Arsenal: Mikel Arteta handed prestigious honour after triumphant campaign | OneFootball

Gunners legend recognised alongside Frank Lampard

Mikel Arteta has been named the League Managers Association’s (LMA) manager of the year after finally steering Arsenal to the Premier League title.

Arteta took over the team in a dreadful state after Unai Emery was relieved of his duties, but has built them into one of Europe’s most formidable football teams and could be crowned the best team on the continent should they beat Paris Saint-Germain in this weekend’s Champions League final.

And he has now been recognised for his work with Arsenal, having been awarded the prestigious LMA Premier League manager of the year award.

He takes the title from Arne Slot, recognised last season after helping Liverpool to the Premier League title, and the Dutchman in turn took it over from Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna.

Arteta becomes the first Arsenal manager to pick up the honour since Arsene Wenger was recognised for his role in the Gunners’ invincible campaign in 2004.

Also honoured at the LMA awards was Frank Lampard, who was recognised as Championship manager of the year for earning promotion to the top flight with Coventry.

Recognised: Frank Lampard

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Bromley boss Andy Woodman, father of Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie, was named League Two manager of the year after steering the Ravens to the title in just their second season in the EFL.

Speaking after lifting the Premier League trophy, Arteta urged his players to carry the energy from their title celebrations into this weekend’s Champions League final: "We need that energy to flow and going against that, I think it will be a big mistake.

"We talked about already what we have to do in Budapest, how we're going to use all the incredible energy that we're all carrying towards that final, and tomorrow we're going to start to prepare it.

"And we can't wait to write a new chapter in the history of our club and lift the Champions League."