Mikel Arteta has been named the Premier League Manager of the Season after he led Arsenal to their first title in 22 years. Arteta beat his former boss Pep Guardiola, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Brentford’s Keith Andrews, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris and Manchester United’s Michael Carrick to win the individual award.
The Gunners boss had an incredible 2025/26 season, where they remained on top of the league table for a long period. They also won the league with a game to spare after three second-placed finishes. Arteta’s Arsenal also made history by winning the Premier League without a red card and conceding a penalty.
Speaking after Arsenal lifted the trophy at Crystal Palace on Sunday, Arteta said: “The fans have been waiting for this for so long. We have had some difficult moments along the way but all of them are worth it when you see that kind of reaction.
“We showed an incredible connection, an incredible commitment and incredible courage as well. Everything around us was fuel for the desire to go and do it.
“There are doubts and the understanding that maybe you are not the right person. But thanks to God that we have done it. I feel a lot of joy and a lot of relief as well.”
How Arteta transformed Arsenal from lowest point to EPL champions
Mikel Arteta took charge of Arsenal at a time when the club was experiencing one of its Premier League lowest points in December 2019. The Gunners boss won the FA Cup in his first year in charge.
However, it took six years for him to lift the Premier League trophy. This was after working on an expensive, but notoriously soft and disorganised squad. Arsenal was soft and easily bullied, leading to many supporters losing hope of winning any major trophy anytime soon.
After their third straight season as Premier League runners-up, Arsenal came back to the 2025/26 season with a defensively disciplined squad, determined that they will succeed in their fourth attempt. The Gunners almost bottled the league after allowing Manchester City to take over the top of the table late in the season.
But Arteta’s men were characterised by steeliness and a fierce will to win. And on Sunday, they lifted the trophy for the first time since the 2004 ‘invincible” era.
