Mikel Arteta vowed to end Arsenal's five-year trophy drought next season after their win against Newcastle secured a spot in the Champions League.
Declan Rice’s superb second-half strike from the edge of the area ended Arsenal’s five-match winless streak and confirmed their place in the Premier League’s top five.
Although Arsenal are set to finish as runners-up for a third consecutive season, few at the club consider this campaign a success.
The Gunners never mounted a serious title challenge as Liverpool comfortably claimed the crown and were knocked out in the semi-finals of both the Champions League and League Cup. Arteta’s only silverware with Arsenal remains the 2020 FA Cup, and the club has not won the league title in 21 years.
Addressing the Emirates crowd after the final whistle against Newcastle, Arteta said:
“We had a dream—to be here now, or in a week’s time, bringing big trophies to you all. But we couldn’t do it this season due to many circumstances. We need to make sure that chasing a dream doesn’t get blurry and that we pursue it with enthusiasm and positivity next season.”
“We have started to create our own history here at the stadium. There is much more to come, but it won’t be easy. We have to do it together. Let me tell you, this group of players has the hunger, quality, and talent to make it happen.”
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard added:
“We can be very proud of what we’ve achieved this season, especially in the Champions League. But we haven’t been good enough in the league. We have to take all the experiences, good and bad, learn from them, and come back better. We will use the pain of not winning as motivation to return stronger and bring trophies to this club.”
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