Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal must find “that small percentage” to take the last step in the direction of success, after a 2-1 victory over Southampton has closed their Premier League campaign on Sunday.
Kieran Tierney, who made his last performance for the club, opened the score just before half time with a sharp near-post, although Ross Stewart raised the procedure early in the second half.
Despite dominating possession, the Gunners did not succeed in finding a way, and it took an 89th minute long -distance attack by Martin Odegaard to catch the victory in St. Mary's stage.
The victory confirmed the third consecutive second place of Arsenal, and only marked the fifth time in the history of the upper light history. A team is second three years in a row, with Arsenal the first side to do this twice (also 1998-99 to 2000-01).
Arteta thinks about the performance on his side on the BBC match of the day: “We wanted to end with that positivity, that good atmosphere and atmosphere.
“We had to say goodbye to a few players, and I think they deserved that it would happen in a beautiful environment.”
About what plans the club has for the summer transfer window, the Spaniard pointed to some subtle improvements: “Josh [Kroenke] Has been very clear in the direction and the ambition we have.
“We are going to try to see what we can do, make very subtle decisions and respect what has brought us so far.
“There is not much improvement for us. We finished second three times, have reached the semi -final of the Champions League. There is just that small percentage that we have to grab.”
End the season with all three points pic.twitter.com/aiotoluvxs
– Arsenal (@ARSENAL) 25 May 2025
Tierney, who was set up at the end of the season on a return to Boyhood Club Celtic, leaves Arsenal four Premier competition goals scoring all that were relegated against teams that were relegated in the same season (Southampton in 2024-25, Watford in 2019-20-21 and Norwich).
“Kieran said yesterday:” I'm going to score on my last Arsenal match “and now he did it. We are very happy with him. He has been a large part of the journey,” Arteta added.
The defeat of Southampton has concluded a historically poor campaign. The saints are now the first team in the Premier League history that loses 30 games in a season, and indeed the first to lose 30 games in a 38-game Top-Flight campaign.
Only a few hours before the kick -off, the club announced that it was still named manager prior to their next championship campaign.
Simon Rusk reflects on our last day display:
– Southampton FC (@southamptonfc) 25 May 2025
Interim manager Simon Rusk was optimistic about the versions of Southampton despite their disappointing 20th place.
'Of the seven games I have had [as manager]There have been positives there, “Rusk told the BBC match of the day.
“We were really close to taking a point of the Premier League two. We can really be proud of our overall view and hopefully that will be a good platform that will start next season.
When he was asked about the appointment of his future, he added: “I had no information about my future.
“My concentration was to support the players in delivering a game plan to get something out of these games.
“It is good for everyone to have clarity about who the manager is going to be, and I am sure that when the time is ripe, I get some clarity in my own future.”