Arsenal

We asked for your opinions on Sunday's Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Everton, which saw the Gunners miss out on the Premier League title.

Here are some of the best responses:

Arsenal fans

Martin: The stress caught up to us and, although we eventually got the win, there was no hope from the Etihad. An incredible effort and an improvement on last season. We just need to make crucial adjustments like a younger defensive midfielder and a striker in the summer, as that will get us the title. Surely Manchester City can't keep it up for a fifth year in a row.

Richard: I think Arsenal have been fantastic all season. We have the best defence, the most clean sheets and the best coach. Arsenal have come short, but this will make them stronger and keep the team together. It will show that Arsenal trust what they have.

Aston: So close yet so far! We have done wonderfully for two season in a row. I feel like we are the only ones who will push Manchester City again next season, so let's see how we keep improving our squad this summer.

Sam: Ultimately, the 11 points dropped by us in December were what cost us the league. In those matches, our lack of potency up front was being scrutinised and, when push comes to shove, I think it is still the area we need to address most over the summer. Havertz has been scintillating since January but we need a natural number nine to get us over the line.

Everton fans

Ifan: Proud of our team! We played well, but Arsenal were hungry for the win. To take the lead and then hold Arsenal for 88 minutes, at their ground, is an achievement. To finish 15th on 40 points, 48 points without points deductions, has made for a relaxing end to the season for us Evertonians. Thank you, Sean Dyche! Roll on 2024-25 season!

Chris: An against the run of play lead, but there was hope that we could've held on for a point. Without the points deduction, a respectable mid-table finish would've been ours and it would've been our best season in four years. Well done to Sean Dyche and the players. Next season may be harder - we could have a nine point deduction to contend with. C'est la vie!

David: Well done to Everton over the past few weeks for surviving relegation. Today's performance was typical of our fighting spirit over the latter part of the season. If not for those eight points deducted, we would've finished 12th overall and that is great credit to Dyche, his staff and the players. Enjoy the summer Evertonians everywhere!

John: I'm looking forward to next season when all of our players will be fit. With a brilliant manager in Sean Dyche, we will be looking for a top-half finish.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been speaking to TNT Sports after missing out on the Premier League title: "I am very proud. First of all, congratulations to Manchester City. They are the champions and they have been incredible since December.

"We have tried with everything that we had. You can sense how much we wanted it, we really tried, but it wasn't enough unfortunately."

On pushing Manchester City every step of the way: "It feels good because success cannot only be measured by comparing to somebody else - we need to understand what we are doing.

"We have beaten every record this club has ever had, apart from winning it. This is the most competitive league ever in the history. We have to be better and now we need to find ways we have to improve."

On the Arsenal fans' support this season: "That's the most fulfilling thing. One of the dreams I had when I joined was to reconnect everybody, to really bring this place to a different level.

"We are on that journey right now. I feel sad because I really wanted to deliver that trophy today, because it would mean the world to them, but we are closer that's for sure."

On needing to stay hungry for the title: "We have to be more determined, very courageous, very ambitious. We need to go to a different level. We need to deliver."

Image source, Getty Images

Kai Havertz has promised fans Arsenal will be "even better" next season, after failing in their bid to win the Premier League title this afternoon.

Speaking after the 2-1 win over Everton, Havertz told TNT Sports: "I feel sorry for all of the Arsenal fans - for us - we gave our best, but it wasn't enough.

"Maybe in two or three months we can say 'it was a good fight', but right now I feel like we deserved more.

"It wasn't enough in the end, but we go again next year. Sometimes it isn't fair in football, but we have to accept it.

"Football is hard, but hopefully we can go again next year and give the Arsenal fans what they need and what they are all here for."

Havertz also had a message for the Gunners faithful: "When you see all of the fans here, it is tough. But I can tell them that next year we are going to be an even better team and we are going to give everything again."

Here are the key facts and figures following Sunday’s game between Arsenal and Everton in the Premier League.

• Arsenal achieved 89 points this season, which is their second most in a single Premier League campaign after the 90 points earned by their title-winning side of 2003-04.

• Everton lost their final Premier League game of the season for the 15th time – no side has done so more in the competition's history.

• William Saliba became the first outfield player to play every minute for Arsenal in a single Premier League campaign.

• Kai Havertz has become the fifth player to register 20 Premier League goal involvements (13 goals, 7 assists) in his debut season with Arsenal, after Thierry Henry in 1999-00 (25), Santi Cazorla in 2012-13 (23), Lukas Podolski in 2012-13 (20) and Alexis Sanchez in 2014-15 (24).

• Idrissa Gueye's opener for Everton was the first direct free-kick goal Arsenal have conceded at home in the Premier League since Philippe Coutinho's strike for Liverpool in their opening game of the 2016-17 campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards thinks Arsenal "need to get a striker" if they want to compete for the Premier League title in upcoming seasons.

Speaking on Sky Sports after City pipped Arsenal to the title, Richards said: "It is a brilliant young team and there is more to come at Arsenal.

"Kai Havertz has done well. Gabriel Jesus has probably not played at a level which we expected him to when he left Manchester City.

"If you are looking on how they can improve, they need to get a striker who can score all type of goals.

"Even when Erling Haaland hasn't played at his best, he has scored goals."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

It's the hope that kills you. Arsenal knew that there was only a small chance of overtaking Manchester City at the top of the league - but there was still a chance.

But that was, ultimately, snuffed out in the opening minutes by Phil Foden, leaving a strange atmosphere around the Emirates Stadium throughout Sunday afternoon.

It fell flat for the majority of the first half, perking into life when Takehiro Tomiyasu equalised following Idrissa Gueye's shock opener from a deflected free kick.

It went into overdrive as fake news spread like wildfire that West Ham had drawn level at City, but died down when Rodri made it 3-1 to the champions-elect.

The mood became frustrated and more despondent as the second half wore on and Arsenal laboured, but ended on a high note with Kai Havertz's winner.

There is plenty of reason to be hopeful for the future of Mikel Arteta's young and talented Arsenal team - but for 2023-24, the dream is over.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has addressed the crowd at Emirates Stadium after beating Everton but missing out on the Premier League title, finishing second to Manchester City.

"All of this is happening because you started believing. You started to be patient and started to understand what we were trying to do," said Arteta.

"All the credit has to go to the players and the staff. Don't be satisfied - we want much more than that and we are going to get it."

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Martin Odegaard has been speaking to the Arsenal fans from the pitch after the Gunners narrowly missed out on the Premier League title.

"I think we are all a little bit disappointed," said the captain.

"We have been fighting so long for the big dream. We were so close.

"I'm so proud of the boys - so proud of the team and the fans. I'm so proud of the progress we are making.

"We have changed the club and I think you will all believe in us now."

Arsenal missed out on a first Premier League title since 2004, despite beating Everton, as Manchester City took the glory.

To be crowned champions, the Gunners needed to beat the Toffees and hope City failed to win against West Ham.

Arsenal suffered a setback when Idrissa Gueye's deflected free-kick put Everton in front, although Takehiro Tomiyasu equalised three minutes later.

While Arsenal did eventually hold up their end of the bargain with Kai Havertz's late winner, ultimately City's victory over West Ham took matters out of their hands.

What did you make of the game?

Arsenal fans, were you at the game? How are you feeling after that performance?, external

Everton fans - let us know your post-match thoughts, external

Follow reaction and read the match report

The 2023-24 Premier League season might be drawing to a close, but BBC Sport's dedicated coverage of Arsenal will be sticking around for the summer.

From transfer gossip to club news to fan views - we have got you covered.

So make sure you don't miss anything by following your club and signing up to notifications straight to your devices.

After that, all you need to do is keep returning to your club's page throughout the summer - simple!

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, with the title winners, European spots and one relegation place still to be confirmed.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

No Ollie Watkins. No Bukayo Saka. No Ederson. So who has made the cut?

Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown talks through his team of the season on the latest episode of The Football News Show.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

It all comes down to Sunday - so how are you feeling?

Arsenal go into the final day needing a win over Everton and hope Manchester City fail to beat West Ham to secure a first Premier League title in 20 years.

Here are some of your comments before the final day:

Matt: I am proud of the team no matter what happens. We have pushed an unbelievable Manchester City side to the final day. Our defence has been rock solid and our performances in the run-in compared with last year have been excellent. We have really improved as a team and our time will come even if it is not this year.

Jeremy: For such a thin squad, Arsenal have done brilliantly, no matter the result on Sunday. Get rid of some deadwood and bring in some fresh blood, plus promote some youngsters, and next season will become a celebration.

Mell: Very proud of the lads. The club is being taken in a good direction. Even if we do not get lucky with Manchester City dropping points, the lads will go into next season with self-belief.

Kevin: It is still up for grabs as far as I am concerned. The league is 38 games not 37. I am glad Manchester City beat Tottenham and now hope they slip up Sunday and we can win. Come on, you Gunners!

Shuza: Arsenal have been brilliant no matter what happens on the final day. We deserve the title, but against one of the top clubs in England we will be unlucky. We have had goals from almost every player, our defence has been top class, as has the midfield, and we have been a joy to watch up front. We have an amazing young squad.

Pheonix: We have had a great season, but the loss against Aston Villa at the Emirates has done us in. It is a slip-up that we have come to rue. Painful end to another season of so close yet so far. I am proud of the team nonetheless.

Nick: City will not slip up - even without Ederson. Haaland has shown us what we need. I hope we sell Jesus and Nketiah and buy young - possibly Joshua Zirkzee. The Emirates will be joyously proud on Sunday. The future is bright. The future is red and white!

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend’s final games of the season, he takes on Gladiators star Legend.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Sean Dyche is a scrapper and his Everton side are enjoying a strong end to the season. He would like nothing more than to end with a positive result here, but I cannot see past an Arsenal victory.

With 15 wins, one draw and only one defeat from their past 17 Premier League games, the Gunners don't deserve to finish second but that is what is going to happen. Other than the Community Shield, they are going to finish trophyless too.

Arsenal have invited players from their Invincibles side - who remained unbeaten last time they were champions in 2004 - so they will want to put on a show for them.

They should have something to smile about, even if there is no title to celebrate.

Legend's prediction: 5-0

If Spurs had got a result against Manchester City, I think we still would have won this game, but it would have been tighter. The stress would have been outrageous and we might have only won by a goal or two, which would have been a worry if City were only behind us on goal difference.

Now, even though it is not completely over, our players know it kind of is. That takes a lot of the pressure off and this could be an absolute hiding, with Kai Havertz scoring a couple of goals.

Legend on Gunners boss Mikel Arteta: From day one, when I first heard him speak, you could tell he was going to be good, although I didn't think he would be this good.

Even when we are playing badly, you want to get behind the side he has built because they have such amazing team unity. We don't have one megastar and, even though some players are clearly better than others, it feels like the whole squad look at each other as equals, which makes a massive difference. Everyone tracks back and works hard defensively, for example.

Whatever happens this season, Arteta is still young and so are a lot of the team, so you have the feeling that it is only going to get better.

Look at what we have done this year compared to three or four years ago - it is unbelievable. Arteta has created such a positive environment and the club is going in an upward trajectory. This is just the start, hopefully.

Read all of Sutton’s predictions for the final day of the season here

Image source, Getty Images

If you haven't done so already, you have until 10:00 BST on Wednesday, 22 May to cast your vote for Arsenal's player of the season from our shortlist.

The candidates have been chosen by Gunners fan writer Harry Symeou from Chronicles of a Gooner, external.

Find out the reasons behind his selections and make your choice here

Having fallen short last season, Arsenal have taken the Premier League title race down to the wire.

But given the progress they have made under Mikel Arteta, will they be the favourites ahead of Manchester City next season?

Gunners supporter Tanvi Shah and former winger Adrian Clarke tell The Football News Show why they are bullish about the team's prospects for the future.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League forward Clinton Morrison feels Arsenal may have to wait for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to leave before they can win the title.

The Gunners have pushed the defending champions close in the title race for the second consecutive season, but head into the final game two points behind and requiring a favour from West Ham.

"They are not far away. They need Pep to go and when he goes they will win the title, it's as plain and simple as that," said Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live's Friday Football Social.

"Arsenal have been fantastic and any other season, or if Manchester City weren't in the league, they win the Premier League because they have been fantastic under Mikel Arteta.

"They will rue the Aston Villa game. Losing that Aston Villa game was the turning point, but credit to them this season.

"The players they have brought in have all made an impact. Havertz has been outstanding and there is a role for him in that team, but they still need a number nine and I think they will go get that person in the summer. When they do get that they will be competing with City again and pushing them right to the wire again."

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker agreed, adding: "It is that simple [they need a number nine]. You can see why they have been linked with Alexander Isak from Newcastle because they need that.

"When you think they lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Arteta says 'we don't have a striker who is going to score 25 goals' - there is your answer. He knows it. The top teams need that in their side."

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