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Mikel Arteta has stated that Arsenal have finally lifted a huge mental weight after clinching the Premier League title, setting the stage perfectly for their upcoming Champions League final. The Spanish coach shared that breaking free from their reputation as serial near-misses has infused his team with renewed confidence and emotional strength as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the European showpiece.

Arteta reflects on Premier League triumph

In a conversation with MARCA, Arteta looked back on Arsenal’s domestic success as they head into their historic Champions League clash in Budapest this weekend. The manager expressed immense pride in guiding the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years. After several seasons of falling just short, Arteta said his main goal was to instil a top-level mentality within the squad, helping them overcome moments of self-doubt.

A psychological weight finally lifted

The newly crowned Premier League winner highlighted how the league success has completely transformed the mindset at the club ahead of their European final. Reflecting on the change, Arteta said: “There’s a feeling of joy and relief, of letting go of a burden. Of saying: ‘We’ve got this now.’ And we must channel that as a wave of emotion, of hope, and of hunger to win the Champions League.”

When asked about the most fulfilling part of this journey, Arteta replied: “The journey itself. We’ve done this with people who are worth it. There were times when I felt vulnerable and questioned myself — ‘Am I the right person to lead this?’ — and you only know the answer once you achieve it. We’ve done it together.”

Tactical evolution paying dividends

Responding to recent comments about Arsenal’s more defensive style since their semi-final win over Atletico Madrid, Arteta defended his tactical adjustments, explaining that adaptability was crucial during a challenging injury period.

Detailing his approach, he said: “I respect every opinion, but my job is to decide what to do with them — whether to value them, ignore them, remember them, discard them, or use them as motivation. There’s space for all of that.”

He continued: “If something isn’t enough to make us win, I can’t be satisfied. My responsibility is to find new ways to win — to innovate, to look for different solutions than before. That’s what we’ve been doing all along.”

“Considering the injuries we’ve dealt with, there’s a time for everything. If I had fed those injuries into a computer to calculate our chances of winning the Premier League, it would have said 2%. But I refused to accept that. We had to find new methods, using our strengths and available resources, to remain competitive across nearly 60 matches this season with all the demands placed on us.”

Arsenal chase historic double

The Gunners now prepare for a monumental clash against defending champions PSG on Saturday, hoping to complete an unbeaten European campaign. A victory would bring the Champions League trophy to north London for the first time ever, sealing a remarkable domestic and continental double. However, they face a formidable opponent in Luis Enrique’s PSG, who are aiming to become only the second club — after Real Madrid — to retain the title in the Champions League era.