LONDON — Former England striker Wayne Rooney has praised Arsenal F.C. after their reported Premier League title triumph, describing the victory as “fully deserved” following years of criticism and near-misses.
Rooney said the achievement carried strong emotional weight, noting that Arsenal had endured long-standing doubts about their mentality in high-pressure moments before finally delivering a championship-winning campaign.
“This team… honestly, I’m actually feeling emotional for them right now,” Rooney said. “For years people called them soft, fragile, bottlers… every season it was ‘stay humble’, ‘show mentality’, ‘build muscle’.”
He added that the club’s response this season had silenced critics who repeatedly questioned their ability to compete at the highest level.
“After 22 years, they’ve done it,” he said. “And not in an easy season either — one of the toughest Premier League campaigns I can remember, with pressure in every game.”
Rooney highlighted the role of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, crediting him with transforming the club through long-term planning, squad rebuilding, and restoring belief among supporters.
“Arteta deserves enormous praise because he rebuilt this club step by step and got people believing again,” he said.
Football analysts say Arsenal’s reported success reflects a significant shift in English football’s competitive balance, with the club showing consistency across a demanding season filled with strong rivals and intense title pressure.
Supporters across London reacted with emotional celebrations, filling streets around North London as news of the title spread. Many described the victory as the culmination of years of patience, disappointment, and loyalty through difficult seasons.
Families gathered in public spaces waving club flags, while chants continued late into the night as fans celebrated what many called a defining moment in the club’s modern history.
Rooney suggested the achievement could mark the beginning of a sustained period of success for Arsenal, warning rivals that the team may now enter a new era of confidence and dominance after finally breaking their long wait for silverware.
