Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIt took 22 long years, but Arsenal returned to the summit of English football last season, when they eased to the Premier League title.This title drought stretched back to the days of Arsene Wenger's Invincibles, and for former Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour - a member of that 2004 title-winning squad - the club's wait for the title only made this latest success all the sweeter.And while Parlour admits he did not fathom the idea that the club would have had to wait that long when he celebrated that last success, he believes last season's title was a fitting reward for that at the club.Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 ListParlour on Arsenal ending their title drought"I was so over the moon that theyd done it," Parlour tells FourFourTwo as he reflects on the significance of last year's win."It was a big relief, because if youd said to me 22 years ago, back in 2004, that they werent going to win it again for such a long time, Id have said you were mad." You may like People talk about money but, ask most players and theyll tell you, football is all about getting as many medals as you can Ray Parlour on why Arsenal are motivated to win the Premier League again Mikel Arteta is under a very different pressure to go and win it all over again, while new managers have been installed at every other Big Six' outfit FourFourTwo's 2026-27 Arsenal season preview The further you get from Arsenals title win at Anfield, the more special it becomes, as its a game that will never be repeated, a special, special night Alan Smith on Arsenals legendary 1989 title decider Arsenal had made a habit of near-misses in recent years, registering three consecutive second-place finishes before getting over the hump last season, adding to a prior 11 top-four finishes since that 2003/04 triumph.For Parlour, this all underlines how difficult it is to consistently compete for English football's biggest domestic prize.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."It shows how hard it is to win it," he continues. "I was thrilled for the squad."And while Parlour is quick to praise the playing squad for the victory, he believes the credit should be shared around the club."The owners and the people who run things behind the scenes deserve plaudits as well, because we all see how things work in football in this day and age," he continues.Parlour is also keenly aware that patience has become increasingly rare in the modern game, with Arsenal bucking this trend and allowing Arteta to continue to build his squad despite repeated near-misses."Most of the time, when things go wrong, or when a manager fails to win something, they dont stay in their job."But Arsenal really stuck by Mikel Arteta and they backed him all the way."TOPICSRay ParlourPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromEd McCambridgeStaff Writer
