Sport 12-05-2005 Arsenal 7 Everton 0 who: Everton what: Flattened 7-0 by Arsenal in penultimate game of the Premiership season where: Highbury, LONDON when: Wednesday night snippet: "Arsenal could hardly have hoped for a better warm-up for this month’s FA Cup final against Manchester United," says The Scotsman, reporting from Highbury where the Premiership runners-up demolished Everton by seven goals to nil on Wednesday night, "and Dennis Bergkamp could hardly have put forward a better case for why he deserves another contract." "Bergkamp, 36, unfurling passes as a spider spins webs, was at the hub of moves that showcased Arsenal’s intricacy, elegance and confidence," says Tom Dart in The Times. "He was involved in all three first-half goals and scored himself near the end, a creator entirely at one with the pass-and-move philosophy that makes Arsenal so irresistible." "Thanks to Bergkamp`s vision and touch Arsenal had scored twice in the opening 12 minutes, the Dutchman setting up Robin van Persie and Robert Pires," says the BBC. "Bergkamp`s pass for Arsenal`s third was even better, releasing Patrick Vieira who deftly chipped Richard Wright. After the break Pires bagged a second, Edu fired in a penalty, Bergkamp capped a superb display with the sixth, with Mathieu Flamini completing the rout." Nevertheless, Arsene Wenger was non-committal about the Dutchman`s future at the club. "If it was a referendum he’d be staying," he says, quoted in The Sun. "But we must sit down face to face and decide what he wants to do and what I want. Tonight he has once again shown class and quality. He had a hand in our first three goals, scored another himself and contributed to the simplicity of our passing game. But Dennis is now 36 and I cannot base a season on his contribution any more." "Everton fans were in good-natured mood, delighted to have qualified for the Champions League," remarks The Telegraph`s Henry Winter, "although this chastening experience will simply have reminded David Moyes`s over-achieving side the depth of danger awaiting them in Europe`s elite competition." Indeed, Evertonians had Arsenal to thank for their good fortune - it was the Gunners who beat Liverpool 3-1 at the weekend, a result which, combined with their own 2-0 defeat of ailing Newcastle United at Goodison Park, ensured their place in Europe. Elsewhere in the Premiership this week, Manchester United drew 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford, Blackburn Rovers lost 1-3 to Fulham at Ewood Park, Norwich City kept their survival hopes alive by beating Birmingham City 1-0, Middlesbrough beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at the Riverside, Portsmouth drew 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers at Fratton Park, Manchester City remain on target for a possible UEFA Cup place after beating Aston Villa 1-2 in Birmingham, and both Crystal Palace and Southampton are stuck in the relegation zone after drawing 2-2 at Selhurst Park. Finally, there was yet another celebration at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 to overturn Manchester United`s record of 92 points and 28 wins in a Premiership season. Jose Mourinho`s men now have 94 points and 29 wins. They play Newcastle United at St James` Park on Sunday in their final game of the season. [... more]

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