Arsenal full-back Kieran Gibbs has expressed his belief that the Gunners will push on from their fourth-placed finish this season during the next campaign.
Arsene Wenger's side finished the season in fine form, going 10 matches undefeated and dropping just four points in that time to pip North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the final Champions League qualifying spot by one point.
Gibbs admits that they hoped to finish higher than fourth at the start of the season, but believes that such a dramatic finale will prove beneficial next year.
"We would have liked to have had a better season, but I think overall you have to be happy with the way the team got back together after December and showed real character, yet again, to come back and finish where we want to be," the London Evening Standard quotes Gibbs as saying.
"We were a new-look side for another season, again, with new signings that have had to come in and step up. It is never easy to just come straight into the Premier League and perform like some of our good players have. In the end, there was a combination of us needing to realise what we wanted from the season and the players starting to get to know each other more. As time went on, we started to gel.
"That was important and it puts us in good stead for next season because I believe the team have gelled because of this. The dramatic finale makes us even stronger and we are going into next season head on."
Gibbs has made 34 appearances for the Gunners this season, scoring one and setting up five goals in all competitions.
Barney Corkhill
