Ljungberg treble sinks Sunderland

Henry (centre) missed out on the Golden Boot

Final day drama in photos

Sunderland 0-4 Arsenal

Fredrik Ljungberg grabbed a hat-trick on his return from injury as Arsenal warmed up for the FA Cup final with an easy victory at Sunderland.

Ljungberg made an impressive comeback from his ankle problem to give Gunners boss Arsene Wenger a boost ahead of the clash with Southampton.

But Thierry Henry's 24th Premiership goal of the season was not enough to give him the Golden Boot as he finished one behind Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy in the scoring stakes.

There were no crumbs of comfort for relegated Sunderland, who extended their losing run to a record 15 games and have yet to take a single point under boss Mick McCarthy.

Keeper Thomas Sorensen and striker Kevin Phillips lined up for the Black Cats in what seems likely to be their last game for the club.

KEY INCIDENTS

7 mins: Henry fires Arsenal ahead

39 mins: Ljungberg makes it 2-0

50 mins: Seaman saves from Kilbane

78 mins: Ljungberg nets again

88 mins: Ljungberg completes his hat-trick

And Sorensen saw yet another clean sheet go begging after just seven minutes when Dennis Bergkamp found Henry unmarked in the area and the Frenchman fired home.

Henry then missed the chance to double the lead when he shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

The Black Cats threatened briefly when Gavin McCann sent a drive just wide of the diving David Seaman's post.

But Arsenal continued to press and Henry put a second goal on a plate for Ljungberg when he laid off Bergkamp's cross for the Swede to score from close range.

Sunderland lost Darren Williams to injury, while Wenger replaced the limping Ray Parlour with Giovanni van Bronkhorst during the interval.

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Three hat-tricks in two Arsenal games, this must be a first. Have Man Utd ever done that?

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The home side almost pulled a goal back on 50 minutes when Kevin Kyle set up Kevin Kilbane, but Seaman saved the goalbound shot with his leg.

Sorensen ended a string of brilliant saves on 66 minutes when he clawed away Henry's shot after a one-two with Van Bronkhorst.

But Henry completed a dazzling display with two more assists as Ljungberg wrapped up his hat-trick two minutes from time.

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Sunderland: Sorensen, Gray, Craddock, Bjorklund, Williams (McCartney 45), Black (Oster 45), Thornton (Ryan 45), McCann, Kilbane, Kyle, Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Poom, Proctor.

Booked: McCann.

Arsenal: Seaman, Cole, Stepanovs, Luzhny, Toure, Pires (Pennant 64), Silva, Parlour (van Bronckhorst 45), Ljungberg, Bergkamp (Kanu 75), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Warmuz, Garry.

Attendance: 40,188.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).