Well, it had to happen eventually. Arsenal have gone and won the Premier League title, and fair play to them — they've been building to this for a while and they absolutely deserved it. Now the hard part begins, because winning it once is one thing. Keeping hold of that trophy is where the real work starts.
According to BBC Sport's senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, the Gunners have already got a clear idea of what needs doing this summer, and it makes a lot of sense when you look at it. First things first, they want to tie Mikel Arteta down to a new contract. That one is a no-brainer. The man has transformed Arsenal from a mid-table mess into champions of England, and the last thing you want is clubs sniffing around him before next season even kicks off. Get that deal done early and get it done quickly.
On the transfer side, Arsenal are keeping tabs on Manu Kroupi and Luca Rogers, two young players who have caught the eye. Kroupi is an exciting attacking prospect, and Rogers has shown real quality at club level. Arsenal have a habit of identifying talent before it becomes obvious to everyone else, which is partly why they are where they are. Whether both deals get done remains to be seen, but the interest is genuine.
What is interesting here is that Arsenal are not resting on their laurels. Some clubs win a title and suddenly think the job is done. Arsenal clearly understand that the squad needs refreshing even at the top, and that is a sign of a well-run football club. As a Manchester United fan, it genuinely pains the writer to say that, but credit where it is due.
The Emirates is a very different place to what it was a few years ago, and if they keep making smart decisions in the transfer market while holding onto Arteta, there is no obvious reason why this cannot be the start of a sustained run at the top. United fans can only dream of that kind of planning right now, unfortunately.
Let me know your thoughts.