Martin Odegaard hit a late winner as Arsenal ended their season with a 2-1 win at bottom club Southampton, who finished the season with just 12 points.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners only needed a point to mathematically secure second place in the Premier League and took all three at the end, in the process setting a new record for most consecutive final-day matches won.
The visitors were frustrated for most of their final league game, and their last before the transfer window. Mikel Merino struck the bar, while Gabriel Martinelli saw a one-on-one saved by former Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Instead, their opener came from an unlikely source in Kieran Tierney. Playing his last game before rejoining Celtic on a free transfer, the defender finished at the near post from Ben White’s cross and celebrated wildly.
“He said it yesterday, I’m going to score on my last Arsenal match and he’s done it,” said Mikel Arteta. “So credit to him.
Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney (centre) celebrates scoring their first goal of the game
“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.”
But Arsenal were pegged back after the break by a Southampton side who welcomed Will Still as their new head coach before kick-off.
After Saints debutant Jay Robinson tested David Raya with a near-post drive, the home side levelled from the resulting corner as Ross Stewart headed home from close range for his first goal since January 2023.
Ross Stewart of Southampton celebrates scoring
Despite that, Raya still shared the Golden Glove, as Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels also failed to keep a clean sheet, with the pair tied on 13 shutouts for the season.
Arsenal pushed for a winner, as Martinelli saw an effort cleared off the line by Yuki Sugawara, while substitute Bukayo Saka had a goal disallowed for offside after Declan Rice saw an effort well saved by Ramsdale.
But then Odegaard exchanged passes with fellow substitute Leandro Trossard to rifle a shot into the bottom corner. The result means Arsenal have set a new top-flight record of 14 straight final-day matches won – breaking Liverpool’s streak set in 1924.
Not quite a trophy, but a positive note to end on.
Analysis: Arsenal’s goal-shy stats sum up season
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz at St Mary’s:
One hundred and one years – the last time a team won 14 final day matches in a row.
But 1924 was also the year when Arsenal last failed to have a player reach double digits in league goals for the season – until this one.
Kai Havertz ended the Premier League season as Arsenal’s top scorer with nine, despite missing three months of the season due to a long-term hamstring injury. Third-placed Man City had a 20-goal striker, so did Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Brentford had two players with twice as many goals as Arsenal’s top scorer, while the Gunners also ended up with 22 fewer goals than last season’s tally of 91.
All roads lead to that 25-goal player needing to come in and sort Arsenal’s problems. But could there be other ways of fixing their goal woes?
Odegaard could have a higher role next season if Martin Zubimendi arrives and plays the holding midfield position on his own – so the Arsenal captain does not have to go so deep in build-up.
There could be a freshness in the wide areas so Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli – six and eight league goals this season – could get some support.
Arsenal’s defence is good – they have become just the third Premier League side to concede a maximum of two goals in every game all season. But going forwards, there is work to do.
Arteta: Believe me, we’re on it!
It’s a big summer for Mikel Arteta and Josh Kroenke – who watched Arsenal’s win over Southampton together
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“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.
“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.”
Rusk on Still appointment and fan reaction
Will Still watched on from the stands – with Rishi Sunak behind him!
Southampton interim head coach Simon Rusk:
“The supporters have been great, it’s not been easy. But it’s a credit to us as a whole club that we stick together. The seven games, they were going to be difficult games.
“I don’t think you go from two games all season to then winning three, four or give. We knew there would be choppy waters, but overall the fans can see we have done our best in unique circumstances contextually.
“We were desperate to give them something on the summer break to go with. But they’re a top side, we have seen the changes this team can make.”
On the appointment of Will Still and his own future:
“First of all congrats to Will on the appointment. I’m sure he’s had to work very hard to get a job at a prestigious club like Southampton. I’ve not had a chance to speak to him yet.
“Everyone views football differently, I would like to think that he saw a team that despite difficult circumstances he saw a team that was committed, they had dignity and pride on finishing the season.
“If I’m honest, I’m uncertain on the next steps are. My focus has been on supporting the players during fairly unique circumstances.
“With seven weeks to go, relegated in the Premier League, a points record to avoid, an experienced manager would find that challenging.
“I’m really open on what’s next. I’ve been a first team coach, assistant, head coach in my own right. I’m fairly young I’m open minded on that are the next steps for me.”
Story of the match in stats…
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season
From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
