In a gesture that perfectly captured the joy and reconciliation of Arsenal’s long awaited Premier League triumph, co-owner Josh Kroenke and head coach Mikel Arteta presented former Manchester United defender Gary Neville with a personalized Arsenal shirt inscribed with three telling words: “Our best supporter.” The gift, delivered during a special edition recording of The Overlap podcast at the club’s training ground, marked a lighthearted conclusion to weeks of tension between Neville and sections of the Arsenal fanbase.
Arsenal secured their first Premier League title in 22 years earlier this month when Manchester City dropped points against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The squad gathered at their training facility to watch that pivotal match, and jubilant scenes erupted at the final whistle as players and staff realized their championship dream had finally been achieved. The Gunners then lifted the trophy in front of their traveling supporters following a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, bringing an emotional end to more than two decades of waiting.
During the podcast recording, Kroenke approached Neville with a gift bag, telling him he had “a little present” on behalf of the entire club. When the former England international asked if he would like it, Kroenke responded confidently that he would “love it.” Inside were two Arsenal shirts, one bearing the name Wright and another with Neville’s own name, both personally signed by Arteta. The inscription on Neville’s shirt carried the affectionate message declaring him the club’s “best supporter,” a tongue in cheek acknowledgment of his surprising alignment with Arsenal’s title aspirations this season.
Arteta revealed that he had made an earlier proposition to Neville during a private meeting at the training ground weeks before the title was secured. The Spanish manager recounted how they shared coffee and had “a very good full discussion” during which he gave Neville a shirt and requested that he wear it when Arsenal won the championship. Neville had apparently not committed to the suggestion at the time, leaving Arteta to note with a smile that “he didn’t say yes.” The gift during the podcast recording appeared to be a follow up to that earlier conversation, cementing the unexpected bond between the former United captain and the resurgent North London club.
Neville’s gratitude was evident as he thanked Kroenke and Arteta, promising that the shirt would be framed and displayed in his home. “You deserve it,” he told the Arsenal contingent, acknowledging the magnitude of their achievement. The gesture carries particular significance given that Neville had faced criticism from some Arsenal supporters earlier in the season for allegedly celebrating Manchester City results too enthusiastically, moments that appeared to damage Arsenal’s title chances. His evolution into the club’s “best supporter” represents a narrative arc that few could have predicted when the season began.
Reflecting on the championship triumph, Arteta spoke candidly about the emotional weight of delivering silverware to a club that had come agonizingly close in recent seasons. “It’s been much better than I could ever imagine,” the manager said. “It’s been so emotional, so natural, and to see that much joy, happiness and pride around the club, it’s just amazing.” He acknowledged the pressure that comes with leading Arsenal, a club where finishing second, no matter how creditable, simply “is not enough.” The relief and validation of actually winning the title after 22 years provides enormous value to everyone who contributed to the achievement, from players and staff to the ownership group and supporters who maintained faith through years of near misses.
Arsenal’s title success marks a definitive turning point for a club that has spent much of the past two decades watching rivals celebrate championship glory. With Arteta now proven as a title winning manager and the Kroenke family’s investment beginning to yield the ultimate dividends, the challenge shifts to sustaining success and potentially adding the Champions League trophy that has eluded the club throughout its history. For now, though, Arsenal can savor a moment of pure triumph, one sweet enough to turn even a Manchester United legend into their most celebrated supporter.
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