Arsenal finished second for a third consecutive season, this time with Man City three points behind them rather than two points in front.
Liverpool reached new heights and Arsenal were unable to match their consistency in the Premier League as a 10 point gap separated The Gunners from Arne Slot’s champions.
Kieran Tierney scored the opener in the final day fixture at St Mary’s in his last game for the club.
Mikel Arteta revealed the Scotland international predicted he would score prior to proceedings, "He said it yesterday, I’m going to score on my last Arsenal match and he’s done it! So, credit to him, a special thank you to him."
"He’s been part of the 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. 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."
The left-back’s compatriot, Ross Stewart, notched a leveller for the hosts, who managed a record 30 Premier League defeats this season.
Stewart’s headed equaliser was the 22nd goal Arsenal have conceded from set pieces in all competitions, which has been a vulnerability and this was still not fully resolved come the end of this season.
Despite the captaincy being handed to Declan Rice for the first time, substitute Martin Odegaard scored his second goal in the league this season to snatch three points from Southampton in the final minute of regular time.
Also, as a result of serving a touchline ban, Mikel Arteta chose to sit next to co-owner Josh Kroenke to watch the game and afterwards he said, "We’ll have enough time in the next few days to discuss the topics that you are probably suspecting, and we’ll do it in the right environment. Today was just about the game."
Arteta alluded to his plans over the summer with the fine line between recuperating himself to pursue the Premier League title for yet another season, and being fully involved in executing the vital transfers Arsenal are expected to make.
"We have some great people, I fully trust them, I think it’s very clear what we have to do."
"I will be available 24/7 wherever I am, they know that, but as well, I think we need to reset. I think it's been an extremely demanding season because emotionally to handle the team, to handle the club's expectations with everything that happened, it's been tough. So, I think as well to get the best version of ourselves next season there is going to have to be a period where we have to disconnect and recharge those batteries."
The enthusiasm about next season radiated from Mikel Arteta following the final day victory and he also emphasised the pride he has for his side’s efforts this campaign.
"There is nothing else to squeeze, there is not a single drop. I don't think there is more to give. Hopefully they value where we are, where we have brought this football club and of course make sure that that's decided that we all have to make the next step and that is the percentage that we need. Between all of us, we can achieve it and be very positive and enthusiastic about what is coming and be constructive especially."
He added, "the moment I start to think about that, I feel goosebumps and excitement, and this is a really good sign always."
The demands to perform at the highest level again and to extract the best from the current squad remains a challenge, so additions and alterations are bound to be on the mind of the Spaniard.
"We will try to squeeze and think and turn every stone that we possibly can, to make this club even more successful."
Again, he was adamant to heap praise onto the progress of The Gunners, despite Liverpool running away with the trophy for a considerable period, and admittedly their Premier League form dipped and this was unforgiving.
"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."
David Raya became the first Arsenal goalkeeper in the Premier League era to win a second straight Golden Glove, and this is reflective of Arsenal's defensive record once again this term.
A Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2009 was achieved, but 14 draws left a lot to be desired, with only Everton surpassing that figure with 15 draws.
Evidently, the "little percentage" to overcome the fine margins and brutal competition throughout the league is something in the works for Mikel Arteta to pinpoint.
"If you cannot be the best, be the best of the rest. I've said it many, many times and it is difficult to do it three consecutive years when you look at the amount of points that we have in the last three years."
"The consistency, the league performance is what happens regardless in the toughest league that this country has ever seen, and this season has been the toughest as well. And we need to value that, and from there we can build whatever we want, but understanding what has taken us that far, because there's not much more to do apart from winning."
