Aston Villa bowed out of the Premier League with yet another woeful display, hammered 4-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Olivier Giroud's early goal left the game at 1-0 for a long period, before the Frenchman added his second and third in the final period. An unfortunate Mark Bunn own goal finished the rout off in stoppage time.

Five at the back again for Villa, who go behind early again

Caretaker manager Eric Black continued to go with the five man defensive formation that the Villans have utilised in the past few weeks, academy graduate Jordan Lyden finding himself in the starting 11 once again.

Arsenal, looking to capitalise on any Tottenham Hotspur slip up in order to finish second, picked a strong team featuring the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

It took less than five minutes for that strong Gunners side to open the scoring, Olivier Giroud granting them an early lead. Nacho Monreal was afforded far too much time and space when getting down the left wing, clipping a cross to the edge of the six yard box, the Frenchman only too happy to head past Mark Bunn.

Giroud heads in the opener (photo: BPI)
Giroud heads in the opener (photo: BPI)

Villa have gone behind early on numerous occasions throughout the season, and didn't actually respond too badly to falling behind at the Emirates. A nice spell of possession followed, with Ashley Westwood testing Petr Cech from range.

Chances wasted by Gunners

However, Arsenal were always going to threaten again, and almost doubled their lead through Sanchez. Taking the ball from the air with a delightful touch, he cut inside before sending a shot just wide of the right hand post.

Jack Wilshere, making just his second league start in a year, had an even better chance to make it 2-0 just after. Arsenal took advantage of Villa giving the ball away to pile men forward on the counter-attack, Wilshere arriving at the back-post, only to slice his effort into the side-netting.

The fight did seem to go out of the managerless Villans in the second half, Arsenal allowed to keep the ball easily and dictate the game at their own pace. Hector Bellerin went for what would have been a rare goal for him, striking over the bar from the edge of the area.

Mohamed Elneny had a chance similar to that of the man he replaced, Wilshere, with around 20 minutes left on the clock, that was wasted equally as badly. Ozil and Sanchez combined well with a one-two in the box, the latter chipping a cross in the direction of Elneny, who volleyed over.

Wilshere should have doubled the lead (photo: PA)
Wilshere should have doubled the lead (photo: PA)

Giroud turns on the style

Arsenal did eventually get their second goal, which secured second place as Spurs went down away to Newcastle United. Ozil was provider, Giroud getting to the near post first to poke home from close range.

If two wasn't enough for the Frenchman, he didn't have to worry as a third goal for him, and his team, came along just two minutes later. Bellerin surged down the right wing, eventually cutting inside before threading a precise through ball to the striker who again finished with composure.

A fourth goal came in stoppage time, rounding Villa's hugely disappointing season off with another goal conceded. Substitute Mikel Arteta saw a shot come back off the bar, hit Mark Bunn and drop into the net for an own goal.

They've been down for a long time, and now Villa are out. 

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