Arsenal don finally win Premier League after 22 years of waiting, and manager Mikel Arteta reveal say im don see am coming since March. In an interview with actor Tom Hiddleston for Sky Sports News, Arteta confess say im dey visualise di trophy for months before di title confam.
Arsenal become champions when Manchester City draw 1-1 with Bournemouth on Tuesday. Di celebration wey follow sweet well well for players, staff, and fans. Di team don finish second three times in a row before dis season, and di race with Pep Guardiola side dey tight until di end.
Arteta tell Hiddleston: “I imagined winning it many times. Especially because we’ve been very close in a few seasons. But this time, especially, there was something. I’ve done a lot of visualisation over the last few months. I could close my eyes and I could get to that picture immediately, and that was different to the other seasons.”
Di manager say di visualisation start around March and April. “I knew that was the moment that was going to define the season. And, OK, what are the things that you can learn from the past that we didn’t have, or which I did that can be done in a different way to help the players to get over the line?”
When Hiddleston ask wetin im see, Arteta reply: “It was a picture of myself lifting the trophy. That was it. I think I had to believe in myself to be able to transmit that conviction and energy to the team.”
After di title confam, players and staff celebrate for di training ground before heading to central London. Thousands of fans gather for Emirates Stadium, where Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, and Eberechi Eze appear for early morning.
Arteta talk about di moment: “It’s incredible. I’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time, but when it actually happens, it’s different to anything that I imagined. I could never expect such a joy and togetherness, and something that happens organically in the manner that it happened straight after we won it. It was magical to witness that.”
Arteta also reveal say im use a speech wey Hiddleston give for Sky Sports News, where im quote Billie Jean King say “pressure is a privilege,” to motivate di players. “It’s beautiful what you said, in the manner that you articulated it. You said it in such a powerful way that it was so easy to put it into words and explain it to the boys.”
Now, attention dey turn to next Saturday Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain for Budapest. Arteta say di team dey determined to add European success to domestic triumph. “We have raised different standards now. This is where we are right now, and now we have to go to the next level, and the next level is going to happen in six days in Budapest, to go and win the Champions League, and we know that.”
Di manager praise im coaching staff, wey include Gabriel Heinze wey join last summer, as di best for di world. “I enjoy that part as well. I love it. Why is it not happening? Trying to figure it out and dissect what is not right, find it and change it. That’s what makes you a better coach, and to have that curiosity, first of all to be humble enough to look at yourself before criticising players.”
For di final game against Crystal Palace, Arsenal go lift di trophy for home fans. Arteta talk say di past disappointments make dis success sweeter. Di team don show say dem be di best defensive side for di league, with only 26 goals conceded. Dem also score 18 goals from corner kicks, di highest for any Big Five league team.
Di Gunners dey prepare for Champions League final, and Arteta say di energy dey high. “Our only focus now is to achieve that goal. The energy has been incredible around the place with the boys, with everybody, because we have a lot of families, a lot of people who know each other, a lot of people connected in and around the club. And you see the joy, but you see as well the ambition. We’ve done that, but now we want this one.”
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
