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Arsenal’s bold decision to appoint Mikel Arteta in 2019 has finally yielded the success they craved, as the Spaniard led the club to the Premier League title.

“I will burn every drop of blood for this football club to make it better,” Arteta had pledged back then — and he has delivered on that promise in spectacular fashion.

The early years under Arteta were focused as much on rebuilding the club’s culture as on chasing results. Gradually, the groundwork was laid for what has now become a historic transformation.

At last, Arteta has not only improved Arsenal — he has made them the best in the country. The club’s longest wait for a league title since World War II — 22 years — is finally over.

With a UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain still to come, Arsenal are on course for what could be remembered as their greatest season ever.

Regardless of the outcome in Budapest on May 30, a victory parade will roll through north London the following day. Judging by the jubilant scenes outside the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, it promises to be an unforgettable celebration.

The triumph has brought an overwhelming sense of relief. Years of tension and near-misses have been released in one euphoric moment. Players, staff, and fans alike have endured a long, emotionally draining journey.

Of Arsenal’s 25 league victories this season, 13 came by a single-goal margin — eight of them finishing 1-0.

It wasn’t until December that the nerve-wracking finishes became a recurring pattern. Earlier in the campaign, Arsenal had won eight consecutive matches in all competitions without conceding a goal.

The shift began with a dramatic 2-1 win over Wolves, when Arsenal conceded an equaliser in the 90th minute but clinched the winner deep into stoppage time.

There was frustration in the dressing room afterward, with Declan Rice especially vocal, demanding higher standards from his teammates.

This became the story of their season. In another tight encounter, Arsenal held off Brighton after failing to finish them off early, enduring a tense final 20 minutes.

When asked whether such emotional intensity was sustainable, Arteta firmly replied, “Yes. From my side, yes.” That conviction has been tested — and proven right — in the months since.

The first major turning point arrived after a January defeat to Manchester United. Following three winless games, Arsenal’s lead at the top had shrunk to four points.

Arteta watched the entire match twice before calling a team meeting. His message was one of perspective and belief — focusing on what could still be achieved. What followed was a 14-match unbeaten streak.

During this period, Josh Kroenke visited the training ground after his LA Rams’ NFL season ended. He had lunch with Arteta, with whom he shares a strong rapport. Kroenke has become increasingly hands-on, often sending messages of encouragement to players after tough moments. He was even seen embracing Ben White on the pitch after the victory against Burnley.

After the defeat to United, Arteta remained defiant in public. “Jump in this boat because it’s going to be fun,” he told Arsenal fans. “A lot of incredible things are going to emerge — some of them we can’t even imagine.”

That “boat” became a recurring symbol of unity. Before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, supporters unveiled a tifo inspired by the Spanish Armada.

Despite a quiet January transfer window, which saw no new signings after heavy summer spending on squad depth, Arsenal were tested when Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard were all sidelined, and Ethan Nwaneri had gone out on loan.

After a frustrating 2-2 draw with Wolves in February, which left Arteta furious, the squad held what was described as a heated meeting. Inside the club, there was recognition that many goals conceded had come from individual errors or unstoppable strikes by opponents.

But the tension only grew as Arsenal’s quadruple bid was cut in half. They lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton. Subsequent league defeats to Bournemouth and City made change inevitable.

For once, Arteta eased off the intensity. His press conferences during a run of one win in six games had become increasingly fiery. He famously urged fans to “bring your lunch, bring your dinner” for the Bournemouth match. Just days later, before the Europa League quarter-final against Sporting, he was again described as “on fire.”

After that turbulent spell, Arteta adopted a calmer tone, letting the team’s actions speak for themselves. Following the defeat to City, he gave players two days off to reset. When they returned, he reminded them: this was now a new league with five matches left to fulfil their dream.

Arteta’s confidence that the performance at the Etihad had brought renewed belief was genuine — not just post-match spin. Losing their points advantage oddly liberated the squad, allowing them to play with freedom again.

Since then, Arsenal have won all four league games without conceding, sealing the Premier League crown and reaching the Champions League final.

Key victories defined their run. The away win at Brighton, coupled with news that City had drawn with Nottingham Forest, felt monumental. For the first time, Arsenal fans sang, “We’re gonna win the league.”

Inside the Amex Stadium, loud music played from the Under-18 visitors’ dressing room — youngsters Max Dowman and Marli Salmon celebrated their own small part in the club’s success.

The victory over Everton in March surpassed even that high. Dowman made history as the youngest scorer in Premier League history. The club quickly shielded the 16-year-old from media attention, knowing the spotlight would be overwhelming.

However, the turning point in the title race arguably came in the tense win over West Ham. Arsenal were a VAR call away from slipping up, but they held firm — setting the stage for their crowning moment.

When Bournemouth’s draw ended Manchester City’s challenge, the Arsenal squad exploded in celebration at their training ground. Champagne flowed as Myles Lewis-Skelly jokingly told Bukayo Saka, “They called us bottlers — now we’re holding a bottle!”

Piero Hincapie joined in, miming a drink from an Arsenal-branded water bottle in a cheeky nod to a City fan’s earlier taunts. Declan Rice lifted sporting director Andrea Berta into the air as the players celebrated together.

After the loss at the Etihad weeks earlier, Rice had told Martin Odegaard on camera, “It’s not done.” Moments after Arsenal’s two-decade wait ended, he proved himself right — and delivered one final message of triumph.