Arsenal demolished Burnley today to cement their place inside the top six, and also to give Arsene Wenger the perfect departure.
The Gunners have endured an up-and-down campaign this season, and after elimination from the Europa League on Thursday, we needed the last home match to give the Frenchman one last happy memory, and our performance was outstanding.
From the off, our team was on point. Our passing and movement had Burnley in a spin and we had almost total control from start to finish. Our strikers combined in the 14th minute to put our side ahead, with Alexandre Lacazette whipping the ball across the six-yard box for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to poke home.
We continued to dominate throughout, and Konstantinos Mavropanos was getting plenty of attention for his attitude at the back, and the crowd were showing plenty of appreciation. I couldn’t help but laugh when even a back-pass to the goalkeeper was applauded, but he certainly looks like a player for the future.
Back to the game however, and we continued to bully Burnley, adding an extra goal to our lead before half-time thanks to Alexandre Lacazette, with Hector Bellerin setting him up to slot home with a neat half-volley.
Sead Kolasinac added the third with a hard-driven effort from just outside the box, giving us the room to open up and really get comfortable as we continued to put the Clarets to the sword.
Iwobi added to the party with the fourth, before Aubameyang finished the rout from close range, to end Burnley’s hopes of clinching sixth spot, and to give Wenger the ideal final outing for his final home game.
One last celebration of his time next week, but the Emirates will be a strange place the next time that the team sets foot on the pitch for next season’s Premier League campaign.
Could Wenger have asked for any more of his players today? Is Mavropanos as big a talking point today as is Wenger’s departure?
Pat J