Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal’s Champions League qualification is special

Mikel Arteta says fans should not forget about the positive part of Arsenal’s season despite failing to win the Premier League title.

The Gunners were on course to win the English top flight for the first time since the 2003/04 season but a series of draws against Liverpool, West Ham United and Southampton as well as a defeat to Nottingham Forest has seen Arsenal lose the league title to Manchester City.

Despite the failure to win the league title, the North London side have secured a return to Champions League football for the first time in a long while.

Speaking ahead of their final game of the season, Arteta has urged the club’s faithful to appreciate the effort of the players throughout the season.

“We have to finish the season in a style we all deserve against Wolves and have the opportunity to say ‘thank you.’ We have to show gratitude to our people and I am sure they are going to listen to us,” he noted.

“A lot happened, from the expectation we had at the start of the season and what we have achieved in bringing the Champions League. It’s special. The Premier League, 248 days on top fighting against the best team in the history of this league. In the end, we fell short.”

Arsenal will end their season with a home game against Wolves with the aim of bouncing back from last weekend’s loss against Nottingham Forest.