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Player Ratings: Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa

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The Gunners took on Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on the final day of the Premier League season and were comfortable in their victory.

Facing an already relegated side, Arsene Wenger’s men passed the ball around for fun and could have had a number of goals in the first half – but went in just 1-0 up thanks to a header from Olivier Giroud. Although the ball was run out of play by Mesut Ozil in the lead up to the goal, it eventually found Nacho Monreal on the left, who found the Frenchman and he headed home unmarked to make it 1-0.

The second half was rather drab but the home side dominated the ball and the second came late on, with Mesut Ozil getting his 19th assist of the season for Giroud who finished well at the near post. It was three quickly after and it was the Frenchman again, ending the season on a high with a hat-trick to wrap proceedings up.

A fairytale ending for Mikel Arteta, who scored on his final game for the club to make it 4-0 late on.

On to the player ratings.

Petr Cech: 6/10

Essentially a spectator. Cech had next to nothing to do, was tested once by Ayew but his effort from wide was comfortably held.

Hector Bellerin: 8/10

Bellerin handled himself very well on the right and got a fantastic assist for the third, in which his drilled pass into Giroud was finished well.

Gabriel: 4/10

Had a poor first half, was targeted by Jordan Ayew, who gave him a really tough time of it. Gabriel is just not that great a defender, he has his moments but it’s difficult to imagine him starting alongside Koscielny next season.

Had a comfortable second half performance.

Laurent Koscielny: 7/10

Kos was good, again.

He covered time and time again for Gabriel and held the pace of Scott Sinclair off, a good way to go out.

Nacho Monreal: 8/10

Got a fantastic assist for the home side in the first half, his floated cross was headed home brilliantly by Giroud.

Cut out a pass from the right which could have ended up in the back of the net if it got past him – a good performance from Monreal to end the season.

Francis Coquelin: 6/10

Nothing fantastic from the Frenchman but his performance was what you expect from him, solid in front of the defence and distributed it well to Cazorla and Wilshere.

Santi Cazorla: 6.5/10

Back in and dictated play, as he does best.

The little Spaniard looked good on the ball and showed his ability to wriggle out of tight situations unbelievably well.

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So sad that he wasn’t around for longer this season.

Jack Wilshere: 6/10

Wilshere added that bit of pace to Arsenal’s play that they seem to so often miss when he’s not on the pitch. It was great to see the England international start his first game in the league at the Emirates this season and with Roy Hodgson watching on, likely confirmed his place in the side for the European Championship this summer.

Was subbed off after the hour mark.

Mesut Ozil: 7/10

You could tell how much he wanted that assists record based on his performance from the first-half. At every opportunity he looked for the ball, came deep to collect it and could have had an assist or two if not for some reluctance to shoot from Alexis and co.

He didn’t quite get it but did manage to find his 19th of the season, turning the afterburners on and finding Giroud at the near post, who finished well.

Alexis Sanchez: 7.5/10

Had a very, very good first half. Troubled the Villa defence on countless occasions and was Arsenal’s main threat from an attacking perspective.

Had a decent game but could have bagged a couple of goals if he finished a bit better.

Olivier Giroud: 10/10

Scored a good goal with his head to put the Gunners 1-0 up early on but Villa allowed him far too much time and space to smash it into the back of the net.

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Had a great second half, was out of it for long periods of the game but scored two fine efforts to get himself a good hat-trick.

Substitutes:

Mohamed Elneny: 6/10

Came on for Wilsh and had a decent performance, should have scored with a volley inside the area.

Mikel Arteta: 10/10

Why not? The club’s captain scored (don’t take the moment away from him) on his last appearance.

Goodbye, skipper.

Joel Campbell: N/A

Didn’t really contribute too much when he came on.

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