Arsenal finished their final game at the Emirates this season with a victory agaisnt an uncompetitve West Brom team. Arsenal had already been assured of a place at Europe's top table in the Champions League for another season following Everton's defeat against Manchester City yesterday and with West Brom all but safe, there had been a fear this game would fizzle out into a disappointing spectacle.
For Arsenal though, the match started off in good fashion. West Brom looked content to sit back and let Arsenal enjoy the majority of possesion. Lukas Podolski fired wide following good build up from Arsenal before the 13th minute, when Olivier Giroud gave them the lead. Santi Cazola floated in a perfect corner and Giroud met the ball at the near post to emphatically head past Ben Foster.
From that moment the three points never really looked in doubt. West Brom relinquished the majority of possesion and they never really manged to break forward and launch an attack. Arsenal though were now very relaxed, playing training ground football and hoping for a second. Lukas Podolski was getting in behind the Albion back line on a number of occasions whilst Cazorla, Ozil and Podolski all had half chances at goal.
On the 32nd minute, West Brom finally forced Szczesny into a first meaningful save. The Polish international needed to do well to parry a sweetly struck moving drive before Sessengnon hit the resulting rebound over when he should have at least hit the target.
A minute later, it was then Ben Foster's turn to make a save. Santi Cazola hit a lefted footed effort inside the penalty area and Ben Foster did very well to turn it behind for a corner.
At half-time Arsenal went into the dressing room 1-0 up. Arsene Wenger's side could have gone onto to get more goals with the game seemingly won but they were very content to pass the ball around and relax, to the dispointment of the watching television audience on Sky Sports. Ozil was performing well, as was Podolski and both seemed keen to get crosses into the box but they just weren't threatening enough if they were to get a second.
On the 76th minute though, Arsenal really should have made it 2-0. A penalty area scramble eventually fell to Lukas Podolski in a very good position, his effort hit the post before Ben Foster caught the ball. West Brom did go on the attack towards the end of the second period but they did not really look as if they were going to score and the full time whistle blew with Gunners fans having a win to celebrate in their final match at the Emirates this season.
Arsenal go to Norwich next week which for the Gunners will be seen as a warm up for the upcoming FA Cup final. West Brom themselves will be able to relax on the final day safe from relegation, providing Norwich fail to win at Stamford Bridge in 16.00 BST kick off on Sunday.