{"id":6779,"date":"2026-05-20T13:35:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/arsenals-first-premier-league-title-in-22-years-how-did-they-do-it\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T13:35:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:35:19","slug":"arsenals-first-premier-league-title-in-22-years-how-did-they-do-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/arsenals-first-premier-league-title-in-22-years-how-did-they-do-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal\u2019s first Premier League title in 22 years: How did they do it?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>Arsenal have ended a 22-year wait to be crowned <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/19\/arsenal-crowned-premier-league-winners-as-man-city-lose-at-bournemouth\">Premier League champions<\/a> after Manchester City were held 1-1 by Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<p>Mikel Arteta\u2019s men <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/19\/arsenals-arteta-claims-premier-league-to-step-from-guardiolas-shadow\">held off the challenge<\/a> of Pep Guardiola\u2019s second-place City on Tuesday night to seal a long-awaited triumph with one game to spare.<\/p>\n<section>\n<h2>Recommended Stories <\/h2>\n<p><span>list of 4 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>list 1 of 4<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/19\/us-to-let-dr-congo-team-in-for-world-cup-despite-ebola-restrictions\">US to let DR Congo football team in for World Cup despite Ebola restrictions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 2 of 4<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/19\/fifa-world-cup-2026-all-to-know-about-neymar-surprise-brazil-selection-ancelotti\">Neymar\u2019s surprise World Cup call-up: All to know about his Brazil return<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 3 of 4<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/19\/why-has-fifa-not-signed-a-world-cup-broadcast-deal-in-india\">Messi mania but no World Cup broadcast deal in India \u2013 all to know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 4 of 4<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/5\/19\/ronaldo-to-lead-portugal-at-sixth-world-cup-as-martinez-names-squad\">Ronaldo to lead Portugal at sixth World Cup as Martinez names squad<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>Here are the key factors that helped the Gunners finally get over the line after three seasons as runners-up:<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"back-to-basics\">Back to basics<\/h2>\n<p>Arsenal\u2019s title-winning campaign has been ugly at times. For a couple of seasons, Arteta\u2019s Arsenal have been the emblem of a more back-to-basics approach in English football.<\/p>\n<p>The era of pretty passing under Guardiola and heavy-metal football under Jurgen Klopp has given way to set pieces, long throw-ins and long balls from the back.<\/p>\n<p>It is a world Arsenal have mastered with Gabriel Magalhaes a menace at corners, Declan Rice key with his pinpoint throws and dead-ball deliveries, and Victor Gyokeres a more robust out-and-out striker.<\/p>\n<p>Often derided by rival fans as \u201cSet Piece FC\u201d for a lack of creativity, specialist coach Nicolas Jover has devised a series of inventive schemes to give Arsenal an edge.<\/p>\n<p>More than 40 percent of the Gunners\u2019 Premier League goals this season have come from dead ball situations. Of their 28 goals from set pieces, 18 have come from corners, a new single-season Premier League record.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Gunners easily have the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 26 goals in 37 games this season, and it is that solidity and sturdiness that will define this title-winning team.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"rice-s-leadership-raya-s-saves-gyokeres-s-goals\">Rice\u2019s leadership, Raya\u2019s saves, Gyokeres\u2019s goals<\/h2>\n<p>Rice and goalkeeper David Raya have stood out for Arsenal this season, putting them among the favourites for English football\u2019s Player of the Year award.<\/p>\n<p>Rice\u2019s leadership, energy in midfield and set-piece delivery have made him an integral member of the team and one of England\u2019s key players heading into the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Raya has helped Arsenal keep 19 clean sheets, earning him the Golden Glove award for the third straight year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDavid Raya, for me, has to be the player of the season,\u201d former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira told Sky Sports. \u201cI think he was outstanding from the first game until the end of the season. I think he was really impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Throw in Gyokeres scoring 21 goals in all competitions in his first season at the club and it is clear that Arteta has built the most well-rounded team of his tenure.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4588743\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4588743\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/reuters_6a0d850b-1779270923.jpg?w=770&#038;resize=770%2C500&#038;quality=80\" alt=\"Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 10, 2026 West Ham United's Pablo in action with Arsenal's David Raya and Declan Rice REUTERS\/Tony O Brien EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB\/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB\/LEAGUE\/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..\" fetchpriority=\"low\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4588743\">Arsenal\u2019s David Raya and Declan Rice in action with West Ham United\u2019s Pablo [File: Tony O\u2019Brien\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"strength-in-depth\">Strength in depth<\/h2>\n<p>Injuries played a ruinous role in Arsenal\u2019s failed pursuit of Liverpool last season.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to invest heavily in bulking out Arteta\u2019s squad paid off this season despite injuries to Saka, Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.<\/p>\n<p>New signings Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera have all made significant contributions to get Arsenal over the line in the Premier League and within one game of winning the Champions League for the first time.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4588776\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4588776\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/getty_6a0d86bf61-1779271359.jpg?w=770&#038;resize=770%2C513&#038;quality=80\" alt=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Viktor Gyoekeres of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on May 18, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images)\" fetchpriority=\"low\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4588776\">Gyokeres in action against Burnley [File: Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"unorthodox-methods\">Unorthodox methods<\/h2>\n<p>Finishing as runners-up in the Premier League for the past three years saw Arsenal\u2019s players and Arteta derided as \u201cnearly men\u201d, even chokers, by many football pundits.<\/p>\n<p>An alternative view is that it built up the prerequisite experience and resolve to finally launch a successful tilt at the title.<\/p>\n<p>Arteta kept believing in his squad \u2013 and kept coming up with unorthodox, ridicule-inviting methods to inspire his players. A professional pickpocket was reportedly hired for a preseason dinner and took items from players, highlighting the need for them to be alert at all times.<\/p>\n<p>Arteta brought a lightbulb into the locker room before one game, linking that to his demand for the team to shine and light up Emirates Stadium. Just a few weeks ago, TikTok videos featuring fan chants were played on big screens during practice sessions.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal have been mentally tougher this season, holding on after yet another strong start to the campaign and seeing it through to the end despite City\u2019s trademark late-season rally.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faltering-rivals\">Faltering rivals<\/h2>\n<p>Arsenal accumulated more points two years ago when they were pipped to the title by City despite winning 16 of their final 18 games.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past decade, City and Liverpool have often set the bar high, winning the league with more than 90 points.<\/p>\n<p>This time, 82 was enough to see Arsenal over the line.<\/p>\n<p>Despite taking the title race into the final week of the campaign, City lacked the same consistency and relentlessness of Guardiola\u2019s best sides while Liverpool\u2019s title defence imploded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal have ended a 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City were held 1-1 by Bournemouth. Mikel Arteta\u2019s men held off the challenge of Pep Guardiola\u2019s second-place City on Tuesday night to seal a long-awaited triumph with one game to spare. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4US &#8230; <a title=\"Arsenal\u2019s first Premier League title in 22 years: How did they do it?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/arsenals-first-premier-league-title-in-22-years-how-did-they-do-it\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Arsenal\u2019s first Premier League title in 22 years: How did they do it?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}