There was a guard of honour, a presentation, a speech and in between a game of football.
Sixth place against seventh, both hoovering up the crumbs from those that spent the season chasing down Manchester City but ultimately failed. Wenger’s last game in charge had something of a party atmosphere about it. The crowd wore ‘Merci Arsene ‘ T-shirts, they chanted his name endlessly and banners were held aloft everywhere.

Not the banners of protest but ones that recognised the effort and dedication of the Frenchman over 22 years and somehow it seemed peculiar. Gone were the boo’s of the dissatisfied masses and it was as if the events of this season had been wiped from the memory. You knew it was a very special occasion because absent Stan made an appearance.

The crowd thought they knew him, he looked vaguely familiar but then a radio commentator mentioned him by name and we all breathed a sigh of relief that our owner had made the effort to attend.

The much-maligned Mesut Ozil was one of seven changes which allowed us another opportunity to see more from young Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos. Mavropanos looks confident, strong, spatially aware and positionally astute. How Arsenal fans would love to see a backline brimming with those qualities because it’s been a luxury of late.

Apart from the obvious highlight of Wenger’s fond farewell at the Emirates, there were glimpses of the team could turn out under the next manager. Lacazette and Aubamayang, over whom there were so many questions marks in terms of playing together, seem to have found not only a bond but a partnership of substance that could offer plenty of goals.

Kolasinac, who was so under-utilised this term will surely be a regular in a team devoid of bite and physicality. Where he plays is going to be interesting, known as a left back but able to play in any defensive role, I would like to slot him in Xhaka’s role because he simply can’t be any worse. No Mustafi here or Koscielny, both of who, one feels are not going to be part of Arsenal’s long-term future.

Expectations were that this would be a tight affair against a combative Burnley side who have given as a good account of themselves this term under the guidance of the promising Sean Dyche. They’ve been extremely competitive and have played the type of attractive football which has seen them within touching distance of a European competition.

Yet, circumstances dictated that no one was about to spoil Wenger’s farewell, so Arsenal hit the accelerator and it turned into a rout. The side looked stylish, confident and fluent in attack, something that has been hit and miss this season but it provided the perfect send-off for Wenger. Lacazette rifled a low cross from the right into the danger area which was dispatched with ease by the predatory Aubamayang.

One can only imagine how Arsenal would have faired in the Europa league had the rules been slightly more favourable. Bellerin, so often a defensive failure, was at his marauding best in attack and put in a tasty cross for Lacazette to finish for the second. Wilshere then popped the ball into the path of Kolasinac for a bullet of a shot. The net bulged to the extent where it might fly off from the awesome power employed by the versatile defender.

Iwobi showed neat control and class to add to the total and Aubameyang, who else, put the game beyond reach and sent the home fans into a frenzy. Rather sportingly the Burnley fans, who had little to cheer about, sang ‘There’s only one Arsene Wenger’ this received applause from the home fans. Football is occasionally perceived as unsporting, even loutish, but this was an example to all that it can be honourable, all credit to Burnley and their supporters.

Arsenal, despite all their many flaws, can still be irresistible in attack and this game jogged the memory of the glory days, such was their dominance. It then all became about the man who, more than any other, created a club. Yes, Arsenal were a club long before he arrived but he gave it an identity and helped build the stadium for future generations to enjoy. He gave us style, extraordinary style and a blueprint which will be exceptionally difficult to live up to.

His best years will be remembered by us all, his more recent struggles forgotten and his shadow will be cast over the Emirates for the next few years if not longer. Only the sustained success of a new manager will change that and that may not be anytime soon. Ancelloti is a firm favourite with the fans that look beyond Enrique, but only time will tell if they will be held in such high regard, not only by the Arsenal faithful but the football community in general.

They say that you only truly know what you had when it’s gone and this may be the case for Arsene Wenger. His appetite was undiminished but his inability to take the club forward cost him his job. He told the crowd he would miss them but it may yet be the case that they will miss him more. He was a modest, honest, hardworking, innovator. A class act, a principled and loyal man, who loved a club passionately and loved the game even more.

It was fitting that he should leave the Emirates with a hatful of goals in the style that he implemented on his arrival back in 1996. His farewell tour continues with Two final matches, both away from home. Arsenal have not won away this year but it is extremely likely that Wenger may part company with one, if not two wins to end that dreadful run.

Arsenal’s defeat to Atletico Madrid was predictable but the 2nd leg of the semifinal was the perfect illustration of how to take the initiative, gain an advantage and protect it. The Gunners came up against a well drilled, a cohesive defensive unit that you sensed were capable of avoiding the basic errors similar to those their opponents made in the first encounter.

Then Costa, so often the thorn in Arsenal’s side struck and effectively put the tie beyond doubt. Arsenal failed on a number of counts in this match, they had no real quality in their build-up play and when they got the opportunity to threaten, the final ball was poor.

The North London club’s defence was exposed again to another long hoof upfield and yet again the attempted clearance was poor. Diego Costa, the bullying and bruising nemesis of Arsenal on numerous occasions, was at least three yards to the good in front of Hector Bellerin in the dying moments of the first 45.

Although the Spaniard tried to cover the distance, Costa repelled the defender with natural brute force and the expected outstretched hand. Ospina, whom many fans have favoured, went to ground like a picnic blanket wrapped around a gold bar. He committed himself too quickly and allowed Costa the luxury of time and judgment. Wenger once said that he was one of three world-class keepers on Arsenal’s books but I’ve never thought of him as such.

Although this defeat is not Ospina’s fault, he looked uncertain, tragically out of his comfort zone and minus the class that is required at this level. He kicked the ball out of play on unnecessarily, flapped and flustered his way around his own area and one felt it was only a matter of time before a goal came.

Costa went close early on, when he breezed past Koscielny and Monreal with only Ospina to beat but the keeper did just enough. The alarm bells were ringing loudly but Arsenal never heeded the warnings and looked clueless every time Atletico swept forward. Griezmann increased the nerves by managing to create some space with his back to goal. Time seemed to stand still as he turned and shot narrowly wide.

In truth, Arsenal were outclassed by the better side, one with depth and determination, one that was creative in the middle, clinical in attack and robust in defence. Surely Simeone has one hand on the Europa League trophy because there is nothing to suggest otherwise.

Wenger’s last European venture ended like so many others, in pain and misery. No final trophy, no fabulous end to his reign, just more of the same. Failed by his players on the night, frustrated by his team’s lack of bite, all of which leaves him to say his goodbyes in the worst possible circumstances. Another year without a Champions League place will hardly be a selling point for a new manager and when the seasonends,, you imagine that a number of players will be employed elsewhere.

Welbeck, Xhaka, Bellerin, Monreal, Mustafi and Koscielny, who was stretchered off in the first half, are all surplus to requirements. Wenger’s blind faith in players that lack quality will be the main reason he will be working at another club next season. It’s a miserable end to the Frenchman’s career at Arsenal and one genuinely feels for him but the season had failure written all over it from as early as eight games in.

The weaknesses were still there and were not about to miraculously disappear for the sake of a pretty end to the manager’s reign. There is much to do in the summer and whoever comes in has a Herculean task on their hands to address the obvious frailties.