Atmosphere ‘horrendous’

– Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (above) said an “absolutely horrendous” atmosphere had been partly responsible for his club’s failure to secure a Champions League place for the first time in 20 years.

Speaking after a 3-1 victory over Everton on the final day of the Premier League season, Wenger accepted that uncertainty over his future as manager, which has divided fans, had polluted the air at the Emirates Stadium.

He said there were other explanatory factors behind the club’s difficulties, but refused to go into greater detail.

Pressed as to when exactly he felt the uncertainty about his future had affected his players, he said: “It’s a good question. I cannot give you the answer today. I will give you an answer one day. But not today.”

The 67-year-old would only say say his future would be sorted out “soon”.

With Arsenal having finished fifth in the league, attention now turns to Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, when victory would give Wenger a record seventh success in the competition.

But he will be missing Laurent Koscielny after the French centreback was sent off for a rash challenge on Enner Valencia and also expects to be without Gabriel, who was stretchered off with a knee injury.

Everton playmaker Ross Barkley, who is stalling over a new contract, came off the bench to replace Tom Davies as part of a 26th-minute reshuffle by visiting manager Ronald Koeman.

Koeman said his decision to leave Barkley out had nothing to do with his contract situation, but said he expected to be able to make an announcement about the midfielder’s future imminently.

“I will speak to the board tomorrow and we will make a statement about that,” said the Dutchman, whose side finished seventh and will play in the Europa League next season.

On his ambitions for the close-season transfer window, Koeman said: “First of all we need more numbers in to be prepared for a long, tough season with different competitions.

“And I think we need more aggression in the team. The big point is to get in players who will have more productivity.” –