While the Arsenal players performed a round of appreciation for their fans after a narrow 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, who secured everything except second place in the Premier League on Sunday, it felt like a bit of an anti-climax.
The excellent goal of Declan Rice in the 55th minute achieved the victory, only Arsenal's second in the last seven in the competition, which means that the unthinkable possibility that they were not in the top five was banned.
In addition to the defeat by Bottom Club Southampton next week and Manchester City scored an avalanche of goals in their last two games, Arsenal finishes second for the third season.
The previous two seasons they had completely seen Manchester City pushing, especially last year when the title was only decided on the last day. Arteta's side earned 84 and 89 points in those activities of the city, but this season their pursuit of Liverpool evaporated and they can only get 74.
Defeat by Newcastle in the semi -final of the League Cup that was stabbed, but not as much as that of Paris St Germain in the Semis Champions League.
Spaniard Arteta sounded emotional and empty when he spoke the fans on the field after the last whistle, although not all kept listening.
“We had a dream, it was to be here or in a week and bring the big trophies for you and we could not do it for many circumstances,” said Arteta, who has managed only one FA Cup -Triumph since he took the lead in 2019.
“We must ensure that having to follow a dream does not become blurry and ensure that we chase the dream with positivity and enthusiasm for the following season.”
Arsenal has clearly made progress under Arteta and is recovering in the Champions League in which they will start a third consecutive campaign in September.
But with people like Newcastle waiting for their decades for silverware this season, Crystal Palace wins the FA Cup and North London Rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United who will fight the Europa League final of the Europa League next week, Arteta does not remember that he has to start delivering.
“We have to start creating our own history here in this stadium and we started this season,” he said. “There will be much more and it will not be easy.
“These players have the talent. We have to rest and end at Southampton and then go on holiday.”
Captain Martin Odegaard, who lay Rice's goal, also spoke about the need of Arsenal to take the next step.
“We can be proud of what we have done, especially in the Champions League, we had a great run there and some great experiences,” said the Norwegian.
“But we have to accept that we have not been good enough in the competition, but we have to take all the experiences, good and bad, they take them to next season and be better.
“We have to feel that pain not to win and bring it to the next season and to come back stronger and bring the club a few trophies next season.”