By Lloyd Webb

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal’s second-placed finish in the Premier League “has set the target for what we want to achieve” next season.

Olivier Giroud’s hat-trick and Mark Bunn’s late own goal gave the Gunners a 4-0 win against Aston Villa on Sunday, securing the runners-up position after Tottenham Hotspur lost 5-1 at Newcastle United.

"There were a few home points which we should not have dropped and as well I think we are short of a few goals in the number we scored" Arsene Wenger

While Wenger says finishing second “was not what we wanted”, he hopes his team will build on the positives from this campaign next season.

“It was good to have our fans happy and everybody happy from a fantastic game,” he told Arsenal Player. “It was a good finish to the season. We finished second in the league and it was not what we wanted.

“We know what our step is now, last year we finished third and this year second, so hopefully we can go one better next season. I have to pay tribute to the spirit of the team, they didn’t give up and they were fighting to the end of the season.

“It is significant because we are in a period where we have not had the resources in recent years to compete with the big teams. Since we have had that, we have finished third last year and second this season.

“I think it is not a disastrous season, but it sets the target for what we want to achieve and we have to add something to get first place. There were a few home points which we should not have dropped and as well I think we are short of a few goals in the number we scored."