Arsene Wenger looks on as Arsenal lose 8-2 to Manchester United in 2011 (Photo by Alex Livesey, Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Most Arsenal fans don’t want to remember the events of August 28, 2011, but looking back now on the morning after the Gunners were crowned the new Premier League champions, it looks like perhaps one of football’s great sliding door moments.
The dark day in Arsenal’s history some 15 years ago was, of course, the famous 8-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Most managers would have probably been sacked on the spot after that, but somewhat surprisingly, Arsene Wenger ended up staying in the job for another seven years.
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However, it was his actions in the days following the defeat that ultimately set Arsenal on a different path, with the defeat putting the club under immense pressure to make ends meet in the late summer transfer window.
This loss was on a Sunday, while deadline day was on a Wednesday. Arsenal made a late exit but eventually reached an agreement with Everton to sign Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta – The most influential panic buy of all time?
Arteta was a solid player for Everton and not one they wanted to lose, but many Arsenal fans probably weren’t too thrilled about the deal. Still, he and Per Mertesacker were brought in to add a little more experience to a young Arsenal team that had just showcased such versatile batting, and proved successful as the team ultimately finished third.
Over the next few years, Arteta became a reliable player in Arsenal’s midfield, eventually becoming the club’s captain and winning several FA Cups before retiring in 2016. He was no Patrick Vieira or Cesc Fabregas, but the Gooners liked him and bid farewell to him for his final appearance at the Emirates Stadium at the end of the 2015/16 season.
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But even if Arteta’s time at Arsenal wasn’t anything to write home about, it meant that a special bond was formed between the north London club and a player they didn’t know at the time but would go on to become a truly great manager.
The 44-year-old showed his talent under Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola and it looked like a gamble when the Gunners appointed him in his first role as number one, replacing Unai Emery, at the end of 2019.
Arteta is a complete newcomer, taking on his first managerial job and taking over a club that is in complete disarray.
Winning the title in 2025/26 is just the beginning for Arsenal
Seven years on, Arsenal are back at the top of English football. Last night’s draw between Manchester City and Bournemouth confirmed that the Premier League trophy will return to north London for the first time in 22 years.
Not only that, but there is still the Champions League final, which could lead to a historic double. Even if that doesn’t happen, Arsenal still have the chance of a period of dominance ahead of them, with Guardiola expected to leave Manchester City and a number of their rivals in transition.
It has been a long road, with AFC supporting the coach even after a rocky start, with many setbacks and near misses along the way.
But make no mistake, that journey started much earlier and might never have happened at all if not for that unlucky 8-2 scoreline at Old Trafford.
It’s funny how things work out.
