Martin Odegaard lifted the Premier League trophy as Arsenal captain, capping a remarkable 22-year wait for the club. Mikel Arteta's side weathered relentless criticism over their style of play, dubbed Set-Piece FC, and even faced Paul Scholes branding them the worst title winners ever. Yet none of that mattered when Odegaard held the trophy aloft in scenes that defined an era.

Arteta pushed back hard against the doubters, noting that injuries to his front line limited attacking output. The Gunners won by 1-0 seven times this season and forced opponents into desperate defensive setups. Even Manchester City arrived at the Emirates with a low block and just 33.2 per cent possession after Arsenal's relentless pressing.

The numbers back Arsenal's case. They scored 12 goals from 112 open-play shots where nine or more defenders crowded the box. Since their April loss to Bournemouth, no team has scored against them from open play across six matches, including two Champions League semi-finals. Defensive solidity, not flair, delivered the title.