TheCable

Arsenal defeated Burnley 5-0 to give outgoing manager, Arsene Wenger, a befitting send forth party at their Emirates stadium home, while  Chelsea kept hopes of a top four finish alive with a 1-0 win over third placed Liverpool.

In Arsene Wenger’s penultimate game and final home game as Arsenal manager, January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the party started fourteen minutes into the match, Alexandre Lacazette’s cross-cum-shot inside the box was slid in at the back post by the Gabonese striker.

Summer signing, Lacazette scored the second in first half stoppage time with a well taken volley from Bellerin’s low cross, a move which was started by Iwobi’s delicate pass into the marauding Spanish full back’s path.

The party started in full swing with the arrival of the third goal from another summer signing, Saed Kolasinac ten minutes into the second half.

Midfielder, Jack Wilshere embarked on a driving run from the centre circle to the edge of Burnley’s box where his pass to the marauding Kolasinac was met by a bullet shot from the 24-year old Bosnian wing back which found the bottom corner.

Alex Iwobi added the fourth ten minutes later, finishing a move he started with a well placed shot into the roof of the net after being left unmarked by a retreating Burnley defence. Four became five another ten minutes later, Aubameyang with his second goal of the day and Bellerin- with another cross- chalking up his second assist.

At Stamford Bridge, Olivier Giroud’s first half header kept deposed champions, Chelsea’s hope of a top-four finish alive.

The Londoners repelled series of attacking pressure from Liverpool, who couldn’t get past under pressure goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, before stunning their visitors. Nigerian international, Victor Moses, took on full back Andy Robertson, twisted him into a knot and left him for dead before floating a delightful cross towards French striker Giroud who’s header found the top corner- his fifth goal in six starts against Liverpool- to give Chelsea a 1-0 halftime lead against the run of play.

An animated Conte led from the bench as Chelsea came out to dominate the second half short on chances against a tired-looking Liverpool who had record goalscorer, Mo’ Salah, caged all day. Moses almost had a second assist when his deep cross found his fellow wing back, Marcos Alonso at the back post and his half volley missed the far post by inches.

Nigerian-born striker, Dominic Solanke headed wide deep into stoppage time, but Chelsea held on for a comfortable win. vital three points means they are two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with an extra game in hand over their London rival.

Earlier in the day, Manchester City drew 0-0 against Huddersfield at the Etihad stadium prior to being presented the Barclay’s English Premier League Trophy as the League Champions for the 2017/18 season.