Arsenal thrashed a relegated Aston Villa 4-0 at home in a superb display of attacking football, making it look easier than it actually was. Giroud’s hattrick and Mark Bunn’s own goal helped Arsenal finish the season in second place on the table.
Giroud’s hattrick and an own goal courtesy of Mark Bunn helped Arsenal end a largely disappointing season in grand fashion. The comprehensive victory allowed Arsenal to finish second on the table, above rivals Tottenham.
Arsenal: Arsene Wenger
This victory ensured that Arsenal finished above Tottenham for the 21st consecutive season. For a long time over the course of the season, it looked as if they would have to see Spurs finish above them, but that wasn’t the case. According to Express, when asked about how he felt about this, Wenger said that they wanted to win more, even though they finished second. He said, “We don’t start the season thinking we want to finish above Tottenham, we start the season thinking we want to win the league. For a while we believed we could do it.”
Speaking on the relegated opponents Aston Villa, he insisted that a club of Villa’s history and stature ought to bounce back immediately. “It’s a club who will be sold, I’ve heard. It is down to who will buy the club and how quickly, what will be the technical policy of the club and how much investment there will be.” Wenger spoke of how Aston Villa would have to recover mentally and cope with the fact that they were relegated, especially since they weren’t a club who were used to getting relegated. (via Birmingham Mail)
Aston Villa: Eric Black
Aston Villa were without some key players in Clark and Hutton going into this tie. The Villans later on lost Lescott and Lyden midway through the game. The manager thought it was a harsh result on his players and that they deserved better. According to Express & Star, he said, “I thought the players worked extremely hard. Having conceded a goal so early on, you fear the worst as I’m sure most did. But we stuck at it and not only that, I thought in the second half, even two chances in the first half, in the second half there was a period where we got Arsenal slightly on the back foot, which doesn’t always happen.”
There were differing views from the Twitterati regarding Arsenal’s second placed finish.
Just to be clear, Arsenal fans currently celebrating finishing second. That is, celebrating winning, erm, nothing.
— Duncan Wright (@dwright75) May 15, 2016
Spurs had a great season by their standards, improvements all round. Arsenal have been their normal self & fans disgruntled but above spurs!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 15, 2016
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if there’s one team that bottles it more than Arsenal its Tottenham! #ItsHappenedAgain
— Luis Beldon (@LuisBeldon) May 15, 2016
“Shit season for Arsenal” https://t.co/smfcCRVUMJ
— Jonny (@jonathancavaree) May 15, 2016
So much for Spurs big season and arsenal been shit #londonisred
— Dean Leadill (@DLeadill) May 15, 2016
‘If you’re 1st, you’re 1st. If you’re 2nd, you’re nothing.’
Bill Shankly. #afc #perspective— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 15, 2016
Enjoy St Totteringham’s Day, Gooners.
Then remember that Leicester beat us by 10pts. #afc— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 15, 2016
It was to be the final appearance of captain Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal career, and the tributes flowed in.
Retweeted Gooners Report Indo (@Gooners_Report):
Emotional! Standing ovation. Gracias, Capt! @m8arteta… https://t.co/dx7HclTD7c
— #SARAKIMUSTGO (@2HVS7) May 15, 2016
Thank you Arteta. pic.twitter.com/RwTgN9Qgim
— ar (@ArsenalRealm) May 15, 2016
Still buzzing for Arteta with that goal. What a man. What a hero. What a servant for the club.
— Aphïss (@Aphiss) May 15, 2016
Tomas Rosicky and Flamini were set to leave the club as well.
Tomas Rosicky has just been presented with a silver cannon, in recognition of his 10 years as an @Arsenal player https://t.co/ox36MD9xOc
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 15, 2016
https://t.co/HBrPSF9fCg rosicky…such a delight to watch.
— Remy (@Totariito) May 15, 2016
THANK YOU, ICON, FLAMINI, LEGEND! ?????? At least, you didn’t get to finish below Sp*rs. pic.twitter.com/dLW7NguAUY
— Alan (@AlanzalonGunner) May 15, 2016
Best Arteta moment – 11/12 v City
Best Rosicky moment – 11/12 v Spurs
Best Flamini moment – When people thought he’d solved our DM issues
— Billy (@BilbertoSilva) May 15, 2016
Some Arsenal fans, in spite of this victory, still insisted Wenger be sacked.
Most Arsenal fans agree with me, they’re just too sentimental to force Wenger out.
Charity doesn’t win titles. https://t.co/w73mqKOq2x— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 15, 2016
It’s May Wenger, time to judge.#WengerOUT @Arsenal
— North Korea FC (@LeeGunner82) May 15, 2016
#WengerOut fans spent whole season telling me Spurs had the better squad. If that’s true surely now have to concede AW is the better manager
— Arsene’s Eyes (@Arsenes_Eyes) May 15, 2016
I’ve never typed #WengerOut, oops! I just did for the first time
— maxwel odari (@odari_maxwel) May 15, 2016
