After Arsenal clinched the Premier League title this week, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson assesses where the trophy was won and lost after a thrilling title race. Man City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth crowned Arsenal champions after 22 years of waiting – with Mikel Arteta becoming the second-youngest manager to win the Premier League title. 10 moments that won the title5am trip to the Emirates! How the players celebratedYour views on Arsenal’s title win Attention now turns to Arsenal’s Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain
– with the Gunners looking to claim Europe’s top prize for the first time in their history. See below to see The Magic Man’s thoughts on Arsenal’s thrilling season. ‘Arteta’s put the Arsenal back into Arsenal’ Mikel Arteta has put the Arsenal back into Arsenal. People ask now: ‘How have The Arsenal got on?’ Eight or nine years ago, Arsenal were also-rans. They were just a team in the Premier League, one that might get in the top four. They were never going to win
the title. And with this team, he’s brought the club back. It would have been a shame if Arteta had left Arsenal and not won the Premier League, given the job he’s done. Remember when he got rid of top players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil. They were top, top players and took a chance on that. He takes a lot of the credit for the title. It took a bit of time, but they’ve always been there or thereabouts. For example, if you
gave 50 points for first place, 25 for second-place and five for third place – Arsenal would be the best team in the country over the last three or four years. ‘I never expected Arsenal to provide entertainment’ Arsenal won the Premier League because they were the best team in the country at the start of the season. Remember, they had one of the toughest starts in Premier League history. The teams they had to play at the start of the season was mind-blowing. And
this is the problem we have: No one ever remembers August, September and October. That’s why Declan Rice probably won’t win the Player of the Year Award. Everyone remembers the last two months of the season, where Bruno Fernandes got a million assists. The defence, the goalkeeper – plus Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi – were the catalyst for them winning the Premier League. Zubimendi kind of fell away because it’s a hard, brawling season. But because of that protection, you can afford to win
by the odd goal here or there. It’s a nice feeling when you only need one goal to win a game. Against Bournemouth on Tuesday, Manchester City could have been beaten by four or five goals. I can’t remember a game this season where Arsenal could have been beaten by five. People say Arsenal weren’t good on the eye, but there were times in the season where they were. And as the title race went on, I didn’t expect Arsenal to be any different. I
didn’t expect entertainment and them winning by four goals or five – because the pressure on them to win this Premier League after finishing second three years in a row was through the roof. They played a certain way, they’ve got the team to play a certain way and it’s worked a treat – they won the league. And in 10, 30 or 40 years’ time, it’s Arsenal who will be remembered as the winners – not Man City came with a wet sail and
were unlucky. ‘Arsenal have a massive boost ahead of Champions League final’ Fair play to the players for going out until 5am. That shows all the pressure lifted off of their shoulders. And this title win has given them a massive advantage in the Champions League final. Arsenal don’t have to play anyone against Crystal Palace now. PSG played their final game of the season before that European final against Paris FC last week. That’s all they’ve got – now it’s a long two-week break
for them. Arsenal have that now. Just get ready for the Champions League final. If Man City had won against Bournemouth, then Arsenal would have had to deal with al the pressure right up until the Palace game on Sunday. There was the feeling that if they blew it at the weekend, that could be it. All of a sudden, there’s no nervous energy.
Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Paul Merson, Premier League, Manchester City, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil