BURNLEY had hoped to play the role of party poopers at Arsene Wenger’s Emirates farewell, but instead they turned out to be the perfect guests.

This was Arsenal and Arsene’s day, but they had it all too easy against a Clarets side who were well below par, showering gifts on Wenger as they were cut apart by the Gunners in the May sunshine.

Burnley are normally so solid defensively, but having seen their European place confirmed on Saturday they suffered an unwanted first in the Dyche era at the Emirates, conceding five goals for the first time under his stewardship.

But this heavy defeat can’t take the shine off what has been a remarkable season, even if this day did end up belonging to the departing Wenger.

Since announcing his decision to step down the spotlight has fallen on Frenchman and the way he has transformed not only his own club, but English football.

Wenger’s control at Arsenal has been all encompassing, the club is now built in his image, with the Emirates Stadium his ultimate legacy.

There’s perhaps only one other top flight club that has handed the manager such influence and such trust, and that is Burnley, so maybe it was appropriate that it was Dyche and the Clarets that were the visitors on what was an emotional day for the Arsenal faithful.

While the Wenger era is ending in North London, the era of Dyche is in full swing in East Lancashire.

Everton’s failure to beat Southampton on Saturday night confirmed Burnley’s place in Europe next season, a staggering achievement for a side tipped for another relegation battle back in August.

When Wenger began work at what was then Highbury on October 1, 1996, Burnley were losing at Bury in the third tier on the same day to fall to 11th in the table.

As Wenger departs Burnley are now Arsenal’s closest challengers in the table, although you would never have guessed it on this evidence.

The afternoon began with a guard of honour from the Clarets for Wenger and continued with a guard of honour for Arsenal’s marauding attackers.

Having taken the sting out of the occasion for nearly a quarter of an hour the Clarets were then undone by the first piece of incisive football the hosts put together.

Alexandre Lacazette had pulled out to the right and exchanged passes with Alex Iwobi, running off the back of Stephen Ward and drilling in a low cross that was turned home by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

On a baking hot day the tempo was slow, with the game having an end of season feel.

The Clarets would have hoped to be able to regroup at half time, but in first half stoppage time Bellerin out paced Johann Berg Gudmundsson to reach the byline and his low cross was turned home by Lacazette, who had found space with a late run from the edge of the box.

Burnley turned the intensity up a notch at the start of the second half, with Jeff Hendrick showing good feet on the left to stand up a cross which Vokes headed straight at Petr Cech from six yards.

But any hopes of a comeback were halted in their tracks within minutes of the restart. Jack Wilshere skipped past Jack Cork and drove into space before picking out Saed Kolasinac in space of the left and he drilled a low shot beyond Pope.

It was a party atmosphere in the Emirates by now, with the travelling fans joining in despite seeing their side on the wrong end of a thrashing, and the damage got worse just after the hour mark. Iwobi began the move in midfield, playing the ball wide to Aubameyang before continuing his run into the box, collecting the return pass in space and firing home on his left foot.

There was worse to come and again the Clarets were picked apart out wide, with Bellerin in space on the right to pick out Aubameyang who slipped the ball home from close range.