Arsenal manager Unai Emery asks the club and the fans for patience after having missed out on his target of reaching Champions League qualification this season. The Gunners finished the Premier League season in fifth place, their third consecutive placement outside the top four, and also missed out on the UEFA Europa League trophy after getting beaten 4-1 by Chelsea in the final last week. Arsenal will take part in the UEFA Europa League again next season and they will continue to hope that a return to the top four in the Premier League would be possible.
"We knew it would be difficult, and we are in our process. I want to say to all the supporters we are in this process,” Emery said in a press conference after the defeat in the Europa League final. "Really the first target has not been achieved this year, but I think we are closer, firstly in the Premier League, and second in this competition, playing the final. Next year is a big challenge for us to take one more step on our way, in our will with the young players. We are disappointed today, but in general, I think we made a new step improving and being competitive. We’ll have to take one more step next year."
Missing out on the Champions League will surely affect Arsenal's prospects on the transfer market this summer as they might be unable to attract high-profile world class players. "I think Arsenal is a big name in the football world, and a lot of players want to play here," Emery said. "We are in one process and we need in this process, to be strong. The transfers, I don’t know for next year, but the club is working to improve and to get all we need to go on our way. Also, we have a lot of players with the possibility to improve. We are playing a lot of young players who were experiencing a final for the first time. I am positive for the future, creating our way with young players, and getting better as we go."
Arsenal have parted company with midfielder Aaron Ramsey at the end of the season as the Welshman joined Juventus on a free transfer, while veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech has decided to retire from football.
The Gunners have not won the Premier League title since 2004 and they are 20/1 at Bet365 to win it next season.
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