Wayne Rooney believes Mikel Arteta’s ‘signing of the season’ was a ‘big factor’ to Arsenal winning the Premier League.
Following three successive second-place finishes, Arteta and his players finally lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday, ending Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a league title.
Arsenal were locked in a tense and turbulent title race with Manchester City but ultimately finished seven points above Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Gunners could yet add to a sensational season as attentions turn to next weekend’s Champions League final against PSG.
The countdown is on
Our seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we’ve got everything you need to know. Sign up now.
For now Arsenal can celebrate a first Premier League title since 2004, with Arteta becoming the first Gunners boss since Arsene Wenger to lift the trophy.
Arsenal were widely praised for their business during last summer’s transfer window after bolstering Arteta’s squad with over £250m worth of signings.
Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Cristian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga all arrived at the Emirates Stadium.
But former Manchester United and England captain Rooney believes Gyokeres was the pick of the bunch and has actually been the ‘signing of the season’.
Gyokeres recovered from an underwhelming start to his Arsenal career to play a significant role in helping the Gunners win the title and reach the Champions League final, scoring 21 goals in all competitions.
Asked to name his ‘Premier League signing of the season’ after the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, Rooney said on his BBC podcast: ‘I think Viktor Gyokeres.
‘Granit Xhaka has been brilliant for Sunderland but look at what Gyokeres has brought to Arsenal, it’s exactly what they’ve needed.
‘Finishing second over the last three years, I think he’s given Arsenal something a bit different and that’s been a big factor in them winning the Premier League.’
Discussing Arsenal’s title win more generally, Rooney added: ‘Champions are champions. I have actually really liked how they’ve played this season.
‘Everyone now wants to play like how Pep Guardiola’s teams play but Mikel Arteta has tried that for the last three years and he hasn’t won the league.
‘He’s changed the recruitment. They’ve gone more to a bigger, more physical team, and they don’t concede goals.
‘They’re solid, they have players scoring goals from all over the pitch, and they fully deserve to win the Premier League.’
Arsenal will now bid to win their first ever Champions League before holding a Premier League trophy parade in north London on Sunday.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.