Arsenal swept aside Stoke City 4-1 with three quick first-half goals to sign off in style from a difficult Barclays Premier League campaign.

An own goal from James Beattie, making his 300th league appearance, was swiftly followed up by a penalty from Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby's bullet header.

Stoke, safe from any last-day relegation drama, pulled a goal back from the spot through Ricardo Fuller, only for Rory Delap to then gift Van Persie his second four minutes before half-time.

Arsenal, already secure in fourth place following a 21-match unbeaten run, had little other than somewhat wounded pride left to play for after going out of both the FA Cup and Champions League at the semi-final stage.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is now certain to strengthen his squad over the summer as he looks to claw back the 18-point gap on champions Manchester United.

Chants of "there is only one Arsene Wenger" rang out around Emirates Stadium before kick off, as the home fans showed their united appreciation for the French coach who has endured one of the most testing of his 12 campaigns at the helm, but allayed fears he was set to quit for Real Madrid.

There was an early opening for Stoke when Delap's long throw into the penalty area was headed wide by Ryan Shawcross.

Theo Walcott got away down the right and cut the ball back to Denilson, whose 20-yard shot was well saved by Steve Simonsen.

Cesc Fabregas played a quick corner to Van Persie, who slipped the Arsenal captain back in towards the near post.

His ball across the face of goal was knocked into the net by Beattie to give Arsenal the lead after 10 minutes.

Before Stoke could recover, they conceded a penalty when Shawcross brought down Van Persie.

The Dutchman stepped up to score from the spot, his 19th goal of the season.

Arsenal were in overdrive - and moved 3-0 ahead after 18 minutes.

Van Persie whipped over a deep free-kick from the right, which Diaby dispatched with a bullet header on the penalty spot.

Simonsen looked in some discomfort - not just from picking the ball out of the net - and was replaced, holding his lower back as he limped off, after 22 minutes by Thomas Sorensen.

Beattie's long-range free-kick was then well held by 21-year-old rookie Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone, making his first appearance in a league match since a loan spell at Barnsley during early 2006 following injuries to both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski.

A clever pass from Van Persie at the edge of the area played in Walcott, but the England forward was denied by a fine reaction save from Sorensen's outstretched boot.

After 31 minutes, Stoke were awarded a penalty when Denilson tripped Fuller, who sent Mannone the wrong way to pull a goal back. That, though, only seemed to fire up Arsenal.

Van Persie drilled in a 25-yard free-kick, which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and Sorensen clawed away Andrey Arshavin's follow up shot before Kieran Gibbs headed over.

A terrible error of judgment from Delap handed Arsenal a fourth when his back header lacked enough power to get through to the keeper.

Van Persie gratefully accepted the gift, collecting the ball expertly on his chest before swivelling to fire it past Sorensen after 41 minutes.

Following the restart, Mannone had to be quick out of his area to clear a long through ball ahead of Fuller.

Defender Kolo Toure had stayed up following a free-kick and, from 12 yards out, sent his header over the bar after meeting Arshavin's cross.

Arsenal went close again just past the hour mark following more good work by Arshavin, twisting and turning down the right, before Bendtner cut the ball back across goal and Van Persie fired just over as he leant in at the far post.

Diaby's downward header flew wide as Arsenal maintained the pressure, but had to be content with just the four.