Arsenal crush Burnley for Arsene Wenger's last home game

Arsenal gave Arsene Wenger a final home game in charge to remember after thumping Burnley 5-0.

The first half went to script for the home side as they dominated possession and cruised into a 2-0 lead. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang scored his seventh goal in his past 11 games with a close range finish. And his strike partner Alexandre Lacazette doubled the lead with a smart volley from Hector Bellerin’s cross in stoppage time.

Sean Dyche’s side failed to have a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes and their afternoon got worse when Ashley Barnes went off with an arm injury.

The second half was like a procession as the Gunners continued to dominate and Sead Kolasinac made it 3-0 with a scorching strike.

Alex Iwobi grabbed the fourth to punish more abject defending from the Clarets before Aubameyang made it 5-0 as Arsenal said merci to Wenger and Per Mertesacker who came on in the closing stages for his final appearance at the Emirates.

Wenger given the perfect send off by the fans and players. For all the toxic atmosphere at the Emirates in recent years, the club staged a fitting tribute to the Frenchman with the Merci Arsene T-shirts, a giant card for fans to sign and chants saluting the manager. And the players duly delivered after Thursday’s elimination to Atletico Madrid, playing some scintillating football to make it a memorable final home game in charge.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang (Arsenal): The striker’s partnership with Alexander Lacazette worked well today and he made it eight league goals for the season with two poachers finishes. He showed his credentials to be Arsenal’s ‘fox in the box’ punishing some woeful Burnley defending.

Arsenal: Cech 6, Bellerin 6, Chambers 5, Mavropanos 5, Kolasinac 7, Xhaka 5, Wilshere 6, Mkhitaryan 7, Iwobi 8, Aubameyang 8, Lacazette 8. Subs: Ramsey n/a, Welbeck n/a, Mertesacker n/a

Burnley: Pope 5, Lowton 4, Long 4, Tarkowski 4, Ward 4, Lennon 5, Cork 5, Hendrick 5, Westwood 5, Gudmondsson 5, Barnes n/a. Subs: Vokes 6, Nkoudou n/a

14’ - GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley. Iwobi find Lacazette whose low cross/shot across goal is turned in by Aubameyang from close range.

21’ - INJURY! Barnes is unable to continue after a collision with Xhaka and has in arm in a makeshift sling out of his shirt. He is replaced by Sam Vokes.

32’ - MKHI MISS! Lacazette pings in a low cross for the Armenian who fires a volley over the bar from 12 yards.

45’+2 - GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Burnley. Bellerin's cross from the right flank finds Lacazette, who opts to take the volley with his left foot at the near post and it flies past Pope to make it 2-0.

54' - GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Burnley. After being under the cosh, the home side increase their lead through Kolasinac's drive from an angle after good work from Wilshere.

64’ - GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Burnley. Arsenal have been having plenty of joy on the left flank. An unchallenged Aubameyang finds Iwobi has all the time in the world to lash the ball past Pope.

75’ - GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 Burnley. Aubameyang makes it 5-0 after sliding in from close range to get on the end of Bellerin's low cross.

88’ - WOODWORK! Welbeck rattles the post with a vicious drive from Mkhitaryan's cushioned pass, what a strike!

Wenger began his Arsenal reign with a 0-0 draw against Coventry City at home.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has now scored more than 20 league goals in each of his last three seasons in the Top 5 European Leagues (25 in 2015/16 and 31 in 2016/17).