Arsenal

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Bournemouth and Tottenham were the most physical teams in the Premier League this season when considering the distance they covered and the number of sprints performed.

The results might explain why they had a lot of injuries.

Newcastle and Brighton were not too far behind though, with Brighton actually covering the most ground in the league, with fewer sprints.

Chelsea and Liverpool's style of play saw them sprint a lot but not cover a lot of ground, while Manchester City and Arsenal were the opposite (ran a lot but didn't sprint a lot).

Nottingham Forest very much had their own style of play this season as they both ran and sprinted the least.

Arsenal have held talks with Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres' agent in Lisbon and made a £58.7m offer to sign the Sweden international. (Correio da Manha - in Portuguese, external)

Manchester United are the leading contenders to sign 16-year-old Southampton defender Harley Emsden-James but face competition from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Season rating: 6/10. Arsenal came into the campaign as one of the favourites to finally bring the title to north London, but it is hard to argue that they ever looked like mounting a solid challenge. The team deserve immense credit for finishing second despite so many serious injuries to key players, as well as maintaining an unbeaten record against the top six. That aside, too many points squandered from winning positions can't be blamed on injuries, and will need to be an area for focus next season.

Happy with your manager? Mikel Arteta has had a challenging season, but his decision to move Mikel Merino into the attack was a stroke of genius. However, Arsenal's record in the domestic cups has been poor for the past three seasons. Yes, there were injuries, but Arteta has grown too comfortable playing his best XI every week without accounting for rest during a busy schedule. There is a knack to winning knockout football that perhaps he hasn't quite got to grips with yet.

Unsung hero: Jakub Kiwior. The injury to Gabriel just before the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid left Kiwior - who had played only sporadically this season - with the daunting prospect of facing Kylian Mbappe. He more than stepped up to the challenge across both legs, and has been a quiet but solid presence in defence when Arsenal needed him.

Player you would most like to sign: For what feels like the third summer in a row, Arsenal are crying out for a striker. Newcastle's Alexander Isak would be a perfect addition to the side, and would bring out the best from Martin Odegaard, who has struggled this season. However, it is hard to see Newcastle letting him go at a price Arsenal would consider, given their need to strengthen in other areas too.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: Frustration! Arsenal have spent the past few seasons climbing back to the top of the Premier League, and with Manchester City experiencing a tough campaign this felt like the perfect time for the Gunners. There is an overwhelming sense of 'shoulda, woulda, coulda', and that this team have fallen just short again.

Do you agree with Laura's answers? Pick one or two categories and send your views

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Here's my quick assessment of Arsenal's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.

Pre-season prediction: 2nd

Ended the season: 2nd

This was ultimately a disappointing season for Arsenal, despite finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. They deal in trophies - but manager Mikel Arteta has now gone five years without one. He has to deliver next season.

They had too many draws in the league. And while injuries hit hard, Arsenal paid the price for not addressing a major flaw last summer by signing a striker. They must do it now.

What I said in August: "Arsenal must surely be in the market for a proven goalscorer before the close of the transfer window, a component still lacking for all last season's excellence."

Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Arsenal's season after securing second place by beating Southampton on the final day.

Here are some of your comments:

Keith: A good season overall, but we are in danger of being known as the nearly team. We need to start to win things or risk being laughed at by other teams.

Benjamin: Everyone asks for a striker (and I agree, in tight games we miss that edge). But for me, the easiest thing to focus on is game management - dropping 21 points from winning positions is clearly the difference.

John: The striker problem never goes away, does it? Just hope they don't dilly-dally but get who they want straight away.

Matt: Too many times the midfield didn't get forward quickly when we were on the break. If we had, then there wouldn't be the clamour for a new striker. Yes, that would be useful, but it would change the way we play. We score lots of goals, shared out among players. But a lack of progression forward means we don't score as many as we could. and we don't take the opportunity to shoot when it's there too often! Too many one-footed players - one-footed equals missed shooting chances. And I'm better than Kai Havertz! To quote a George Best (I think): "He can trap the ball almost as far as I can kick it!" Despite what I say, it's my club and I love them! Here's to next season.

Terrance: The manager showed complacency with the starting XI and had to make substitutions to scrape the win. Possession is not everything, as has been seen through the season. Oh, for a decent number nine. However, more ups than downs and finished second again. Injuries have not helped, but others have had a similar problem. A stronger bench was needed. Maybe the management will realise this and endeavour to correct this next season and finally get the number one spot. A good European run was well deserved, just running out of steam at the wrong time. Many positives.

Paul: Too many injuries and red cards before Christmas so the league season never had any real momentum. Need a striker and a cool-headed playmaker.

Rob: Liverpool were great straight from the blocks and pretty much a faultless season for them. Same old story for Arsenal - tried their best but came up short again. Too many injuries, too many missed chances and drawn games. A striker of great calibre would certainly help, but I feel this was probably the season to break through. I fear we may end up fourth next time around.

Titus: If there was a prize for throwing points away Arsenal would have won it long before the season's end. Silly reds and double yellows; daft, needless fouls to give free-kicks... it goes on and on. So there were injuries - every team gets them. Just add up the points thrown away. Arteta needs to educate his team.Arsene Wenger was as bad. Football requires brains as well as talent!

David: I feel if Arsenal had spent their money well in either transfer window, things would look a lot different now. They messed up the homegrown player numbers, too – keeping Reiss Nelson would've meant a bigger squad. They got to get it right this summer, or it'll be more of the same next year. Small improvements won't cut it. The process has run its course - time for results.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's 10 final day Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea

• Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 1-1 Brentford

Arsenal have joined Bayern Munich in the race to sign Brighton's 28-year-old Japan midfielder Kaoru Mitoma. (Sky Germany, external)

Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres will leave Sporting this summer. The 26-year-old has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea and has an agreement with the Portuguese club to allow him to leave for less than his £84m release clause. (Sky Sports, external)

The Gunners want Aston Villa's Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 32, to return to the club amid interest from Real Madrid in their 29-year-old Spain shot-stopper David Raya. (Sun, external)

Arsenal want Ghana defensive midfielder Thomas Partey to remain with the club beyond his current deal, which expires in the summer, despite being linked with Real Sociedad's 26-year-old Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi. (football.london, external)

Sporting director Andrea Berta has held talks with AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, 25, in a bid to persuade him to move to Emirates Stadium this summer. (TeamTalk, external)

Finally, Arsenal have made an offer to sign 21-year-old RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

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.

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?

Have your say on Arsenal's performance and season

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Southampton's interim manager Simon Rusk makes five changes for his final match in charge.

Ross Stewart, Yukinari Sugawara, Charlie Taylor, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Jay Robinson are the new faces in the starting XI.

Southampton XI: Ramsdale (c), Downes, Stewart, Wood, Sugawara, Fernandes, Sulemana, Taylor, Ugochukwa, Welington, Robinson.

Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Aribo, Smallbone, Bree, Archer, Onuachu, Sanda, Moore.

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.

Subs: Neto, Saka, Odegaard, Trossard, Jorginho, Havertz, Henry-Francis, Kabia, Lewis-Skelly.

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Leicester City

• Fulham v Man City

• Ipswich v West Ham

• Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Man Utd v Aston Villa

• Newcastle v Everton

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Southampton v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Brighton

• Wolves v Brentford - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

All kick-off times 16:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here