Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has bemoaned recent defensive failings by his team as he sought to come to terms with the disappointment of a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, which sealed Manchester City’s title victory.

The Spanish admitted that the Gunners were not a match for Manchester City and that they won’t be able to change that in three months’ time.

“I know we are not at that level but we have to find a way,” he said. “We have to push, make the right decisions, think smarter.” He said there was “no question” this had been a season of progress, but insisted, “I want to win, I am here to win.”

Speaking on Arsenal’s defense woes, Arteta said: “We conceded a lot of goals in those games, 16 goals,” Arteta said. “16 goals – it’s a lot.” Against a rival like City, that is too many. “You have to be exceptional in everything,” he went on.

“They [Forest] are not a team that gives you any margins and we have extended those margins too far. Today we gave them a goal and chances for another goal. We can’t put the guilt on someone. We should have been better as a team and in the last few weeks we have fallen short.”

In his part, Arsenal goal stopper, Aaron Ramsdale said the team is proud of coming second on the log, despite having failed to win the title. “It’s hard,” said the Arsenal goalkeeper.

“All that hard work over months has come to an end today. We just couldn’t find a way through today, credit to Forest. We struggled to break them down. We had a few games where we dropped points through individual mistakes, those three or four games is where it’s gone wrong. Deep down we know what we have achieved. When the dust settles we will be proud but this is a learning curve for us. It is a season to be proud of.”

Arsenal will finish their Premier League season with a home game against Wolves on Sunday, May 28.