Arteta confirms ‘marginal gains’ push to close gap on Liverpool after Arsenal secure second
Arsenal signed off their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory at Southampton on Sunday, securing back-to-back second-place finishes and offering a fitting send-off for Kieran Tierney, who is expected to leave the club this summer.
The 26-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, was handed a rare start and marked the occasion with a goal just before the break. Arriving late into the box, Tierney swept home at the near post to put the Gunners ahead, before Martin Odegaard netted the winner with 12 minutes to play.
Tierney joined from Celtic in 2019 and has made 124 appearances for the North London side, but has fallen down the pecking order in recent campaigns. While a return to Celtic is considered likely, no deal has yet been finalised.
Mikel Arteta paid tribute to the full-back after the game, describing him as “a special character” and “someone who’s very, very liked and respected at the club.”
The win left Arsenal 10 points behind champions Liverpool and three clear of third-placed Manchester City. Speaking post-match, Arteta acknowledged the team’s progress but underlined the need to make further gains in the summer.
“We have to turn every stone to make it happen,” he said. “The margins are tiny. We’re competing with the best and we know we have to find that extra edge.”
Transfer meetings with Andrea Berta and Josh Kroenke are scheduled this week, with the manager indicating that the club are aiming to act decisively in the market.
Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, both recovering from injuries, were not involved at St Mary’s. Arteta said Calafiori had returned “two or three weeks earlier than expected” and hailed Timber’s professionalism throughout the season.
Addressing concerns about the forward line, the Spaniard accepted it was “something to look at” that no player hit double figures in the league — a first for the club since 1924 — but stressed the collective attacking output remained strong.
He also praised the women’s team for their Champions League triumph over Barcelona, calling it “a fantastic achievement” and a moment of pride for the whole club.
“It’s been an emotional day,” Arteta added. “We wanted to end on a high, and I think we did.”
