Sawt Falasteen - Arteta says 'no regrets' as Arsenal target second spot in Premier League

The Gunners, who face third-placed Newcastle on Sunday, have been the closest challengers to champions Liverpool all season.

But their league form has tailed off in recent weeks, with just one win in their past six games, either side of a Champions League semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

If Newcastle win at the Emirates they would leapfrog Arsenal into second with a single game remaining, though both clubs are likely to finish in the top five and qualify for next season's Champions League.

Arteta said his injury-hit team, runners-up to Manchester City for the previous two seasons, had been "phenomenal".

"You probably have regrets in your life and anything that you do in professional life as well when you haven't done your best," he said.

"I can guarantee and give you my word that we have all tried our very best. If you ask if we wanted a different outcome, especially with how close we've come again, then the answer is 'yes'.

"But that doesn't undermine a lot of incredible things that this team has done again in the context that we play, against the opposition that we play, with the circumstances that we had. It's impossible to undermine."

Arteta is anticipating a tough test from in-form Newcastle, who have beaten his side three times this season, once in the league and in both legs of the League Cup semi-finals.

The Spaniard said it was important to finish as high as possible in the table.

"You have to always be as good as you possibly can," he said. "The dream of winning the Premier League this season is gone, so as we said, be the best of the rest and feel that pain to be better."

He added: "It's our chance to wrap up the Champions League, to put ourselves in a really strong position for the second place, and in a way to say thank you again to all of our supporters for the amazing season."

Arteta said a decision would be made on Saturday as to whether forward Kai Havertz, sidelined since early February, would be involved against Newcastle.

N.Awad--SF-PST