• Premier League

Gazidis: Well-positioned Arsenal will improve in summer

Arsenal edged out Tottenham for Champions League qualification once again © PA Photos

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Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has admitted that owner Stan Kroenke has made it clear that he wants the club to end their trophy drought next season.

The Gunners have gone eight years without winning a major trophy, although victory over Newcastle United on the final game of the season on Sunday ensured the North London side at least qualified for the Champions League for a 16th successive season.

And Gazidis has revealed that Kroenke now wants the club to make the next step and finally return to winning silverware in the next campaign.

"It is important to reiterate that for everyone at the club, qualification for the Champions League is not our ultimate ambition," Gazidis told the club's official website.

"Our majority owner Mr Kroenke has made it clear that while it's an achievement to make the Champions League, our ultimate objective is to win the major trophies.

"We all share that clear ambition and will be driving the club forward to achieve it."

Gazidis noted that he and manager Arsene Wenger have already started identifying transfer possibilities for next season - and says the club has shown in recent months that the squad is well-placed to contend in the Premier League and in Europe.

He added: "Arsene and I have already been planning what we need to do to strengthen so we are better placed next season.

"One thing is certain - the club is in a very strong position to move forward and our form of losing just one of our last 16 Premier League matches shows that we have a solid foundation on which to build for success."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.