Arsene Wenger couldn’t have wished for a better send-off in his final home game as manager, with Arsenal scoring five past Burnley without reply, ensuring they would finish sixth in the Premier League this season.
Goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac and Alex Iwobi put the Clarets to the sword and was their fifth consecutive home win in the league.
Ahead of the meeting, Burnley still had a slim chance of leapfrogging Arsenal in the table, but the 5-0 win now means the Gunners’ final position is fixed.
Sean Dyche’s side are petering out in their remaining games, having gone four without a win, scoring just two goals, and they were second-best at the Emirates.
Wenger’s men wasted little time to break the deadlock, with Aubameyang opening the scoring in the 14th minute. The Gabon international tapped in Lacazette’s driven cross into the six-yard box, after working a clever move with Alex Iwobi.
Arsenal had to wait until the stroke of half-time to grab their second, with Lacazette turning goalscorer with an effort at the near post. After a driving run from Iwobi, he put Hector Bellerin through down the right flank and the Spaniard’s delivery was converted by his teammate.
Ten minutes into the second-half, Kolasinac got in on the act. Jack Wilshere drove with the ball through the middle of the park and released the Bosnian international down the left, who made no mistake with his rifled effort.
Arsenal’s fourth came less than ten minutes later, this time from Iwobi, which was arguably the pick of the bunch.
The Nigerian international started the move, driving from deep before giving it to Aubemayang out wide. The former Borussia Dortmund striker cut inside and found the onrushing Iwobi who lashed his effort into the roof of the net.
Arsenal’s fifth and final goal came 12 minutes later from Aubameyang who volleyed Bellerin’s cross into the back of the net. Burnley managed just two shots on target at the Emirates on Sunday.
After the game, Wenger said: “It was a game that was in the continuity of our home season, because we played 19 games, won 15 at home, had two draws and two losses only and scored more goals than ever.
“The team played with great spirit. Apart from that it was as well a very sad day. This stadium is part of myself. It is a story that ends. I have to cherish every minute I was here.
“Even if they were not always happy, (the fans) still respect me and wanted to show me that at least they think I gave my total commitment to do well.
“That is of course how I see it and how I take it, they know that my commitment was genuine, total and with complete integrity, so I take (the cheering on Sunday) as a big compliment.”
Arsenal are sixth in the table with 60 points from 36 games this season, six clear of seventh-placed Burnley with a game in hand but nine adrift of fifth-placed Chelsea.
The Gunners lost in the League Cup final to Manchester City in February and recently bowed out of the Europa League, at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
Champions City are 34 points ahead of Arsenal in the table, meaning Wenger’s men are actually closer to the drop zone than first place. They have two games remaining – Leicester City (away) on May 9 and Huddersfield Town (away) on May 13 – and will hope for a perfect finish to the campaign.