Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is defiant in his belief that Mikel Arteta is the right man to take the club forward. The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes ended on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, which saw Manchester City crowned champions for a fifth time in six seasons. They sat on top of the league for 248 days of the season and had an eight-point lead over City in March, but despite their late capitulation Arteta’s side have won acclaim for their progress this season. When asked whether he thought Arteta was the man to lead the pursuit of City, he said: “You can forget this question – he is more than the right manager for this team.” The Gunners have faltered badly in their last eight games, winning just twice, but Xhaka says this season has to be the blueprint for progression. “We don’t need to forget how we work for the last 11 months,” he said. “Even when we lost now in the last two games, of course the people see what happens now, but don’t forget the 11 months we worked. “If someone told us before the season that we will be here, I think everyone would sign it. Our goal for sure was to be back in the top four. Now we are second. Of course when you are so close to the title you want to win the title. “But we are there where we are, deserve to be where we are, and let’s see what happens next season. We have to go and do the next step.” Forest’s victory meant that they stayed up against the odds in their first season back in the Premier League. They did it the hard way, having signed 30 new players across the two transfer windows and were on an 11-game winless run up until the end of April. You can forget this question - he is more than the right manager for this team Granit Xhaka on Mikel Arteta But 10 points from the last five games has seen them move out of the relegation zone and midfielder Ryan Yates was happy to prove people wrong. “That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “I have had a lot of that individually, this season is no different. That was always going to come with the amount of players brought in and the amount of money spent. “During those periods we have had, we have had to show real togetherness and resilience. “All credit to the manager, because he has really instilled that belief in us that we can still achieve. This is really special, let’s kick on again next season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Hole-in-one continues Michael Block’s fairytale week at Oak Hill We’re alive and ready – Sean Dyche vows Everton are ready for final fight Brooks Koepka holds slender lead as US PGA Championship heads for thrilling end

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Boss Unai Emery admits Aston Villa’s final step to return to Europe will be their hardest. Villa host Brighton on Sunday knowing victory would seal a European comeback for the first time since 2010-11. It would book seventh in the Premier League and a Europa Conference League play-off spot but Emery knows it is a tough test. “We have to be very ambitious and I am. I’m here trying to push everybody, to demand from everybody to get better playing and to take European places,” he said. “We have to take each step being strong and being passionate about how to do it. We are in this way. We are progressing very well. “I’m very, very happy with the players and their commitment, their character and they are responding very well. We are also connecting with our supporters. “We are in the first step. If we achieve our objective on Sunday, we will be very, very happy. “It’s the next step because we started by escaping from the bottom (of the table), we got into the top 10 and then we have the objective to be in the European places. “The most difficult step is to get it, but we have our objective. And then if we don’t, it’s not changing our idea or our mind about how we want to improve.” Brighton have already qualified for the Europa League, sealing sixth place with Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City. Boss Roberto De Zerbi has impressed since replacing Graham Potter in September and Emery is an admirer. He said: “Football is changing so quickly. I’m 51 years old, I started coaching at 32, so I’ve had 19 years as a coach and manager. “Always I am very focussed on how I can improve each day to be today, better than yesterday, to be tomorrow, better than today. “It’s not only about my work or my experiences or my analysis, it’s about trying to watch other coaches. One of them is Roberto De Zerbi. “I like coaches who can show us something different tactically, offensively and defensively. In football, you have to be in the fast train because it moves so quickly.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 5 talking points: Three clubs battle for Premier League survival on last day Ryan Mason ‘trusts the people making decisions’ at Tottenham ahead of key summer Thomas Frank inspired by ‘best coach’ Pep Guardiola’s work

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