Arteta says ‘a few’ of the players who featured against Southampton will leave Arsenal as he reflects on ’emotional’ final game of season | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will say goodbye to “a few players” that featured in the win over Southampton and admits it was an “emotional” day.

The Gunners won 2-1 against the relegated Saints thanks to goals from Kieran Tierney and Martin Odegaard.

Tierney is among those who will be leaving the club this summer when his contract runs out, and is set to re-join former club Celtic.

Thomas Partey started in midfield but could also depart, having yet to agree a new deal despite Arteta being keen to keep him at the club.

Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, will return to parent club Chelsea having failed to score a Premier League goal while on loan.

Among the others who started the game, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been heavily linked with a move away from the club.

Reflecting on Arsenal’s final game of the season, Arteta said: “I’m very happy to finish winning the match.

“We wanted to leave that dressing room at the end of the season with a positive energy, with a good vibe. We had to say goodbye as well to a few players that won’t be with us next season, and that was quite emotional as well. I think they deserved their appreciation and a good vibe around it.

“We’ve done it and now we’re going to have plenty of time to think, to analyse what happened in the season, to learn from it for sure, to take all the incredible positive things that the team has done regarding the circumstances and think, okay, how can we now go into that little percentage that is missing to get where we want.”

Goalscorer Tierney has struggled with injuries for much of his time at Arsenal but having returned to fitness this season and with injuries to key players, has played his part in the campaign.

And Arteta reveals Tierney told him he would score in his final match for the club.

“He said it yesterday, I’m going to score on my last Arsenal match and he’s done it,” he said.

“So credit to him. A special thank you to him. He’s been part of this journey and he’s won with me.

“It’s true that he went to Sociedad for a few months, but it’s been a joy to work with him. A really special character and we wish him and his family all the very best.

“The doors of this club are open for him. He’s someone very, very liked at the club, in the dressing room and we want to wish him the best.”