Arsenal ended their Premier League season with a 4-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.
The Gunners took the lead after just four minutes through Theo Walcott, who went on to bag a first-half hat-trick alongside a Jack Wilshere strike to give the hosts a four-goal lead at the break.
The Baggies pulled one goal back through Gareth McAuley in the second half, but it was nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.
Here, Sports Mole looks at whether Arsenal deserved to run out such convincing winners in North London.
Match statistics
ARSENAL
Shots: 24
On target: 13
Possession: 64%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 6
WEST BROM
Shots: 14
On target: 5
Possession: 36%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 7
Was the result fair?
Absolutely. Indeed, it could have been a lot worse for West Brom, whose first-half performance would have left Tony Pulis fearing double figures today. Arsenal were completely dominant in the opening 45 minutes and were fully deserving of a 4-0 advantage at the interval. Boaz Myhill was to thank for not making that even more embarrassing for the Baggies too as the Gunners ran riot against a lacklustre and uncharacteristically disinterested West Brom side.
The second half was a more even affair, with Pulis's words no doubt still ringing in the ears of his players, but that was as much to do with Arsenal taking their foot off the pedal as it was West Brom improving. The Gunners did the business in the opening 45 and, while there looked to be plenty more goals in this one for them, they seemed content to settle with just the four today. Having said that, they did hit the woodwork twice in quick succession in the second half, so they still could have added to their tally.
The Baggies deserve credit for recovering from what was a disastrous first half that saw Arsenal cut through them almost at will, but they were never truly in the match after Walcott smashed home the opener in the fourth minute. The game was over as a contest inside 20 minutes, and from that point on the hosts cruised to a deserved three points.
Arsenal's performance
When Arsenal play like this, it is hard to figure out why they have not launched a title challenge for so long. The Gunners were irresistible at times this afternoon, playing fluid, free-flowing football that was both easy on the eye and effective. They cut through West Brom time after time in the first half, playing a number of quick, incisive passes in and around the visiting area and looking threatening every time they came forward.
West Brom did a better job of limiting their space and time on the ball in the second half, which is why they competed more in the match after the interval, but by that point Arsene Wenger's side had already wrapped up the points. The standard of the home side's goals was high too, with Walcott's first and Wilshere's thunderbolt being particularly special. The lack of a clean sheet is one of the only negatives from this performance, particularly as West Brom's goal was avoidable.
There are far more positives to focus on, however, as the Gunners put in one of their best performances of the season this afternoon. A number of players - namely Walcott - have given Wenger a difficult decision when it comes to next weekend's FA Cup final now, with the winger surely undroppable having netted a hat-trick. Olivier Giroud was left on the bench this afternoon and may well find himself watching on from the sidelines again at Wembley six days from now.
West Brom's performance
With Premier League safety secured, there was nothing riding on this match for West Brom, but even so it was a shocking first-half display from the Baggies. Pulis's sides pride themselves on getting about the opposition, but they simply were not at the races in the opening 45 minutes today. They stood off Arsenal, giving the hosts far too much time and respect to play their slick passing game. That is always dangerous, and sure enough they were punished.
It could have been even worse at half time, and you can be sure that Pulis had some choice words for his side following such a dismal 45 minutes. They would have gone into the interval fearing a true hammering, and at that stage it looked like Arsenal reaching double figures was a very realistic possibility. Pulis got a response from his side in the second half, however, as West Brom began to close down the space quicker and prevent the Gunners from playing how they wanted to play.
That they won the second half will be a positive for Pulis to take from this match, but overall it was a thoroughly disappointing way to end what has been a good season. West Brom are fortunate that the gap was only three goals in the end as Arsenal hit the woodwork twice and had a number of other good openings. It was very much an end-of-season display from the Baggies today, which you would not normally expect to see from one of Pulis's sides.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Theo Walcott: What a way to mark just a fourth league start of the season and a rare one as a central striker. Wilshere deserves a mention in this category, but Walcott's hat-trick ultimately proved to be the difference today. They were all different types of goals, with the first being a superb strike before two poacher's efforts to clinch the match ball inside 40 minutes. His pace caused West Brom problems throughout his time on the field, and he may have worked himself into the starting XI for the FA Cup final now.
Biggest gaffe
David Ospina did not have much to do today, but he made two major errors when he was called upon. First, he came for a cross into the box and got nowhere near it as McAuley rose highest to plant his header into the unguarded net. Then, late on, he struggled with a powerful long-range effort and was fortunate to see the ball deflect onto the crossbar having gone through the keeper's hands.
Referee performance
Robert Madley had an easy afternoon today, with no major decisions to be made in either box and just the one yellow card handed out.
What next?
Arsenal: The Gunners will look to retain the FA Cup and become record 12-time winners when they face Aston Villa in the final at Wembley next Saturday.
West Brom: For the Baggies, meanwhile, a first summer under Pulis awaits as they look to push for the top half next season.
Barney Corkhill
