Sky Sports released a documentary this week called Arsenal Champions Show, and it’s a great way to reflect on last season with brand-new interviews and insight from inside the title-winning squad.
Talking heads include Mikel Arteta, Eze, Rice, Saka and Odegaard, each giving their perspective on the moments that ultimately shaped Arsenal’s season.
Here are 10 things I learnt…
1. No More Fear Of Failure
At the start of the season, Mikel Arteta’s aim was to change the thought process of his squad.
After being runners-up three years in a row, our manager wanted a young dressing room to be excited about what they could achieve and embrace the challenge instead of fearing failure.
2. Let It All Work Out
I know our fanbase was heartbroken when Arsenal lost the Champions League Final, yet I felt some Gooners were slightly harsh on Eze.
His laid-back penalty style was translated as not caring, while he was even accused of not saying sorry enough or showing enough emotion.
Yet when the 28-year-old was explaining his faith, he made his outlook on life quite clear.
It’s about unwavering belief that good moments will happen, and even when you experience bad times, if you remain positive, something special is not far away.
3. All Grown Up…
At this point, the documentary takes us to Declan Rice, who described this as being a different version of the Gunners he had seen since moving to North London, that they had grown up.
The midfielder explained that a lot of key moments came daily in training, away from the cameras, with several members of the team giving inspirational speeches and telling some hard truths.
4. Rock Bottom
I’m sure most Gooners will agree with Rice and Saka’s assertion that Wolves was the campaign’s rock bottom.
After throwing away a two-goal lead against the team bottom of the division, the squad got together for a heart-to-heart, reminding each other what a great position they were in. Yet, for a team top of the table, they were not embracing it enough.
5. It’s Not Done
Seconds after Man City beat the Gunners 2-1, Sky picked up Declan Rice telling his captain: ‘It’s not done.’
It became one of the images of the season, with Mr Gary Neville spending the week trying to make a story out of it.
Given what he’s won at Man United, the former right-back is qualified to tell viewers what mindset is required to get over the line in a title race. His translation was that if one of his teammates told him, ‘It’s not done,’ he would have viewed them as mentally weak and overemotional.
As Rice points out, the pundit was wrong.
He truly saw something at the Etihad that gave him hope.
Arsenal wouldn’t drop another point.
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
6. Saka Watching As A Gooner
Fans around the world had the same analysis from the Etihad. Of course, we were gutted to lose such an important fixture, but there was encouragement from how we played under such pressure.
One of those watching was Saka.
The 24-year-old was injured and watching back home with his family.
Even now, he can’t put his finger on it, but the mood had changed. Even in defeat, Arsenal had convinced themselves they could be champions.
7. ‘After Review, West Ham Number 19 Commits A Foul On The Goalkeeper’
Mikel Arteta had learnt as Pep Guardiola’s assistant that there is always a moment in the season you look back on as a defining one in a title race.
Given the documentary spends more time talking about this game than any other, clearly our manager felt the London Stadium was that moment in Arsenal’s campaign.
The wait for VAR to check and the announcement that a West Ham equaliser wouldn’t count will be played in montages for years.
At the time, and even when watching it back knowing what’s about to happen next, our boss can only puff his cheeks and shake his head, indicating that was close to going very wrong.
8. How The Gunners Found Out They Were Champions
Our manager doesn’t always tell the truth!
After Arsenal beat Burnley, he said there were no plans for the squad to watch Man City’s game at Bournemouth.
Of course they did!
Yet on a night all Gooners can relate to, every player dealt with their nerves in a different way.
Declan Rice couldn’t handle it, so he spent the majority of the first half walking around the training pitch with security, trying to kill every minute by talking about everything but football.
As long as he heard no noise from indoors, no news was good news.
Then he heard a roar…
Kropii had scored for the Cherries.
9. ‘Daddy… We Are Champions’
I told my brother this story, and he doesn’t think it’s genuine (he supports Man United), but it’s Mikel Arteta’s truth; only the Spaniard knows if this happened.
Originally invited to join the squad and staff in watching the game on the South Coast, our manager felt so nervous that his energy might ruin what could potentially be a memorable night in everyone’s careers.
He didn’t want anyone to feel they had to act a certain way because their boss was present.
So he actually spent part of the first half driving home, at which point he told his family he didn’t want any score updates; he would be in the garden making a BBQ.
Now surely he was tempted at some point to check his phone or pop his head indoors at the TV, but he maintains he only found out he was a champion when his son ran out after full-time, crying as he told his dad the good news.
10. It All Worked Out
As Arsenal were lifting the Premiership for the first time in 22 years, Eze made sure to live in the moment and enjoy that afternoon at Selhurst Park.
As he would find out a week later in Budapest, so many focus on the negative, then in a few days move on to something else. There is more sport, and it can be debated 24 hours a day.
Life moves so quickly that do we, as people, take a pause and reflect on the good things?
That’s what Eze wanted to do when he got his medal and his hands on the trophy.
Arsenal Champions Show is available to watch on Sky Sports.
Dan Smith
What did you make of Arsenal Champions Show, Gooners? Did anything from Arteta or the players surprise you, and what was the defining moment of Arsenal’s title-winning season for you? Let us know in the comments.
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