Arteta and Lampard already planning summer resets

LONDON : Arsenal thrashed Everton 5-1 and finished fifth in the Premier League on Sunday but coach Mikel Arteta said he took little consolation from Europa League qualification and was still in pain from the missed Champions League opportunity.

Back-to-back defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and, with a desperately flat display, Newcastle United, handed the initiative to Spurs and they took full advantage by hammering Norwich City 5-0 on Sunday to secure that fourth spot.

"We did what we could. We needed a miracle but the season doesn’t lie,” Arteta said. “But I can’t assess the season as I’m still in a lot of pain from Monday (the 2-0 Newcastle defeat).

“I’m extremely disappointed today. We generated expectations and that feeling of guilt and not reaching that level is painful. Our level has not been enough and we know what we have to do to take the club to the next level."

Under Arsene Wenger, Champions League qualification was the starting point - and he achieved it for a remarkable 19 years in a row. Since 2017, however, Arsenal have been on the outside looking in - their absence all the more painful for it being local rivals Spurs who have stepped up to the top level.

After starting the season with three defeats - shipping 10 goals and failing to score in the process - getting into the Europa League could be considered something of a success, but Arteta did not see it that way.

"I don't get much to be honest," he said when asked what satisfaction he took from qualifying for Europe's secondary competition. "We lost something we could have won and I'm still in pain.

"But the fans have given me many reasons (to be positive). The atmosphere they built, they can see what we’re doing and what the players want to do."

Everton coach