Why Arsenal should look to Rory McIlroy's Masters victory for inspiration ahead of Man City

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Rory McIlroy has the perfect message after the Masters victory gives Arsenal all the inspiration they need

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta should look to golfer Rory McIlroy for inspiration in their bid to end their 22-year wait for the Premier League title. The Gunners suffered a serious setback when beaten by Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Northern Irish golfer earned his second green jacket in the Masters on Sunday, his first coming last year after a long wait to win it and all his titles to show for it along the way. Speaking after the victory at Augusta, he told CBS in Butler Cabin: “I can’t believe that I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row.

“I think that all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off.”

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From an Arsenal perspective, much of the discussion around their title chase has centred on mentality. Do they have the mental strength, the will, the bottle?

After Saturday, not many people feel they do. Getting that first big win over the line can change everything.

McIlroy spoke before the weekend, before he won the tournament, that winning it a second time is easier due to the fact that he’d bagged his first. "I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one," said McIlroy.

"It's hard to say because there are still shots out there that you feel a little bit tight with, and you just have to stand up and commit to making a good swing and not worry about where it goes.

"But it's easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the champions' locker room and put on my Green Jacket."

There is no doubt parallels that can be made to the Gunners here. Arsenal have often had plenty of setbacks, as McIlroy did, nearly blowing it in 2025 and having to take Justin Rose to a play-off, which he would then win.

If there is such a play-off for Arteta, it comes this Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. Despite all the pain and frustration, winning against your title rivals changes everything.

Win this league, and all these 22 years of hurt might instead never have to be felt again. The second one comes much easier… but, Arsenal still have to win that first one.