Arsenal ended their Premier League campaign with a convincing 5-1 victory over Everton at the Emirates Stadium, but it proved insufficient to secure a top-four finish. Tottenham Hotspur's 5-0 win over Norwich City confirmed Arsenal's fifth-place finish, meaning Mikel Arteta's side will compete in the Europa League next season.
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Alex Iwobi was adjudged to have handled the ball. The Brazilian then turned provider, flicking on for Eddie Nketiah to head home a second. Donny van de Beek pulled one back for Everton before half-time, but second-half goals from Cedric Soares, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard sealed a comprehensive victory.
Martinelli's performance was a standout, with the winger impressing with his work rate and creativity. Meanwhile, Nketiah's recent form has raised questions about his contract situation, with the 22-year-old's deal expiring in June. The striker has scored five goals in his last seven appearances, demonstrating his value to the squad.
For Everton, defensive frailties continued to plague them under Frank Lampard. The Toffees have now conceded 25 goals in nine away games under the manager, highlighting systemic issues in their defensive organisation. Lampard may need to bring in a specialist defensive coach to address these recurring problems.
Arsenal's victory was a fitting end to a season of progress, but the narrow miss on Champions League qualification will leave a sense of what might have been. Arteta will now focus on strengthening his squad in the summer transfer window, with key decisions to be made on players like Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette.
