Mikel Merino is confident that are on a "massive learning curve" that will ultimately lead to major trophies and says the Gunners' dressing room recognises the season isn't yet over. After the 3-1 two-legged defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, which confirms the club's fifth year without a trophy, Merino believes that the lessons learned from this experience will be invaluable in the long term.

Arsenal have lost all their last four semi-finals without winning any of the eight legs. However, Merino - who only joined last summer from Real Sociedad - maintains that these experiences will only strengthen the squad's resolve. Arsenal now travel to Anfield this Sunday to give newly-crowned champions Liverpool a guard of honour after again missing out on the title in another painful reminder of their trophyless campaign.

Merino said: "It's really disappointing because of the mentality of this club, of this squad is always to try to win big things and at the same time this season is going to be a huge learning curve for us because we have such a young squad, not so much experience in these situations.

"But having played Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, having played against PSG, it's going to be a huge learning point for the future. We will be back stronger, we will be back more ready. It's completely true to say that you have to lose first to win later and those experiences are really, really helpful.

"In the future we will remember these kind of games and remember what is needed to win against top clubs, to win in games you will face in the Champions League and also in the Premier League. So, the things that someone may think of a setback, we have to look at them as something to learn.

"We must be really proud of what we have achieved, but also try to learn from it because we know we have made mistakes and the good thing is we know it, we will learn, we will improve and work harder this summer to force ourselves to improve.

"We have to force ourselves in the future to be stronger, for sure. I think in the future will be ready, for sure."

Merino highlighted PSG - who are enjoying their 13th consecutive season competing in the Champions League knockout stages - as a testament to the power of perseverance while acknowledging Arsenal have been a contender in the Premier League title race for the last three years without success.

This campaign was tipped as the one where the north Londoners would finally clinch significant silverware. However, they've fallen short both domestically and in Europe.

Arsenal's Premier League season ends with a trip to Liverpool, the visit of Newcastle and a final-day trip to already-relegated Southampton. Champions League qualification is still not secure, nor is a second-placed finish which the Gunners have managed in both of the previous two years.

Arteta will face accusations that his side have gone backwards if they finish lower than second, and will be widely mocked given this season was perceived as a two-team title race.

and Merino insists they'll push on until the final whistle at St Mary's. He added: "Nobody has the feeling that this season is over, we know we have big things ahead of us and this game today has to feel like energy for the future to finish with a good atmosphere, in the dressing room, with a good atmosphere with the crowd.

"We need to show to everybody that we are still hungry for more. We have to finish the season ion a high to go to the summer with a feeling that we can come back stronger."