Ahead of our last Barclays Women's Super League match of the season at home to Everton, the head coach wants to finish on a high, give our departing players the send-off they deserve and build momentum to carry into next season.

Good evening and welcome to Emirates Stadium for the last time this season as we welcome Everton for our 11th and final home game in the Barclays WSL.

We can’t wait for the chance to play football once more at our beautiful stadium and to thank you for your unbelievable support all season long. The stakes are very clear for our final two games: secure our spot in next year’s UEFA Champions League. We’re expecting a battle from both Merseyside teams and our squad will be ready to face them. Until the final whistle on the last day, we have to remain in the here and now. Our collective focus is on finishing the season in the best possible way.

There is naturally disappointment with how our season ended. We all said at the start of the year that we wanted to compete on all fronts, defend our European title and win the league for the first time in a long time. The tough reality of this league is that we’ve lost one game all year and that was enough to keep that trophy at bay. It’s the draws, decided by such fine margins, that we want to transform into victories. I think that’s where our success lies in the future.

When the dust has settled and we’re able to reflect on the campaign as a whole, there will be plenty of time to analyse and implement changes. I think everyone could see how devastated the team were two weeks ago in Lyon. I felt that same sorrow, but I was so proud of how we responded. We were humble in defeat and made sure we took the days that followed to try and reset as best as we could. Emotions were still raw – we are only human! – but the way the team came back together to reflect and move on was all I could have asked for.

How a team responds to setbacks is one of the most important aspects of high performance. That’s certainly not easy when you’re playing matches at a rate of three a week, but the team and the staff have managed it. I am so incredibly proud of how we’ve grown as a group. The way the girls show up every single day and how they take ownership for our progress as a club is something I’ve loved watching. We can change players and positions and opposition, and still, our football stays the same. The Arsenal Way.

I’ve learned a lot about myself, too. Wherever I can, I try to remain grounded and present. That’s not always easy because I love this club and I’m so passionate about helping the club to be successful. When we suffer setbacks, when we pull off victories against all odds, I have to find ways to stay level and zoom out. That is a constant challenge as a coach. The whirlwind of last season taught me so much, but I feel like you learn even more during the hard times.

Tonight will also be a bittersweet one. The time has come to say goodbye to a number of players who are departing in the summer. No matter how long they’ve served our club for, they have performed admirably on and off the pitch. I have loved working with every single one of them and wish them all the very best for their future. I am certain we’ll provide the send-off they deserve this evening.

This season may not have ended with the same euphoria as last year’s Champions League win, but it has still brought some unforgettable moments. We made history by becoming the first ever team to win the FIFA Champions Cup. We reached yet another Champions League semi-final. And we’ve celebrated some wonderful victories, home and away, with the best fans on the planet. We know what the team is capable of on our best days, so how can we turn every day into our best day? I am so excited to reach that next level together. COYG!

Read more about the game, as well as a host of other fantastic content, by buying the Arsenal v Everton programme either around the stadium or online.