Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title despite managing to beat Sean Dyche’s Everton on the final day of the season.
The Gunners needed a big favour on the final day in order to claim top spot.
Manchester City left themselves in the box seat for the title having beaten Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.
City just needed a win over West Ham United on the final day of the season as Arsenal fans begged for Declan Rice’s former teammates to come up with a result.
West Ham couldn’t fulfil that request, losing 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium to give City their fourth Premier League title in a row.
Arsenal did beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium, coming from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over the Toffees.
That wasn’t enough to win the Premier League title though, leaving Arsenal to finish second once again.
Rio Ferdinand on Arsenal fans
This may feel like Arsenal haven’t progressed from last season’s second-place finish.
That isn’t really the case though, with Arsenal finishing five points better off than last term.
Arsenal also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, so this season has been another step forward for Mikel Arteta and co.
Arteta has though ended the season without a trophy an he will be desperate to add more silverware to his record next season.
Pundit Rio Ferdinand has now given his thoughts on Arsenal and the feeling around the club.
Speaking on TNT Sports and as quoted by BBC Sport, Ferdinand suggested that Arteta has brought real belief back to Arsenal.
Ferdinand accepts that Arsenal may not have achieved what they really wanted this season but thinks that fans are fully behind Arteta’s project.
Ferdinand even believes that Arsenal fans now have a ‘spring in their step’ having spotted supporters looking buoyant around the Emirates Stadium before kick off against Everton.
“Arsenal were a club lacking in belief for a long period of time and Arteta has brought a lot of that back. He’s got the fanbase completely believing – yes they’ve not hit some of the targets they came into the season with, but he’s created a football team the fans want to stand by,” said Ferdinand.
“You can tell there’s a belief in this stadium now. You walk around the stadium and the fans have a spring in their step. Arsenal fans will be very pleased with where they are, yes disappointed today, but overall they’ll be happy with the way they’re going,” he added.
The Gunners are certainly moving forward under Arteta and can be proud of pushing City all the way to the final day of the season.
Arsenal seem to have everything in place to really kick on again next term, starting with an outstanding defensive partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard bring top-level quality in midfield whilst Bukayo Saka continues to shine on the right flank.
Maybe Arsenal can add new faces elsewhere and go one better next season, with Arteta and co going absolutely nowhere and looking best-placed to battle City for top spot next season.
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