Seven years after taking over a fractured Arsenal, Mikel Arteta leads his side into Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris St Germain, one win from completing a remarkable rebuild.
Guiding Arsenal to their first Premier League title since 2004 has already repaid the club’s faith. Now he has a chance to deliver Europe’s biggest prize for the first time.
"We have raised different standards now, and now we have to go to the next level," Arteta said.
Arsenal’s rise has been built on pragmatism-a blend of zonal dominance, high pressing, and defensive discipline. A side once mocked for vulnerability now wins ugly when necessary.
When Arteta returned to the club in 2019, those foundations were missing. "I am very lucky that we have an ownership model that understood the picture was ugly," he said.
He reshaped the training ground, introduced team bonding, and even brought in a pet labrador named "Win" to build unity. Appointment of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover in 2021 proved a turning point. Arsenal broke the Premier League record for goals from corners this season.
Former Everton manager David Moyes noted: "You have seen Mikel over a few years, he has got dark arts... because you are desperate for your team to win."
The road has not been smooth, but now Arsenal face their ultimate test against PSG-a club tied to Arteta’s own playing past.
"We have an amazing opportunity to write new history in our football club," Arteta said.