Mikel Arteta explains why he left Arsenal training base before title win and reveals Andoni Iraola call

Mikel Arteta has explained why he was not involved in celebrations at the Arsenal training ground for their Premier League win.

More than two decades on from their last triumph, the Gunners became champions on Tuesday night with a match to spare.

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Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth and therefore left a four-point gap between them and Arsenal ahead of the final day.

Stars from the red half of north London watched the match at their London Colney training base in hope of their title being confirmed.

Once the full-time whistle had blown in Bournemouth, the Arsenal squad and staff celebrated wildly, but a familiar face was missing.

Their manager Arteta was not spotted amongst the joyous scenes, which continued into the early hours at the Emirates Stadium.

However, when speaking to the media for the first time since their title win, the Spaniard revealed why he was absent.

Arteta on ‘beautiful’ title win

“You don’t realise it, probably. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” he said on his emotions once the title was officially theirs.

“I was supposed to be here at Colney, watching the game with the boys and the staff because that’s what they wanted. But, I couldn’t. I think 20 minutes later, before the game, I had to leave.

“I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted, and ultimately it was their moment, as well, to watch it together, to be themselves, and just see what the outcome would be.

“I went home, I went outside to the garden and started to build some fire, and started a BBQ. I didn’t watch any of it, I was just hearing some noises in the background, in the living room, and suddenly the magic happened.

“My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me and started to cry, gave me a hug and said, ‘We are champions, daddy!’

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“Then my other two boys and my wife came over, it was beautiful, just to see that joy on them as well, they are always with me, it was magical.

“A minute later, Martin (Odegaard) was video (calling), ‘Where are you?! Come over’. I said, ‘Guys, enjoy it for a while and I’ll see you in a few hours somewhere in London’. It was beautiful.”

Arteta added: “After watching the videos, and being… it was their moment, they have to be themselves in that moment.

“If I was there, I think it was not going to be the same, and I’m glad I did it. That way, they enjoyed it so much, and stuff was all over the place. Then we had our moment together a few hours later.”

Having finished as a runner-up for three consecutive seasons, Arteta was asked about the multitude of messages he received on Tuesday.

“To be fair, it’s a bit different when you finish second, and when you win it!” he joked.

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“That’s sport. It’s a big lesson in life as well, because the margins are so small and it can go either way. When you just accomplish it, you realise how immense it is, how big it is for so many people.

“Just to witness the happiness, the enjoyment, all the things that I’ve seen from our supporters, families, in different countries, it’s so, so good.”

Special thanks to Andoni

Arsenal kept themselves in pole position for the title by winning 1-0 at home to Burnley on Monday night.

If City had beaten Bournemouth, then this season’s champions would have been decided on the Premier League final day on Sunday.

However, Arsenal no longer face the pressure of having to win away to Crystal Palace to finally get across the line.

Bournemouth held on to hold City to a draw, and Arteta wanted to thank their manager Andoni Iraola for the help.

“I didn’t message him, no… I called him!” he explained, with the pair teammates at youth level for Spain during their playing careers.

“I called him yesterday, first of all to congratulate him for an incredible job that he has done with Bournemouth.

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“I said, ‘You almost took the Premier League away from us, and now you help us to win it!’

“A quick call to say thank you, as well as show my admiration towards him and wish him the best in the next chapter of his career, which I’m sure is going to be very, very successful.”