Arsene Wenger bowed out with a victory as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 win for Arsenal in their season finale against Huddersfield.
Wenger, who announced just over three weeks ago he would be leaving the Gunners at the end of the season, was given a fitting send-off at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Aubameyang struck seven minutes before the break to ensure the 68-year-old Frenchman signed off his 22-year reign with a win in his 1,235th and final game in charge.
Tweet of the Match
Wenger ends with one last record: first Premier League manager ever to be given standing ovations, fly-by banners & a guard of honour……for coming 6th.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 13, 2018
Star man – Aaron Ramsey
There were no standout performances in a game that will not be remembered anywhere near as long as the circumstances surrounding it. Ramsey was Wenger’s final choice as Arsenal captain and he played well, laying on the only goal of the game for Aubameyang as Arsenal picked up just a fourth Premier League away win of the campaign.
Moment of the Match
There were plenty of heart-warming tributes to Wenger after his departure was announced in April and there was another here. Every member of the crowd rose on 22 minutes – signifying Wenger’s 22-year tenure – to give a rousing applause to the Frenchman. Wenger, who had been given a guard of honour and bowed to the travelling Arsenal support ahead of kick-off, returned the favour by waving to all corners of the John Smith’s Stadium.
Data Point
🔥 @Aubameyang7 just loves it in the @premierleague
1️⃣3️⃣ games 🔟 goals ⚽️4️⃣ assists 🅰️#HTFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/jNLPtdddFb
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 13, 2018
Aubameyang’s goal means he is the quickest Arsenal player in Premier League history to reach 10 goals for the club – needing just 13 games to reach the minor landmark.
Ratings
Huddersfield: Jonas Lossl 6 (out of 10), Florent Hadergjonaj 6, Mathias Jorgensen 6, Christopher Schindler 6, Terence Kongolo 5, Chris Lowe 6, Alex Pritchard 5, Aaron Mooy 5, Jonathan Hogg 6, Tom Ince 5, Steve Mounie 5.
Subs: Laurent Depoitre (for Ince, 61) 5, Philip Billing (for Mounie, 79) 5, Dean Whitehead (for Hogg, 87) 5.
Arsenal: David Ospina 6, Hector Bellerin 6, Rob Holding 6, Shkodran Mustafi 6, Sead Kolasinac 6, Granit Xhaka 6, Aaron Ramsey 7, Alex Iwobi 6, Henrikh Mkhitaryan 6, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7, Alexandre Lacazette 6.
Subs: Danny Welbeck (for Aubameyang, 67) 5 Nacho Monreal (for Kolasinac, 68), 6 Ainsley Maitland-Niles (for Iwobi, 72) 5.
