Arteta steps out of Guardiola's shadow to deliver Arsenal title

LONDON, May 19 : Mikel Arteta has spent his entire coaching career in Pep Guardiola's shadow, but by guiding Arsenal to their first English title since 2004, the apprentice has finally proven he can be a match for the master.

Some will say it has been a long time coming, others will scoff at Arsenal's style, but after three successive runner-up finishes, the club's faith in Arteta has been rewarded.

Many have tried - and failed - to replicate the mesmerizing style of Guardiola's teams who have won 17 major trophies in a decade, including six Premier League titles.

Arteta enjoyed a close-up view of genius at work during a three-year spell as assistant at City and could have been excused for sticking religiously to the Guardiola blueprint.

Instead, he has forged a more pragmatic system built on zonal dominance, high pressing, defensive stability and above all, a non-negotiable team ethic.

The native of San Sebastian has also used the so-called dark arts of the game to turn an Arsenal side once derided as soft touches into a streetwise team that can win ugly.

Pre-rehearsed training ground routines have been central to Arsenal finally shaking off the nearly-man tag and Arteta's choice of Nicolas Jover as set-piece coach in 2021 to provide the marginal gains was a masterstroke.

CORNER KINGS

Arsenal have broken the Premier League record for the number of goals scored from corners this season with Kai Havertz's winner against Burnley on Monday being the 18th.

More than one third of Arsenal's goals have come from dead-ball situations and they have won 1-0 on eight occasions.

One pundit said Arsenal would be the ugliest Premier League champions. But neither Arteta nor Arsenal's fan base will care and you will not find many rivals