Mikel Arteta (44) has finally been recognized as the Premier League's top manager. After delivering Arsenal their first league title in 22 years, he also took home his first-ever Premier League manager of the year award.
The Premier League office announced on the 27th (Korean time) that "Arteta has been named the Premier League manager of the year for the 2025-2026 season."
Arteta was chosen as the recipient over Michael Carrick, manager of Manchester United; Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City; and Andoni Iraola, manager of Bournemouth, based on a combination of fan votes and expert panel evaluations.
This award also carries great significance for Arteta personally.
He took over the Arsenal reins in December 2019 as the successor to Unai Emery and received the Premier League manager of the year award for the first time in his career.
It is also a historic moment for Arsenal.
This is the first time an Arsenal manager has won the award since Arsène Wenger, who led the unbeaten title in the 2003-2004 season, a full 22 years ago. In Premier League history, only Wenger and Arteta have been Arsenal managers to receive the manager of the year award.
Arteta has finally solved Arsenal's long-standing wish.
Arsenal had finished as runners-up for three consecutive seasons, but this season they recorded 85 points (26 wins, 7 draws, 5 losses) to overtake Manchester City and reach the top.
Arsenal's league title is the first since the 2003-2004 season.
Arteta shared his thoughts on the title through the club's official channel immediately after receiving the award.
He said, "The last few years have been a really interesting journey," and added, "We kept knocking on the door and kept challenging. A few times we were really unfortunately short. So actually winning the title feels even more special."
He continued, "Seeing the reaction from Arsenal fans around the world shows how much this title means," and added, "I feel immense pride."
In particular, Arteta ensured that both players and managers will have their names recorded in Arsenal's history.
He wore the Arsenal shirt from 2011 to 2016, and after retiring he gained coaching experience under Guardiola as a coach at Manchester City.
He later returned to his former club as manager and ultimately led them to the league title. He also set the record as the first manager in Premier League history to win the title while managing the team he had played for.
But Arsenal's season is not over yet. Arsenal will play Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on the 31st.
If they win, Arsenal will complete a domestic and European double with their first-ever Champions League title.
Arteta also expressed strong confidence ahead of the final.
He said, "I feel tremendous energy and confidence from the players and the whole club," and added, "We have an incredible opportunity to write a new chapter in Arsenal's history."
He added, "We are confident we can do it. We will show everything," and emphasized, "I believe that in a few days we can be European champions."
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