Mikel Arteta watched Arsenal’s win over Southampton from the stands alongside the club’s co-chair, Josh Kroenke
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he gets “goosebumps” when thinking about next season.
The Gunners rounded off the current campaign with a 2-1 win at Southampton after Martin Odegaard scored a late winner.
Arteta has confirmed planning and preparations for next season are already underway, with Arsenal determined to end their five-year wait for a trophy.
Arsenal are set to bolster their squad this summer and a new striker is their priority going into he transfer window.
And asked when he starts thinking about next season, Arteta said: “Now. Immediately.
“Yes, 100 per cent, because tomorrow we already have certain 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 in a really good [place]. And the moment I start to think about that, I feel goosebumps and excitement. And this is a really good sign always.”
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Arteta was sat in the stands for Arsenal’s victory over Southampton, due to a touchline ban, and he was next to the club’s co-chair, Josh Kroenke.
AFP via Getty Images
The pair will sit down in the next few days, along with the rest of Arsenal’s hierarchy, to finalise plans for the summer.
“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,” said Arteta.
“With the coaches, we 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.”
Sunday was the final game for a number of Arsenal players, including Kieran Tierney - who scored the opening goal of the game.
“He said it yesterday: ‘I’m going to score on my last Arsenal match’ - and he’s done it,” said Arteta.
“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 [Real] 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.”
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