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.
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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.
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In the 14th minute, Laurent Koscielny was sent off for a heavy tackle on Valencia, which came out of nowhere.
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Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal doubled their lead in the 27th minute via none other than Alexis Sanchez.
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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.
Elsewhere, Liverpool went ahead against Middlesbrough.
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.
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.
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To make matters worse, Everton then got a penalty, which Romelu Lukaku scored. Of course.
At the same time, Liverpool went 3-0 ahead.
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Of course. It can always get worse.
Even a lovely goal from Aaron Ramsey in the dying minutes of the match wasn’t enough.
Arsenal finish fifth.
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