Fan View: Arsenal show resolve against Premier League rivals

After taking the Premier League title race down to the final day last season, this year the Gunners have left themselves with nothing to play for in their final game against relegated Southampton this weekend, bar clinching second place.

As the domestic season took a back seat to the Champions League semi-final run, the Gunners found themselves slipping closer and closer to the pack, in danger of being caught up in the fight for European positions and needing them to close out the league campaign strong in order to re-qualify.

A 2-2 draw against champions Liverpool at Anfield and a home win over third-placed Newcastle highlighted Arsenal’s resolve, bouncing back from their loss to Paris Saint-Germain to take care of the league situation.

Unsurprisingly, it was Declan Rice who stepped up to give Arsenal the win, sweeping home a shot from outside the box into the far corner to claim the three points.

Despite originally being signed to play a defensive midfield role, Mikel Arteta has converted Rice into an all-action box-to-box midfielder to help press high off the ball.

But it has been Rice’s quality in attack that has really stood out, stepping up with a number of big attacking moments this season.

Rice’s performances have been so good in the more advanced role that Arsenal are looking to bring in Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubamendi to anchor the midfield behind him.

Zubamendi would be an approximation of Jorginho in that role, secure on the ball and able to dictate play from deep, freeing Rice up to continue dominating games as he has done in the final few months.

Arsenal travel to St Mary’s to face bottom-placed Southampton, relegated some time ago, on Sunday at 4pm, looking to secure the runners-up spot for a third successive year to wrap up the 2024-25 Premier League season.

With three points and an eight-goal buffer on third-placed Manchester City, it should be a fairly straightforward final day, hopefully giving a good opportunity to play a few younger players and give send-offs to players due to depart this summer.

Arsenal Women, meanwhile, will look to clinch their first Champions League title since 2007 when they face Barcelona in Lisbon on Saturday (5pm).