EPL: Why I didn’t watch Bournemouth vs Man City with Arsenal players – Arteta
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Explains Absence During Championship Celebration
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed his absence from the team’s celebration following Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday, which confirmed the Gunners as the Premier League champions.
Although players and staff gathered at the Sobha Realty training center to watch the match, Arteta was not present in the footage shared online. On Thursday, he clarified his reasons for not joining the festivities.
“It’s incredible to hear them, especially understanding the journey and manner in which we’ve done it, how many people have been involved, and how long it took to accomplish that goal,” Arteta told reporters.
He expressed his emotional connection to the moment, stating, “It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. I was supposed to be here with the players and certain staff because that’s what they wanted. But I couldn’t. Twenty minutes before the game, I had to leave. I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted.”
Arteta decided it was best for the players to enjoy the moment amongst themselves. “It was their moment to be together, watch it themselves, and see what the outcome would be,” he said.
Instead of watching the match, Arteta spent time in his garden, preparing for a barbecue. “I didn’t watch any of it. I was just hearing noises in the background and then the magic happened,” he recounted.
His son later broke the news to him. “My oldest son opened the garden door, ran towards me, started to cry, gave me a hug, and said, ‘We’re champions, Daddy.’ My other two boys and my wife came over, and it was beautiful to see the joy on them; they are always with me.”
Arteta described the moment as “magical,” noting that shortly after, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard reached out to him via video. “He said, ‘Where are you? Come over.’ I told him, ‘Enjoy it. See you in a few hours, somewhere in London.’”
