During his time in charge, Arteta has overseen a string of notable successes. The Gunners claimed the FA Cup in 2020, and they produced dominant 4-1 victories in both home and away league fixtures against their North London rivals last season. A standout European moment came in the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, when Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates and then secured a victory at the Bernabéu. The home leg remains memorable for Declan Rice’s impressive double free-kick display, which helped set up a 2-0 lead before Mikel Merino added the finishing touch.
In a recent interview, Arteta was asked whether he would prefer reliving Arsenal’s most dominant moments or the nerve-wracking 1-0 win at the London Stadium in May. The tension of that afternoon was palpable, with title hopes hanging by a thread until the final whistle.
The West Ham match unfolded in dramatic fashion. The Hammers adopted a compact, low-block approach for most of the game, denying Arsenal clear chances for over 80 minutes. A crucial moment arrived when Mateus Fernandes bore down on goal, only for David Raya to produce a sensational reaction save with his thigh to keep the scores level. Moments later, Martin Odegaard orchestrated a precise sequence that culminated in Leandro Trossard scoring the winner, electrifying the away section of the stadium.
Arsenal’s resilience was tested further deep into stoppage time when West Ham thought they had equalized from a corner, but VAR deemed Raya impeded in the build-up, and the goal was disallowed. The hosts held on for three vital points, reinforcing Arteta’s belief that the title race could still be within reach.
“The best version of football is when a journey and a pivotal moment can change the course of people’s lives,” Arteta reflected. “You pray that it goes the right way, because you know that if it doesn’t, the moment can slip away. When I went home that day, I felt we were destined to be champions. This is our year, and we’re going to get it done.”
These moments illustrate Arteta’s mindset and why Arsenal believe they are in capable hands through 2030.
