Overview of Arsenal are Premier League champions
The episode of The Totally Football Show on The Athletic celebrates Arsenal being crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth. The panel reflects on Arsenal’s long rebuild under Mikel Arteta, the club’s identity shift over the past several seasons, and what the title means for the future. They also discuss Pep Guardiola’s confirmed departure from Manchester City, the tense relegation battle involving Spurs and West Ham, the EFL’s punishment of Southampton for spying on training sessions, and Brazil’s World Cup squad announcement.
Arsenal’s title win: how they got here
Arsenal sealed the Premier League title after beating Burnley 1-0, leaving City needing a win at Bournemouth on Tuesday — but City drew 1-1.
Why Arsenal were deserving champions
- The hosts argue that Arsenal’s title is a product of:
- long-term planning,
- patient backing of Mikel Arteta,
- smart squad building,
- and a club-wide shift in mentality.
- Daniel Storey says Arsenal are the “perfect fit” for the season:
- dominant on set pieces,
- strong defensively,
- controlled in games,
- and difficult to break down.
- Adrian Clarke describes the result as the culmination of a five-year journey and says Arteta’s “trust the process” project has finally paid off.
Key themes in Arsenal’s rise
- Arsenal moved from being a mid-table side to a title-winning team.
- Their progress came after years of financial restriction following the move to the Emirates.
- Arteta’s biggest success, according to the panel, has been man-management:
- keeping the squad together,
- maintaining belief,
- and creating a culture in which players want to stay.
- They note the team has become almost impossible to beat, with remarkable consistency and very few spells trailing by more than a goal.
Notable stats mentioned
- Arsenal have gone unbeaten in a long stretch and have not conceded since losing to Manchester City.
- They have won many tight games, including several 1-0 victories.
- Their defensive record is elite, with 26 goals conceded in the league.
- Despite some attacking limitations, they still got over the line.
What this title means for Arteta and Arsenal’s future
The panel views this as more than a single-season achievement — it’s the payoff for Arteta’s whole project.
Longer-term outlook
- The squad is still relatively young, so the panel believes there is room for further improvement.
- They suggest Arsenal may not have peaked yet.
- With Pep Guardiola leaving City, the title race could open up further for Arsenal in coming seasons.
Champions League implications
- Winning the league changes the pressure around Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League run.
- If they had lost the title race and then failed in Europe, the pressure would have been intense.
- Now, even if they fall short in the Champions League, the season will still be remembered as a huge success.
Manchester City: Guardiola’s departure and what comes next
One of the biggest stories of the episode is the confirmation that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
The panel’s reaction
- They call Guardiola one of the most influential managers in Premier League history.
- Daniel Storey argues Pep changed English football tactically, not just Manchester City.
- They credit him with:
- repeatedly evolving his teams,
- setting new tactical standards,
- and raising the level of the whole league.
After Pep: uncertainty at City
- The panel is unsure how City will look once Guardiola goes.
- They discuss Enzo Maresca as a likely successor and debate whether a continuity appointment makes sense.
- Concerns raised:
- Maresca’s style may feel too rigid,
- he may not have Pep’s charisma or tactical flexibility,
- and it’s always difficult to replace a long-term, iconic manager.
- Still, City’s structure and recruitment may help them remain competitive.
The relegation battle: Spurs vs West Ham
Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Spurs sends the relegation fight to the final day.
Current situation
- Spurs are two points ahead of West Ham going into the final matches.
- Spurs face Everton at home.
- West Ham host Leeds.
What the panel says
- Spurs have been poor at home all season, with only two home wins.
- James Maddison’s return is seen as important because:
- he offers quality,
- leadership,
- and a connection with the fans.
- The panel expects a tense atmosphere at the Tottenham stadium.
- David Moyes is once again central to West Ham’s fate, with his team still capable of surviving.
Possible outcomes
- If Spurs lose and West Ham win, Spurs go down.
- Other combinations keep West Ham in trouble.
- The panel welcomes a proper final-day relegation scenario after several seasons where survival has been decided early.
Southampton’s “Spygate” punishment
The EFL has ruled that Southampton will be removed from the playoff final because of their spying on another club’s training session.
What happened
- Southampton were charged with watching Middlesbrough training before their playoff semifinal.
- They have also admitted to other spying offences.
- The punishment:
- Southampton are expelled from the playoff final,
- Middlesbrough are reinstated,
- Southampton receive a four-point penalty for next season.
Reaction
- The panel thinks the EFL wanted a strong deterrent.
- They debate whether the punishment is too severe, but agree the league wanted to set a precedent.
- They also note the messy consequences:
- legal action may follow,
- other affected clubs may feel aggrieved,
- and the case is still being appealed.
- The episode jokes that Arsenal’s loss to Southampton earlier in the season has now become part of a strange chain of consequences.
Brazil’s World Cup squad: Neymar in, João Pedro out
The episode also covers Brazil’s squad announcement.
Main talking points
- Neymar Jr. is included.
- João Pedro is left out, which the panel describes as a shock.
- They also mention the omission of Matheus Fernandes from Portugal’s squad.
Debate around Neymar
- The panel sees Neymar’s inclusion as a major story because:
- it raises pressure on Carlo Ancelotti,
- it will dominate media coverage,
- and it creates a distraction even if Neymar is fit.
- They note that Brazil still trust Neymar’s big-match record, especially at World Cups.
Main takeaways
- Arsenal’s title is framed as the result of years of strategic rebuilding, not just one hot streak.
- Arteta’s biggest achievement may be cultural: creating a squad that believes and stays together.
- Guardiola’s exit marks the end of an era and opens a major question about Manchester City’s future.
- The relegation battle remains alive heading into the final day, especially for Spurs and West Ham.
- Southampton’s disciplinary case is one of the wildest off-field stories of the season.
- Brazil’s squad drama shows that World Cup selection politics are already in motion.