QATAR PERSPECTIVE

Doha, May 19, 2026. Arsenal champions of England for the first time since 2004: Al Jazeera and Gulf Times have dedicated several articles to the Gunners' title win, offering a reading centered on the figure of Mikel Arteta and his relationship with Pep Guardiola.

The title is mathematically secured after Manchester City's draw at Bournemouth (1-1), on Tuesday. Erling Haaland equalized in the final minutes of the match, but too late to relaunch the title chase. Arsenal already had a five-point lead after their 1-0 win over Burnley the previous day. The draw leaves the Gunners with an insurmountable four-point lead, their first championship since the Invincibles of Arsène Wenger in 2003-2004.

But Qatari press does not stop at the facts of the standings. It builds a narrative centered on Arteta's personal revenge. Appointed in December 2019 without any prior experience as head coach, the Spaniard had presented a five-phase plan to the Arsenal board to bring the club back to the top. The first seasons were disappointing — an 8th place in 2020, the worst result in 25 years — and calls for his dismissal multiplied. Four consecutive defeats between March and April this season revived doubts, relaunching City in the title chase.

Al Jazeera describes Arteta as the pupil who finally surpassed his master. Guardiola had recruited him as assistant coach at City, relying on their shared past at FC Barcelona. "He is the person who bet on me, included me as second coach", Arteta said about Guardiola. "I will always be grateful to him, otherwise I wouldn't be here." However, Gulf Times highlights that Arteta did not reproduce Guardiola's style: his Arsenal relies on solid defensive foundations and the efficiency of set pieces, more in the tradition of David Moyes at Everton than in the Catalan possession game.

On the City side, the fall is emblematic. Guardiola, whose departure is announced after ten years and 20 titles won, will not have been able to offer his supporters a final championship. It is the first time in his coaching career that he fails to win the title in two consecutive seasons. The scene of City fans chanting "One more year, Guardiola" at the Vitality Stadium, reported by Gulf Times, summarizes the sadness of a cycle's end.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, emerges victorious from the match, maintaining a series of 17 matches without defeat in the Premier League, an exploit that secures them a place in the Europa League — their first European competition in history.