Mikel Arteta receives Manager of the Season award

Mikel Arteta has received the award for the Premier League’s Manager of the Season, after leading Arsenal to the title in 2025/26.

Mikel Arteta and his team with his Premier League Manager of the Season award

Mikel Arteta attended the League Managers Association awards on Tuesday, where he was awarded the Premier League’s Manager of the Season award for 2025/26.

As shown above, Arteta brought his coaching team along with him to celebrate the award, a couple of days after they were lifting the Premier League trophy on the Selhurst Park pitch.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, poses for a photograph the Premier League trophy as players of Arsenal celebrate, as they are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2025/26 Season, after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League) — Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League

It’s not exactly difficult to see how Arteta has won the award, with Arsenal proving the best team in the Premier League under his management this season, despite not necessarily being the league’s biggest spenders.

Analysis by Twenty First Group this week put Arsenal as the Premier League’s second-biggest overperformers this season, in terms of the money invested in their team. Only Sunderland were ahead of the Gunners, having qualified for Europe as a newly-promoted team.

Though there are some other factors, like Arsenal’s use of the academy and clever recruitment, it’s undoubtedly the case that Arteta’s coaching has raised things up another level compared to what was expected.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Players of Arsenal celebrate with the Premier League trophy, as Arsenal are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2025/26 Season, after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League) — Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League

Arteta doesn’t have much time to celebrate the award though, as his team will be playing in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday. Another consequence of the manager’s strong season in charge.

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