Former Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal believes the next step for the Gunners take take under Mikel Arteta is to win the Champions League.

Arsenal ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League last season, but lost in the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite taking the lead through Kai Havertz, Arsenal lost on penalties after both Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes missed their spot-kicks.

The Gunners remain the team with the most games in European Cup/Champions League history to never lift the trophy (226), having now lost the showpiece match twice (also in 2006 against Barcelona).

However, after their Premier League triumph, Monreal insists Arsenal are on the right path to achieve Champions League glory.

"Right now, Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League," Monreal told Tribal Football.

"Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have changed their manager. So nobody knows how it's going to be for them.

"Arsenal are on a good run. The last season they won the Premier League, but the last three seasons before they finished second.

"They are very, very, very consistent. They won the Premier League. That's what they wanted to win.

"But now, once you get the Premier League, your next step is the Champions League. They played the final, they lost it against PSG, but they are on the right path.

"The next step is to go and do what they haven’t been able to do before, winning the Champions League."

Arsenal will face Girona, Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como in pre-season before taking on Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16.

Their Premier League title defence starts five days later as they host Championship winners Coventry City on the opening day.