EPL wrap: Arsenal hammer West Ham, Manchester City rout Swansea

  • 23/04/2018
Arsenal were in goal-scoring mood against West Ham.
Arsenal were in goal-scoring mood against West Ham. Photo credit: AAP

Arsene Wenger marked his penultimate home Premier League match as Arsenal manager as his side inflicted a crushing 4-1 win over West Ham.

Defender Nacho Monreal put Arsenal ahead six minutes into the second half when he fired low past Joe Hart at a corner to bring the match to life after a dull first half.

Marko Arnautovic equalised 13 minutes later when substitute midfielder Manuel Lanzini fed him on the left and the striker shot past the diving David Ospina into the bottom far corner.

But Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal ahead again in the 82nd, when a mistake in the Hammers' defence allowed his effort from the left edge of the box to sail into the far side of Hart's net and Alexandre Lacazette added the third and fourth goals.

England stopper Hart had previously kept West Ham in the match with diving saves from Xhaka and Danny Wellbeck but Arsenal climbed within six points of fifth- placed Chelsea on 57 while West Ham remain in relegation trouble six points above the drop zone on 35.

Afterwards, Wenger refused to countenance taking up another managerial role until he has finished at Arsenal.

"At the moment my focus is as it has always been: my loyalty to the club until the last day I am here. We'll see," he told Sky Sports.

The Frenchman was similarly coy about whether he would return to Arsenal in the future although he believes he will be leaving the club in a better position than when he first arrived in 1996.

He added: "I don't know, it does not depend on me. You look at the number of Premier League games, European Cup games, FA Cup games we have played together, we have a built a history, we have built a solid foundation on a structural front."

Manchester City celebrated their title success with a thumping 5-0 home win over Swansea, who are just one place and four points above the bottom three.

David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus were all on target as City outclassed the Swans in their first match since being crowned Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola's side, on 90 points, are now seven away from equalling the record of most points picked up in a Premier League season.

Fans spilled on to the Etihad Stadium pitch at the final whistle to congratulate the City players on their success.

Elsewhere, Stoke missed the chance to give their hopes of Premier League survival a major boost when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley.

Badoo Ndiaye gave Stoke the lead in the 11th minute, via a deflection off the boot of Burnley's Kevin Long -- an advantage they seemed comfortable with for the remainder of the first half.

But Burnley upped the tempo after the break and drew level in the 62nd minute thanks to Ashley Barnes, his sixth goal in his last eight league games.

Neither team could find a winner, meaning that with three games to play, Stoke are four points behind Swansea City in 19th, with the Welsh side having played two games less. Burnley stay seventh, four points behind Arsenal in sixth.

Reuters