Every word Mikel Arteta said on Arsenal win over Southampton, transfers, Tierney exit and summer

Mikel Arteta faced the media following his Arsenal side's 2-1 win over Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season. The Gunners finished in second place for a third consecutive campaign and will, of course, be in the Champions League again.

Martin Odegaard’s strike from outside the box provided the win and answered questions of his capacity to do so after his season of struggle comes to a close. Kieran Tierney says goodbye too and Arteta had words for the players departing such as their cult hero Scotsman.

Read below the full transcript of questions from the press conference and every word said to and by Mikel Arteta here:

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Thoughts on the game?

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.

A lot of us have been discussing what those percentages might be and how Arsenal take those steps. I don't know if you're aware, but it's been close to 100 years since Arsenal haven't had a league goal scorer in double digits. Do you think that's a key area therefore in one of those percentages?

In order to achieve that, a lot of things have to happen. The team has to provide, that player has to play a certain amount of minutes and games. Believe me, we are on it. We will try to squeeze and think and turn every stone that we possibly can to make this club even more successful. But I think what these boys have done, the team has done, regarding everything that has happened, I repeat myself, I think this deserves a lot of credit.

Lovely goal by Kieran.

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

You sat next to Josh. I wouldn't want to sit next to my boss during a game like that.

You wouldn't?

No! What did you talk about?

No, no, he's not that type of person. He knows the sport so well, much better than me. We'll have enough time in the next few days to discuss the topics that probably you are suspecting and we'll do it in the right environment. Today was just about the game.

Can I just ask, there was no Riccardo today. Was that an injury issue?

Yeah, Ricci and Jurrien, to be fair. We pushed Ricci a lot to make sure that he was fit for the last few games and he was two, three weeks ahead of schedule in his injury. He's been constantly dragged into areas where he was really, really stretched and he wasn't comfortable the last week or two with a lot of things.

Yes, they wanted to carry on but we decided to give him a break. He needs a rest. He needs to now make sure that he has a proper preparation, a clear pre-season and give him the best chance to have a successful season next season.

This is the last time we're going to hear from you, the last time the supporters are going to hear from you for a while. I just wonder what your message would be to the fans, now that window's opening, what would be the best of what they can expect?

Well, first of all, a big thank you. I mean, the way they have supported the team, the club, they will have travelled throughout Europe, in the country and in the manner and the energy that they put in has been incredible. Again, hopefully they feel pride and they feel that this team gives absolutely everything, and I'm telling you that they've done it. I mean, there is nothing else to squeeze, there is not a single drop. I think there's more to give.

Hopefully they value where we are, where we have brought the football club and of course make sure that that's decided that we all have to make the next step and that little percentage that we need between all of us, we can achieve it and be very positive and enthusiastic about what is coming and be constructive, especially.

Is the plan over the next few days to sit down with the likes of Josh and Andrea, just kind of talk things through…

Yeah, with the coaches, analyse everything, what we've done as a team, what we've done individually, put all the plans together that they are almost done, sit down with them, finalise a few things that still have to be planned out, decided timings of that and go for it.

I'm sure you're going to have a break as well. Are you going to be constantly looking at your phone every 10 minutes or are you going to be...

If my wife allows it, yes, but I'm not sure. I think I need some time because I have learned over the last few summers as well how you can get drawn into that.

We have some great people, I fully trust them. I think it's very clear what we have to do, I will be available 24-7, wherever I am, they know that.

But as well, I think we need to reset. I think it's been an extremely demanding season because emotionally, to handle the team, to handle the club's expectations with everything that happened, it's been tough. So I think as well to get the best version of our seventh season is going to have to be a period where we have to disconnect and recharge those batteries.

The club had an amazing victory last night in the Women's Champions League. I just wanted to ask, did you get a chance to see the game? Did the players? What was your reaction?

We were all watching it. We were in two different buses on our journey to Southampton and we were watching it. I think it was incredible. First, the way they played and the way they played against that Barcelona team. I think it was, again, a case of that resilience, that character, because through the season they have had a lot of issues and the way they have managed to turn that around and win the Champions League, it's unbelievable.

All the board, Josh was there yesterday and they, we could not be prouder. We cannot be prouder of that. So a good example to look ahead.

It's an inspiration, right?

100%. That's what we want and they've done it and they've done it in a way that represents the club in an incredible way.

Another season is obviously over. In terms of finishing runners-up in second place, does that position mean anything to you? Obviously, did they not win first? Were you bothered about finishing between second and fifth?

Yes, I did.

What was the importance of it?

Well, you cannot be the best, be the best of the rest. I've said it many, many times and it is different. It is different to do it three consecutive years. When you look at the amount of points that we have in the last three years, the consistency, the performance, the league performance is there, regardless of what happens in the toughest league that this country has ever seen. And this season has been the toughest as well. And we need to value that. And from there, we can build whatever we want, but understanding what has taken us that far, because there is not much more to do apart from winning now.

In terms of next season, when does your mindset actually look on to next season? Next week, a couple of weeks, next month? When does your mindset go to next campaign?

Now. Immediately.

Today?

Yes, 100%, because tomorrow we already have some things that we are discussing and making decisions. Everything that is planned for pre-season and the first few weeks of the season is already done two, three months ago. So we are now really good. And the moment I start to think about that, I feel goosebumps and excitement. And this is a really good sign always.

We know your plans are well-organised. Will you have a chance to have a break before the transfer window opens?

Well, it will be in different ways, but certainly. From tomorrow, my day will look already different. There are a lot of things to do, but it won't be, especially with that feeling in my tummy that a game is coming up. It will be a different one and that changes everything.