Exclusive: Mikel Arteta reveals Pep Guardiola texted title congratulations 'immediately' after Bournemouth draw clinched Premier League for Arsenal

Guardiola, who has now confirmed that he is leaving Manchester City, saw his team draw 1-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday. It was a result that handed the title to Arteta - his former assistant at City - and Arsenal.

Asked whether he had heard from Guardiola since Arsenal's moment of triumph, Arteta told TNT Sports: "Immediately after the game, he text me already. We will talk in the next few days.

"First of all, it's gratitude towards Manchester City. Towards all the opponents.

"We have shown the level that we have shown because everybody has raised their game and their standard. If you don't do that, we wouldn't be here sitting where we are today.

"You have to realise that some days have been painful, but now we have the rewards."

Before this success, Arsenal finished in second place for three seasons in a row and Arteta admits there have been times when he has doubted himself.

Reflecting on his time at the club so far, Arteta said: "It's been a rollercoaster.

"The feeling right now is that okay, we've done something that it took 22 years to do. You can sense that, can feel that in our supporters, our people.

"The thing that I am most proud of is how we've done it, because there is a lot of values that I've been raised with and I think this club has, which is perseverance, which is resilience, which is to be humble, which is to be curious, which is to be stubborn when you have to be, to be vulnerable, because there's a lot of time when I've thought, 'am I the right person to do this'?

"Because I can't maybe transport the club to a certain level, maybe that's my limit, and somebody else has to do something else, and then [it's] finding ways to say, 'okay, stop that, that's the easy answer'.

"I need to find a way to do it, and we need to inspire those players and give them the tools to somehow achieve it, and when you do it, it's just phenomenal."

Arteta also spoke about the strengths of his players and what he sees as a special spirit among them.

"It's the best dressing room I've ever had," Arteta said. "Sometimes I question myself, are they too nice? It's incredible, the level of humour we have in that dressing room is not normal.

"We had better keep that because it's a big asset. I think what we've installed in them, you can be really nice but then we have to compete like animals.

"We were only going to be better than the years before if each of the players fulfils their role on the day, and they have been incredible in doing that.

"And probably the biggest work has been in making sure they realise how incredible and good they are.

"Because in moments of doubt, that's what I thought, that the mental side will play the biggest part, and then I had an arrangement - I'm going to convince them through the tactical aspect.

"Talking about concept, about habits, and also through the energy, and creating emotion and connection through them.

"And I use especially music to connect with them, because music I believe is the most powerful thing, especially with that many cultures, and to create moments before games that I'm sure they're going to remember much more than the results."

Arteta again reflected on a memorable night for the club on Tuesday. Arsenal had done their job with a 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday. Then they had to wait for City's match at Bournemouth.

"After the Burnley game when we won, Martin [Odegaard] came to me and said, 'Boss, we want to watch the game tomorrow and we would like you and the staff to be there'. And I said, 'Okay, if that's what you want, I will be there,'" Arteta recalled.

"So we trained a bit later. We finished at around 6:30, 7:00, and I went upstairs and I saw the set-up and I say, 'I can't do this'.

"I think the boys deserved the moment and my energy, my mood, I don't think is going to allow them to live the game in the manner they deserve.

"I went downstairs to Martin. I said, 'Martin, I'm really sorry, but I go home - if the magic happens, I will see you after'. And I went home, I drove, there was already 20 minutes of the game gone.

"My kids and my wife were watching the game in the living room. I say good night, I just close the door and I went straight outside and I started to build some fire, build the BBQ.

"And it was the longest hour and a half of my life, until the magic happened. My eldest son opened the garden room and started to cry and came to me and said, 'Daddy, we are champions'. And I did get emotional.

"And then my other two kids came straight after him and my wife and we all hug each other, and it was beautiful.

"A minute later, I got a call from Martin and a video, passing me to all the players, saying, 'Where are you, where are you?'

"I said, 'Don't worry, organise something and I will be with you in the evening'."

Now Arsenal go to Budapest and the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, which is live on May 30 on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Asked by TNT Sports if he could imagine winning a double, Arteta said: "I imagine it every day now.

"I'm going to work towards that and convince every single person here - the supporters and especially the players - to go to Budapest and bring that cup to London.

"[Winning the title] certainly helps with the preparation. Our energy is the highest it's been all season.

"We are going to have more time to prepare it, in better conditions. We now have this energy flowing, towards [trying] to win it and write a new history in this football club."

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