Olivier Giroud scored his first Premier League hat-trick as Arsenal ended their season on a huge high this afternoon, thrashing lowly Aston Villa to finish second and above North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs started the day two points clear and on course to finish above the Gunners for the first time in 21 years but spectacularly lost 5-1 at relegated Newcastle United to slump down to third.
It took Arsenal less than five minutes to break the deadlock against the league's bottom side and it was a familiar name on the scoresheet against the Villans.
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Olivier Giroud, after ending his 15-match Premier League scoring drought last weekend, made it two in two and six straight games with a goal against Villa by heading home a cross from Nacho Monreal.
The goal would not have come about had the linesman spotted that Mesut Ozil ran the ball out of play in the build-up about 25 seconds before Giroud nodded in.
Jordan Ayew spurned a chance as Villa looked to respond, but Arsenal then took full control of the contest.
Gunners supporters were soon celebrating wildly in the stands, but not because of a home goal as news filtered through that Spurs had fallen 1-0 down at St James' Park.
Arsene Wenger's side should have doubled their lead in the 33rd minute but Jack Wilshere, making his first start since last year's FA Cup final against Villa, shot wide from an Alexis Sanchez cross moments after the Chilean had curled wide himself.
Spurs fell further behind before half time but that did not really inject any life into Arsenal's performance as the Gunners struggled to create much after half time.
Ayew saw a shot from a narrow angle saved by Petr Cech before the hosts eventually broke Villa's resistance with two goals in as many minutes.
Giroud scored them both, first firing home from an Ozil cross – the German's 19th assist of the season – and then sliding in to meet Hector Bellerin's through-ball and complete his first-ever Premier League treble.
Alexis Sanchez was denied by Mark Bunn as he looked to make it four, but Arsenal fans didn't mind one bit as Spurs soon conceded their fifth.
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A fourth would arrive in added time and although on first glance it looked like Mikel Arteta had signed off his Arsenal career with a goal, the ball actually went in off Villa keeper Bunn after the Spaniard's strike had hit the crossbar.
By sneaking into second place, Arsenal have recorded their highest league finish for 11 years, while relegated Villa, who go down for the first time in 29 years, end the season with just three wins to their name on 17 points.
Pascal Lemesre
