'We wanted to finish with positivity'published at 19:41 25 May
19:41 25 May
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Match of the Day: "We wanted to finish with that positivity, that good atmosphere and vibe. We had to say goodbye to a few players and I think they deserved that to happen in a nice environment."
On Kieran Tierney's goal: "He said yesterday "I'm going to score on my last Arsenal match" and he's done it. Very happy with him. He's been a big part of the journey."
On a big summer for Arsenal: "Josh [Kroenke] has been very clear in the direction and ambition we have. We're going to try and see what we can do, make very subtle decisions, and respect what has taken us this far. There's not much improvement. We've finished second three times, reached the Champions League semi-finals. There's that little percentage we need to nail."
On Arsenal winning the Women's Champions League: "We were on the bus to Southampton cheering. The manner they've done it, playing the best team in Europe and they had difficult situations throughout the season, we're very proud."
Analysis: Southampton 0-1 Arsenalpublished at 19:08 25 May
19:08 25 May
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
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There was, on paper, very little to play for at St Mary's.
While five teams were fighting it out for three Champions League places, Arsenal had secured their spot with a week to spare by beating Newcastle at Emirates Stadium last Sunday.
Only a major swing in goal difference would have seen them surrender second place to Manchester City but with Southampton heading into the game having scored 25 goals in 37 matches, and Arsenal keeper David Raya looking to retain the golden glove for most clean sheets, such a result was unlikely.
And after conceding on Sunday, Raya shared the award with Nottingham Forest's Matz Sels, who also kept 13 clean sheets.
The result does nothing to alter either sides' league position, with Arsenal finishing the season in second place and already relegated Southampton bowing out at the bottom.
Southampton 1-2 Arsenal - send us your thoughtspublished at 18:14 25 May
18:14 25 May
So the curtain has come down on Arsenal's season with a late win away against Southampton.
The Gunners reached a first Champions League semi-final for 20 years and secured a third successive second place finish in the Premier League, but ultimately emerged trophyless.
How are you feeling after the game and at the end of a long campaign?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta makes five changes to the side that beat Newcastle on Sunday, with Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mikel Merino, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri coming into the XI.
Captain Martin Odegaard is on the bench while William Saliba misses out with a hamstring injury.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Tierney, White, Partey, Martinelli, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Merino, Sterling, Rice (c), Nwaneri.
Sutton's predictions: Southampton v Arsenalpublished at 12:57 25 May
12:57 25 May
There will be Arsenal fans going to this game who are really jealous of Tottenham and what they have achieved this season, you can be sure of it.
Mikel Arteta's side have been miles better than Spurs, obviously, but they don't have a trophy to show for it, unlike their north London rivals, and trophies are what football is about.
It is absurd to suggest Arteta should be any under pressure though.
As for my prediction, well this one is pretty easy to call. Arsenal are without the injured William Saliba at the back, but they have got Declan Rice as their driving force and this should be a routine win for the Gunners.
Southampton held out for a draw against Manchester City in their previous home game but I expect they are still too worn out from celebrating that point to get anything here.
Here are some of your comments on your selection, as well as some other names thrown into the ring:
Guy: My player of the season is Rice. He has stepped up when we have needed someone to. He is a big-game player Arsenal have missed in recent years. Having a midfielder have 19 goal involvements is impressive. He always looks like he gives his all for the team, he runs his socks off in both attack and defence. His skills in dead-ball situations is amazing as well.
Rachel: Although Rice has had an outstanding season, I think Gabriel has run him a very close second. He has really come into his own as an irreplaceable Arsenal player with his allegiance to the badge and his leadership qualities. His reliability is never in question and he is a monster in the backline. We have really missed his presence and I can't wait to have him back and breathe more easily again!
Joan: William Saliba should have been included in the player of the season list. He has been consistent all year. I would have voted for him, as would a lot of others.
Patel: Timber. Out all last season and he is still playing out of position. Naturally, he is a centre-half, but has played every position in the backline. No-one has been as consistent as Timber. Absolutely magnificent.
Mike: It has to be our goalkeeper. If we didn't have all David Raya's clean sheets we would not be were we are now. Maybe Mikel Arteta was right about him over Aaron Ramsdale. I thought he was wrong - but what do I know?
Jay: If Gabriel wasn't injured, then I would have him all day. But Rice has become a different breed since joining Arsenal, scoring some goals that basically cannot be recreated by anyone. Controlled the midfield all season and is a proper vice-captain.
Tuva: Rice cooked in almost every game he played this season. He is my undoubted first choice. My second would be Gabriel - a rock in defence. Third is Raya - the saves he made against Newcastle last time out proves so. Four - Timber. Five - Saka. Six - Myles Lewis-Skelly. Seven - Mikel Merino. Eight - Leandro Trossard.
Tom: Declan reminds me of Pat Rice (no relation) who captained the team to FA Cup glories. The first player on the teamsheet and gives everything on and off the pitch. We're very lucky to have half a dozen like that, but he pips his colleagues for consistent availability and intensity.
Southampton v Arsenal: Did you know?published at 11:13 24 May
11:13 24 May
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All eight of Southampton's Premier League wins against Arsenal have come in home games - the most victories one team has against another without any coming away from home.
However, Arsenal have lost just two of their past 16 Premier League games against Southampton, in December 2018 and April 2022.
The Gunners have won their final Premier League game of the season 23 times, more than any other side, including 13 in a row.
What is an 'online fanbase'? The growing divide among Arsenal fanspublished at 20:00 23 May
20:00 23 May
Laura Kirk-Francis Fan writer
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Moments after Arsenal's exit from the Champions League in early May, a familiar post-mortem was unfolding online.
But once the tactical analysis had been dealt with, a louder, more divisive argument appeared.
Should manager Mikel Arteta be sacked?
Those who dared to say "yes" were immediately dismissed as "online fans". This has become a loaded label given to those accused of chasing engagement and clicks, and who typically do not attend games.
Being an "online fan" in 2025 is seen as lacking in nuance and context. In contrast, fans who actually attend match days are measured, knowledgeable and unwavering in their support for the club and manager.
Why is this happening?
The most obvious representation of any fanbase is those that shout the loudest online, and Arsenal's fans punch far above their weight in global online influence. The fanbase is routinely cited in vox pops and across social media as "the most annoying".
It makes sense then that fans are keen to distance themselves from those who have earned them such an unwanted title. The separation of online and those who attend matches is a natural outcome.
But for the millions of global fans who cannot attend Emirates Stadium, and the thousands who enter the ballot unsuccessfully for tickets each game, this is an unfair oversimplification.
Given the game's global popularity, the majority of fans can only ever be "online". Those who are lucky enough to attend games watch exactly the same 90 minutes as those getting up in the middle of the night to support their team.
This digital division is also bleeding into the real world. A banner unfurled by Liverpool fans when the two sides faced each other earlier this month showed a picture of Arteta dressed as a bridesmaid, a direct reference to an online meme that Arsenal are "always the bridesmaid, never the bride".
Again this was dismissed as being the work of "online" fans desperate for attention, rather than just a playful message to a title rival. In 2025 fan culture, we have conflated being online with being overly interested in the zeitgeist and a preference for exaggeration.
This tension between the physical and digital is not unique to Arsenal but few clubs embody it so vividly.
With the transfer window opening next month, this division between fans is surely set to widen over the summer, as fans debate potential signings. But with no matches to attend, at least everyone will become an "online fan", albeit only until August.
Pick your Arsenal player of the seasonpublished at 17:47 23 May
17:47 23 May
Laura Kirk-Francis Fan writer
We asked our Arsenal fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.
Declan Rice
Rice's two free-kicks against Real Madrid were at the centre of a memorable night for Arsenal, but his performance in the return leg, and his consistency across the season has been outstanding. When Arsenal fans sing "we got him half price", in reference to his £105m transfer fee, they are absolutely right.
Bukayo Saka
Despite missing three months of the season, Saka still has the highest goal contributions of the whole Arsenal squad, with six goals and 11 assists in Premier League. The reception he received when he returned from injury against Fulham in April shows how much the fans and the team adore him.
Jurrien Timber
Timber missed nearly all of last season having ruptured his ACL on his Premier League debut. This term, although not often in the headlines, he has been brilliantly consistent and reliable for Arsenal, and showed his class in keeping Vinicius Junior quiet over two legs against Real Madrid.
Gabriel Magalhaes
Gabriel's three headed goals, including the winner in the North London derby, were crucial while Arsenal struggled for attacking fluidity. Already a formidable presence in defence, his injury has been a devastating blow for the Gunners, who will be desperate for him to be ready for the start of the next season.
Honorable mentions
At 18, Myles Lewis-Skelly has progressed from making his senior debut in September, to being a consistent starter six months later. Arsenal have a potential superstar on their hands.
Mikel Merino, at the height of Arsenal's injury crisis, was asked to play up front in an unfamiliar position. His double at Leicester will be remembered fondly by Arsenal fans for years.
'All about levels' - why Arsenal's season has been better than Spurspublished at 13:24 23 May
13:24 23 May
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We asked you whether you would swap Arsenal's season for Tottenham's given they have won the Europa League.
Here are some of your comments:
Jonathon: Levels! It is all about levels. Although trophies are the ultimate goal, as an Arsenal fan I'd rather be competing at a higher level for the big, but harder to win prizes than playing at a lower level competing for second-tier prizes.
Nick: Asking to swap Arsenal's season for Spurs is sort of similar to asking to swap Arsenal's for Leeds. The competition Spurs won is a lower tier competition to the one Arsenal compete in. In winning the Europa, Spurs now get a seat at the same table as Arsenal but that's it.
Adam: I thought this was a very easy question to answer as an Arsenal season ticket holder. I would not swap it. Basically because to finish second means I've enjoyed 80 percent of the games I've watched. I've walked away from the stadium generally happy. However, when I see the numbers, it makes me step back and think. Spurs fans have been distraught since October. Every weekend must have been a new low. But with those lows means the high they have now is super high. Tough one!
Jan: Spurs have been an embarrassment this year. You could say by winning a trophy they have had a better season, but Arsenal reached a Champions League semi-final and finished second again so I would say Arsenal are better off.
Mark: Spurs have won a trophy but let's be honest the Europa League is now a tinpot competition and in no way as prestigious as the Uefa Cup success back in the 80's. With the top five teams of most major leagues going in to the Champions League, it has left the Europa as an incredibly weak competition. Arsenal may not have won anything but they went close in the Champions League against the cream of Europe and will finish second in the league. That's a far greater achievement than winning a trophy where Spurs never faced a single top side.
James: 100% no, I wouldn't swap our season. Arsenal are a couple of signings away from major trophies. They've shown they can dig deep if necessary. Ending up 17th in the league with so many losses is a telling sign of where Spurs currently are as a club.
Tuchel names England squad for World Cup qualifier and friendlypublished at 10:19 23 May
10:19 23 May
England manager Thomas Tuchel has announced his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra (7 June) and friendly against Senegal (10 June).
Manchester City's Phil Foden, Newcastle's Tino Livramento and West Ham's Jarrod Bowen all miss out, but Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Chelsea duo Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah have been selected.
Would you swap Arsenal's season for Tottenham's?published at 09:12 23 May
09:12 23 May
Would you swap Arsenal's season for Tottenham's...?
It may seem an outrageous question but it is one that has got us talking at BBC Sport.
Spurs have had a dreadful domestic campaign but, by lifting the Europa League trophy they also claimed a spot in next season's Champions League, just like Arsenal.
Given the Gunners are essentially certain to finish second but have won no silverware for the fifth straight season, it seemed a pertinent topic to consider.
Both sides have secured a place in Europe's biggest competition next season, but as a fan, which journey would you prefer?
Gossip: Gyokeres set to snub Arsenal?published at 07:23 23 May
07:23 23 May
Viktor Gyokeres' uncle says the 26-year-old striker made a decision, during a family dinner, to snub Arsenal and Manchester United this summer to stay at Sporting. (Sun), external
Arteta on Partey, trophies and firepowerpublished at 10:47 22 May
10:47 22 May
Holly Bacon BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before the final game of the Premier League season on Sunday against Southampton (kick-off 16:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On Jurrien Timber, Mikel Arteta said: "He had surgery on Tuesday morning on his ankle. He has been feeling that discomfort for many, many weeks." Arteta hopes the defender will be back for pre-season. He added that William Saliba will be out for a few weeks.
Arteta said he would want Thomas Partey to stay. On the midfielder, he added: "Consistency-wise this has been his best season. The way he's played, performed, his availability has been exceptional. He is a really important player for us."
On the pressure to win a trophy next season: "The biggest thing is and using the word pride, is that we have brought the club into a position that next season 'you have to win a major trophy'. That means that everybody believes that we have the level, that we have shown the consistency, and we are an elite team in this country and in Europe and if you don't do that, then what's going to happen? So, for me that's the biggest statement - that Arsenal is there."
Arteta continued: "We all feel the same way, that we feel that we are capable of winning the Premier League. It's not just a dream or it's not just something you want to do. It's do we have everything that is needed? Even if you do, there is a lot of things that are going to play a part to win."
On signing a striker: "What is clear as well with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line, that we need the goal threat. We need the firepower out there."
He congratulated Tottenham on winning the Europa League and was asked who has had a better season, stating: "I don't like to compare with other teams. I need to analyse my team, that's my job."
Gossip: Gunners explore Rodrygo movepublished at 07:43 22 May
07:43 22 May
Arsenal are exploring a move for 24-year-old Brazil forward Rodrygo, who could leave Real Madrid this summer. (Sky Germany, external)
Viktor Gyokeres has told Sporting team-mates he is unsure where he will be playing next year, with the 26-year-old Sweden forward linked with Arsenal and Manchester United. (Canal 11, via Star, external)
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