Wenger bows out with Arsenal win
‘Merci Arsene — we will miss you’
HUDDERSFIELD, England, May 13, (RTRS): Arsene Wenger enjoyed a rare away victory as Arsenal’s fans and players saluted the end of his managerial reign with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town in the Premier League on Sunday.
Frenchman Wenger, who is leaving the club after almost 22 years in charge, was given a guard of honour by both sets of players before the kickoff and then walked to the visiting Arsenal supporters to acknowledge them.
The decisive goal came when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slid in at the back post to convert a low cross from Aaron Ramsey in the 38th minute.
Arsenal ended the season in sixth place, their lowest finish during Wenger’s time at the club, but at least they managed their first away win of 2018.
“We wanted that away win. We hadn’t managed a 49 game unbeaten run — were celebrated in song by the travelling North London supporters.
“Of course it is very emotional after 1,235 games for the same club. To enjoy it we had to win it, winning football games is what makes me happy and the boys did it. It was a good day for everyone with Huddersfield staying up too,” said Wenger.
He added that there was no sense of relief that his farewell period had come to a close.
“Not really, I’m sad,” he said. “At some stage it has to end, I wish everyone well, the fans have been great until the end and I wish the club well for the future.
“It will be hard to adjust of course but I will have to deal with that.
I want to wish this group of players well and the staff coming in, I will remain an Arsenal fan above everything else.” Newcastle as Liverpool easily beat Brighton. It left last year’s champions with only Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester United to redeem a season in which they have finished a poor fifth.
Manager Antonio Conte made eight changes with the final in mind and saw an unimpressive performance.
Newcastle deservedly ended a run of four successive defeats under former Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez to earn a top-10 finish.
Dwight Gayle scored the opening goal in the first half and Spanish striker Ayoze Perez added the second and third after the break.
Swansea City’s seven-season stay in the Premier League came to an end on Sunday as the Welsh side joined West Brom and Stoke City in being relegated to the Championship.
Needing to beat Stoke, Southampton to lose to Manchester City and a 10-goal swing in goal difference in their favour, Swansea were realistically relegated when Huddersfield guaranteed their survival by holding Chelsea on Wednesday.
However, a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke sealed their fate to cap a 10game winless streak to end a sorry season.
A classic end-of-season sizzler saw Tottenham say farewell to their temporary Wembley home by coming back from 3-1 down to beat Leicester City 5-4 and secure third place.
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez revived memories of Leicester’s memorable title two years ago as they struck before halftime with Harry Kane replying for Spurs.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s stunner put Leicester two clear just after halftime but it provoked a furious Spurs response in which Erik Lamela struck twice either side of an own goal by Christian Fuchs who deflected Lamela’s shot in off his knee.
Vardy slammed in an equaliser for Leicester after a deft pass by Mahrez but Kane had the last laugh in the battle of the England strikers when he cut in from the left and curled home a delightful right-footer. Resuts/Standings
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