India, May 20 -- From bottom of the Premier League in 2021 to champions on Tuesday, few clubs would know the twin imposters of disaster and triumph better than Arsenal. From calls to sack him after a 0-5 defeat against Manchester City less than five years ago to the banner at Emirates on Monday that simply said, "Mikel knows," it has been some journey for the manager who has matured with his team and delivered a first Premier League title for the club in 22 years.

For those who cared to look, the signs were there. Mikel Arteta's team ended 2021-22 in fifth place. Trusted by Arsenal's American owners, Arteta had by then left no one in doubt about who was boss by letting go of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Mesut Oezil. Three successive sec...