together, but he decided to leave before kick-off because he was too nervous.
“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” Arteta said.
“I was meant to watch the game with the players and staff because that’s what they wanted, but I couldn’t do it.”
The Spaniard explained that he went home, started a fire in the garden and prepared a barbecue instead of watching the game.
“I didn’t watch any of it,” he said.
“I was just hearing noise from inside the house and then suddenly the magic happened.
“My oldest son opened the garden door, ran towards me crying, hugged me and said, ‘We are champions, Daddy.’
“Then my other two boys and my wife joined us and it was a beautiful moment. A minute later, Martin Odegaard called me on video.”
Arteta also revealed that he phoned Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola after the match to congratulate him and thank him.
The two managers grew up in the Basque region of Spain and played together for youth side Antiguoko in San Sebastian.
“I called him to congratulate him for the amazing job he has done at Bournemouth,” Arteta said.
“I also told him he almost cost us the title when Bournemouth beat us earlier in the season, but in the end he helped us win it.”
Iraola is expected to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Arsenal now have the chance to complete a memorable season by winning the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on 30 May in Budapest.
Arteta said the team wants to celebrate with two trophies during their title parade.
“We want the parade to be with two trophies,” he added.
“We enjoyed winning the league, but now we must prepare well and try to make more history for this football club.”
