Arsenal have officially finished in fifth – their lowest league position in two decades.
A top four place was completely out of Arsenal’s hands. Even if they beat Everton, which they did, they needed results elsewhere to go their way if they were going to have a chance of getting Champions League football next season.
They didn’t.
Manchester City hammered Watford and referee Martin Atkinson bottled giving Middlesbrough a penalty and red-carding Dejan Lovren, which led to a Liverpool win at Anfield.
In their match, Arsenal started off brightly. Danny Welbeck should have put the Gunners 1-0 up in the second minute with a tap-in after Hector Bellerin slid a tantilising cross into the box but the striker put the ball wide.
Bright start for Arsenal, but Welbeck didn't handle it well
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 21, 2017
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Manchester City went 1-0 up against a struggling Watford.
Arsenal continued to dominate and five minutes later, Bellerin scored after Welbz missed another sitter.
Bellerin scores but it follows the miss of the season by Welbeck… which also denies Ozil an assist.
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) May 21, 2017
In the 14th minute, Laurent Koscielny was sent off for a heavy tackle on Valencia, which came out of nowhere.
Koscielny straight red pic.twitter.com/PuGyruQtgL
— Terje (@ArsenalTerje) May 21, 2017
Its a terrible tackle on Valencia. That's Koscielny out of the FA Cup Final.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) May 21, 2017
Kos being applauded off the pitch, shouldn't be, Completely stupid
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) May 21, 2017
Arsenal… always making it hard…
— Lux (@Callux) May 21, 2017
Every top CB gets sent off stupidly. But not now, mate. Not now.
— Billy Dunmore (@Dunmoreorless) May 21, 2017
Laurent Koscielny has been sent off more times (3) in the Premier League since 2011/12 than any other Arsenal player.
Reckless challenge. pic.twitter.com/DugBKDxka6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 21, 2017
Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal doubled their lead in the 27th minute via none other than Alexis Sanchez.
WOOOO THIS GAME IS STOOPID
— Leutrim Rexhaj (@LeutrimRexhaj) May 21, 2017
Down to 10! Up by 2! Fight on #Arsenal #PremierLeague
— Sophie Nicolaou (@soccerdiva) May 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/DailyCannon/status/866299706435145730
Reckon Everton should do a lap of honour after this so we can thank them for taking not being arsed to a new level.
— Jamie Dalton (@JamieDalton82) May 21, 2017
Although the Gunners were – thankfully – two goals to the good, their lack of extra man began to show as Everton grew into the game towards the end of the first half.
Take a minute and look at Arsenal defending. Champions League LOL
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) May 21, 2017
Elsewhere, Liverpool went ahead against Middlesbrough.
HALF TIME: 10-man Arsenal 2-0 up against Everton. They are currently in fifth, as it stands.
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 21, 2017
Arsenal started the second half strongly, going close through Welbz once again.
However, Liverpool doubled their lead against Boro, meaning that no matter how many goals the Gunners scored, they would finish in fifth.
Arsenal and the Champions League pic.twitter.com/FAfchLiNjl
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 21, 2017
To make matters worse, Gabriel, who’d played well, then had to get stretchered off.
Per Mertesacker was brought on for his first appearance of the season.
Hello darkness my old friend
— Charteta (@Charley2385) May 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/7amkickoff/status/866310266543161349
That's Mertesacker's first appearance of the season, I believe. #afc
— Shaurya Vineet (@ShauryaVineet) May 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/fkhanage/status/866310765367709696
When Arsenal finish outside the top 4 for the first time in over 20 years. pic.twitter.com/ZWJ2iATAdQ
— The Terry May (@TerryJamesMay) May 21, 2017
To make matters worse, Everton then got a penalty, which Romelu Lukaku scored. Of course.
At the same time, Liverpool went 3-0 ahead.
Sub the best players now plz stop going for this it's done goodbye forever
— Emperor Bumblewank (@CapableOfFlight) May 21, 2017
Čech went the right way and almost got there with the pen. We're still fighting for this title.
— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) May 21, 2017
Stan Kroenke get out of our club – chant inside the Emirates
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 21, 2017
#KroenkeOut pic.twitter.com/at6iKiloaq
— Jon (@Jonnyarsenal) May 21, 2017
Wenger bringing on Coquelin and abandoning this match
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) May 21, 2017
All Arsenal fouls are yellows today apparently. Fucking shambles.
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) May 21, 2017
One more yellow not given for Everton but who's counting
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 21, 2017
I mean, I know we are all biased by the COMMENTATORS can't understand why the Everton players aren't getting second yellows
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 21, 2017
How many more times is Oliver gonna allow fouls on our players and not pull out a 2nd yellow????
— Jülës Whëëlër (@TheRealGunner) May 21, 2017
All the dodgy decisions today were random errors. Right?
— Öle Gunner (@OleGunner) May 21, 2017
Of course. It can always get worse.
Today literally couldn't have gone worse for us. Koscielny banned. Gabriel and now Alexis injured.
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) May 21, 2017
Sanchez taken off, presumably as a precaution for the cup final. Didn't look delighted about it. Heads straight down the tunnel.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) May 21, 2017
Take the ban, Arsene, call Oliver and Atkinson cnuts in your presser
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) May 21, 2017
Lovren should be off & Boro should have had a pen. At the other end, ref gives that for Liverpool. Atkinson remains the worst ref in the PL.
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) May 21, 2017
Even a lovely goal from Aaron Ramsey in the dying minutes of the match wasn’t enough.
Arsenal finish fifth.
https://twitter.com/EuropaLeaguue/status/866313560925904898