Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promised that there is much more to come from his team, while captain Martin Odegaard vowed to bring trophies to the club next season.
A 1-0 win over Newcastle United secured a top-five finish and a place in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, but the Gunners have gone another season without any silverware.
Declan Rice’s second-half goal was enough for Arteta’s men to beat Newcastle, who went into the match with their own aspirations of leapfrogging Arsenal into second place.
Instead, Newcastle remain third, looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack and needing a home victory over Everton on the final day to guarantee a return to the Champions League.
That is already secured for Arsenal, who need only one point at Southampton in their 38th league fixture to be confirmed as runners-up for the third season in a row.
“We had a dream. It was to be here today or in a week’s time and bring the big trophies to you guys,” Arteta said to the fans, in his post-match speech on the pitch.
“Unfortunately we haven’t been able to do it, for many circumstances, but make sure that chasing a dream doesn’t get blurry and you don’t see what these players, these staff and this football club are doing, and make sure that we chase the dream with positivity and enthusiasm towards next season.
“We have to start creating our own history here in this stadium. There is much more to come and we have to do it altogether. It’s not going to be easy but this group of players, I’m telling you, they have the hunger, they have the quality, they have the talent. And we’re going to make it happen.”
On the subject of what a big summer it could be for Arsenal, in terms of assessing what the club needs to improve next season, Arteta alluded to the work that colleagues, such as new sporting director Andrea Berta, are tasked with in the transfer market.
“[We will] finish the season, go to the beach, enjoy a few days – and make sure the ones upstairs do what they have to do.”
