Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly has told fans that Champions League defeat has added fuel to the fire of a team at the start of a new era.
The Gunners are enjoying their Premier League trophy parade on Sunday afternoon as they travel on an open-top bus through north London.
They are great scenes of celebrations in front of thousands of people, although they are tinged with disappointment after a painful defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday night.
Arsenal nearly pulled off an incredible double by also winning the Champions League but lost out on penalties to the defending champions.
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The misses from the spot from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes will still be fresh in memories as they gathered to celebrate their first Premier League success in 22 years.
Lewis-Skelly, who was excellent in midfield on Saturday, did not hide that it was disappointing to come so close in Budapest, but felt the squad still had a huge amount to be proud of.
‘First of all so proud of the boys, and proud of the organisation to help us get here,’ the England international told Sky Sports. ‘It hasn’t been an easy season but we’ve come to the end of the season and we’re champions of England.
‘It’s disappointing because when you’re so close to a dream and a goal and you fall slightly short, but as Mikel said it’s added fuel to the fire so we’ll use that for us.’
The message to Arsenal fans from the 19-year-old is that there is plenty more to come from a team that has not yet peaked and they should expect plenty more to celebrate in the years to come.
‘For me it’s bright,’ he said of Arsenal’s future. ‘It’s the start of a new era and we’re ready to go out and achieve our dreams.
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‘He [Arteta] has been so supportive of me over my whole journey so I’m just so grateful for him. Hopefully I can repay the trust, I’m so grateful.’
In a final message to supporters, Lewis-Skelly said: ‘Thank you and we’re not done.’
Arteta was quick to turn attention to the future after the loss in Hungary, saying the club needs to make some big decisions to go up another level.
‘It is very tough to accept when you are so consistent all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalties,’ he said.
‘First of all I will take a few days with my family and they will start the process to review what we’ve done,” he said.
‘We’ll start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level.
‘And we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand us to be very ambitious, very fast and very smart.’
The outpouring of emotion from the Arsenal fans did seem to help put the Champions League loss behind the players in short order.
Captain Martin Odegaard told Sky Sports: ‘It feels amazing, it’s been a while. We’ve been working hard for this, to enjoy it with our people, it feels amazing.’
Lewis-Skelly added: ‘It means everything just to share this moment with our people it’s incredible because it’s a chance to pay them back for all the sacrifices. They’ve helped us through and just sharing this moment together will be special.
‘I’m going to see my family here as well, it’s going to be emotional, I’m so excited.’