LONDON, May 12: Arsenal thrashed Everton 7-0 on Wednesday as forward Dennis Bergkamp made a good case for another season in the Premier League. The Dutch man of the match had a part in three first-half goals scored by compatriot Robin van Persie, Robert Pires and captain Patrick Vieira and then rounded off a fine performance with a deserved solo goal for Arsenal’s sixth.

Before that Pires added a fourth early in the second half and Brazil midfielder Edu, who plans to leave Arsenal when his contract ends this season, scored the fifth with a penalty 20 minutes from time after a handball by Lee Carsley.

Midfielder Mathieu Flamini struck the seventh goal, his first for the club, five minutes from time at the end of a fine move started by fellow substitute Thierry Henry, back after a month out with a groin injury.

It was Arsenal’s biggest Premier League victory.

Arsenal, who had already secured second place 11 points behind champions Chelsea with one game left, are at Birmingham City in their last league match of the season on Sunday.

They are 22 points in front of fourth-placed Everton.

Henry’s return pleased Wenger only 10 days before the FA Cup final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium against Manchester United, who are third in the league nine points adrift of Arsenal.

Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Everton in their opening league match in mid-August, were 2-0 ahead in the opening 11 minutes with Bergkamp the catalyst for both goals.

In a Dutch combination, Van Persie ran on to a superb ball that Bergkamp threaded through the Everton defence in the eighth minute to shoot low past goalkeeper Richard Wright.

Three minutes later, Bergkamp found Jose Antonio Reyes out on the left and the Spaniard pulled the ball back into the centre where Pires shot low past Wright.

Bergkamp was also involved in the third goal, which came from another fine move not long after the half hour mark that was finished by Vieira, who ran on to the Dutchman’s pass to chip Wright as he dived at the French midfielder’s feet.

—Reuters