Arsenal are finally Premier League champions again after a 22-year wait.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on the final day of the season before lifting the trophy in front of a jubilant away end.
It was the perfect ending to an incredible campaign, especially after everything Arsenal have had to endure over the last few years.
The Gunners have constantly been ridiculed for finishing second three seasons in a row, with the word ‘bottlers’ thrown around relentlessly by rival supporters and even some pundits.
Michael Owen, however, insists he never agreed with any of that criticism.
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Michael Owen says he never agreed with people calling Arsenal bottlers
Over the last few seasons, Arsenal have repeatedly fallen just short in title races against Manchester City.
That led to a growing narrative from some people that Arteta’s side lacked the mentality needed to become champions.
However, Owen believes those criticisms completely ignored how difficult it actually is to build a title-winning team.
The former England striker feels Arsenal’s rise to becoming Premier League champions has been a gradual process rather than something that was ever going to happen overnight.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen said: “I’ve not really agreed with a lot of people saying Arsenal bottle it.
“This is a process to become champions, you don’t come 17th one year and win it next year – unless you’re Leicester.
“You have to build to these things. To go from coming 15th to sixth in the league is not as difficult as going from fourth or third to becoming champions.
“Arsenal have been knocking on the door. This has been creeping up on us for a period of time. Not a surprise at all that Arsenal have won it.”
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Nobody can accuse Arsenal of bottling it anymore
Whether rival fans like it or not, the ‘bottlers’ narrative around Arsenal is now completely dead.
Arteta’s side have finally climbed the mountain and beaten Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to the Premier League title. That achievement alone proves this team has elite mentality.
Arsenal dealt with injuries, pressure, criticism and constant scrutiny throughout the season, yet still finished as champions. That is not what ‘bottlers’ do.
Now, the North London giants have the chance to make the season even more historic by beating PSG in the Champions League final.
If they complete the double, the same people who mocked them for years may genuinely never recover.
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