Mikel Arteta reveals Andoni Iraola conversation after key win that clinched Arsenal the title | OneFootball

Gunners clinched trophy after title rivals stumbled in midweek

Mikel Arteta called Andoni Iraola to thank him for the result that confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions.

Iraola's Bournemouth side held Manchester City to a draw on Tuesday night to officially end the title race.

Arsenal are four points clear of City heading into the final weekend of the season.

Arteta and Iraola are childhood friends, having been born three miles and six months apart. They then went on to play for the same youth team.

Bournemouth beat Arsenal at the start of April in a result that threatened to derail the Gunners' title hopes.

Victory that day would have taken Arteta's side 12 points clear of Man City, but they failed to do so and their points advantage was then wiped out.

The title race was set to go down to the final day until Bournemouth held City to a draw and Arteta was keen to speak to Iraola the following day.

Close mates: Andoni Iraola and Mikel Arteta

Getty

"I didn't message him, I called him," Arteta said.

"I called him yesterday, firstly to congratulate him on the incredible job he has done with Bournemouth. I told him, ‘You almost took the Premier League away from us and now you helped us to win it on the last [week]’.

"A quick call to say thank you as well and to show my admiration towards him and wish him the best in the next chapter of his career, which I'm sure is going to be very, very successful."

That draw with City was Iraola's final home match in charge of Bournemouth, having confirmed already that he would leave the club at the end of the season.

The Cherries have already qualified for Europe next season and are remarkably still in the Champions League hunt, but Iraola was well aware of the wider significance of the match.

Asked if he was expecting a gift from Arteta, Iraola joked after the match: "It would be lovely, something!

"I haven't even checked my phone, I should have at least one text message. But it was not because of this game. They were probably going finish it themselves."