The 31-year-old made nine substitute appearances in this season’s Premier League and Champions League, as well as two starts in the League Cup.

Gunners boss Arsène Wenger revealed last month that he expected the Russian to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

And the midfielder, who remains Arsenal’s record signing after joining from Zenit Saint Petersburg for £15m back in 2009, paid tribute to the Gunners via his Twitter account after their 1-0 win at Newcastle secured a fourth-place finish and Champions League qualification.

“Thanks a lot to all Arsenal fans, to all my team partners, who played with me all these years, to all the staff and coaches! Many thanks,” Arshavin wrote.

The Russian added: “Gunners! Good luck in the Champions League next year!”

Arshavin, who returned to Zenit on loan during the second part of last season, scored 31 goals in all competitions for Arsenal after joining the club in January 2009.

He has been linked with a move to La Liga side Sevilla in recent weeks but was also reported to be considering retirement.

Alexander Kacaniklic broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute to put the visitors ahead after the Swans dominated the first half.

Pablo Hernandez came close to equalising twice, but Dimitar Berbatov and Urby Emanuelson secured a rare away win for the Cottagers.

“I am ambitious like Fulham are, I want us to be in the top six, the top seven or the top eight,” Jol told BBC Sport.

“When I came here we had a fantastic team and we got 52 points, and look at where Swansea are today with 46 [ninth place in the table].

“We do not want to repeat this season, only getting around 40 points, but we need good players, ambitious players and that is what I want.

“If eight or nine players leave us this summer we will need five or six players.”

Meanwhile, Michael Laudrup admitted he was disappointed to end the club’s best season on a low note.

“It was disappointing, but the difference was us not taking our chances. “For 30 minutes in the second half we could have scored two or three. But I am sure in a couple of days I will see the big picture.

“Everyone here says it is the best season ever for this club. I have only been here 10 or 11 months so I will I trust their judgement.”

Nolan’s treble and a Ricardo Vaz Te strike helped sink the relegated Royals despite a brief fightback from the visitors, who had drawn level in the second half through Garath McCleary and Adam Le Fondre.

The Hammers’ victory secured a 10th-place finish for Sam Allardyce’s men in their first season back in the top flight.

And Nolan is keen to see Carroll, who spent the season on loan at the club from Liverpool, join the east London side on a permanent basis.

“To be honest, it’s up to him,” Nolan told West Ham’s website. “Anyone who has seen him around the place at close-quarters can see he enjoyed his time down here.

“We’re hoping that we it will become a permanent move, but if not I’m sure Sam will get to work and do what he does best and bring in the next-best option for us and we can move on from there.

“It’s going to be a long summer because we want to bring four or five new faces in who will make us better and more equipped for the Premier League and prepare us to get another good top-ten finish next year.”

Gareth Bale netted a late stunner to hand Tottenham a 1-0 win against Sunderland but it proved insufficient on the final day of the top-flight campaign, with Spurs having to settle for a Europa League spot again.

The rest of the league was also in action, as Manchester United played out a thrilling 5-5 draw at West Brom and Jamie Carragher ended his playing career with a 1-0 Liverpool win over QPR.

Here is a selection of our favourite tweets from the professionals, both past and present and in chronological order, after what was an entertaining climax to the Premier League season.

Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre (‏@IamMSilvestre) can’t believe the quality of Gareth Bale’s goal: “Something of Kobe Bryant in Bale’s goal! Just give him the ball and he’ll produce. What an effort! #EPL Could we give a fourth spot champions league to Gareth Bale alone ? How much is Koscielny’s goal worth ? #AFC #EPL”

Tottenham legend Gary Lineker (‏@GaryLineker) appears a little bitter: “Arsenal hang on and win a trophy for the 16th season in a row.”

Former Crystal Palace midfielder Mark Bright (‏@Mark__Bright) congratulates Arsenal: “Well done Arsenal, pride of North London again #afc!”

Arsneal fan Piers Morgan (‏@piersmorgan) isn’t impressed by the Gunners celebrations: “Bit embarrassing to see our manager and players wildly celebrating coming 4th. Shows how far we’ve fallen in ambition. #Arsenal”

Gunners legend Bob Wilson (‏@BobWilsonBWSC) is glad to see the Gunners prove the doubters wrong: “Amazing #AFC to make a mockery of the #MOTD team predictions earlier this season.”

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud ‏(@_OlivierGiroud_) is thrilled: “What a goal Lolo!! Arsenal in Champions League next season!! yeeessss…”

Gunners forward Lukas Podolski (‏@Podolski103) is ecstatic: “Hi Fans, we did it finally ;) Great fight. Great finish, we deserved this fourth place..”

Former Liverpool defender Vegard Heggem ‏(@vedgy) hails Jamie Carragher: “#ThanksCarra. Proud to have played alongside you!”

Marseille midfielder Joseph Barton (‏@Joey7Barton) wonders if Everton can finish ahead of Liverpool next season: “Everton finish above Liverpool, might be the last time we see that in a while… #moyesbigshoestofill”

Fulham defender John Arne Riise ‏(@Johnariise3) is pleased to end the season with a win: “Boom boom boooooom!!! What a great finish to the season. Clean sheet, three goals and three points! Thanks to the travelling fans:) Awesome!!”

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand ‏(@rioferdy5) can’t believe the result between West Brom and the Red Devils: “5-5…..what a mad result! Let’s be honest the boss was never going out with a boring 0-0!!”

Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar (‏@RonVlaar4) is glad a goal made up for his poor display in a 2-2 draw at Wigan: “My worst game of the season, one good touch saved me! Thanks to the fans for the support this season, looking forward to the next one. #UTV”

Stoke defender Robert Huth ‏(@robert_huth) defines what a successful season is for him: “No broken nose and only 28 stitches this season, a definite positive!”

West Ham striker Andy Carroll (‏@AndyTCarroll) hails Kevin Nolan for his hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Reading: “Great game today buzzing for the skip getting a hat-trick and enjoyed every minute of being at West Ham!!”

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero (‏@aguerosergiokun) is disappointed to lose 3-2 to Norwich City: “It’s the end of a season that didn’t go as expected but gotten important lessons and learned much.”

Everton defender John Heitinga (‏@Johnheitinga) hails the club’s fans after a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea: “Unfortunately we didn’t beat Chelsea. All fans of #Everton thanks for a year of wonderful support! You are the Champions of the PL. #COYB”

Finally, Stoke striker Michael Owen (‏@themichaelowen) pays his regards to the other legends retiring today: “Congratulations to Carra, Scholesy and all those players retiring today. Legends of the game.”

United were 3-0 up at The Hawthorns after half an hour thanks to Shinji Kagawa’s opener, Jonas Olsson’s own goal and Alexander Buttner’s strike.

But the Baggies pulled one back just before the break through James Morrison, before Romelu Lukaku made it 3-2.

Van Persie and Javier Hernandez then struck to make it 5-2, however another two finishes from Lukaku and a Youssouf Mulumbu goal late on ensured a thrilling game ended all square.

“This is a great bunch of players,” Van Persie, who scored his 26th league goal of the season and picked up the top flight’s Golden Boot on Sunday, told MUTV.

“Everybody wants to work for each other and share the success and I’m 100 per cent sure that we will play for trophies every year and, hopefully, win a few every year. That’s our standard for this team.

“The Premier League means everything and the Golden Boot is like a little bit extra but, as I explained last week, I think they should make 25 of them because we do it together.”

Van Persie, 29, insists that the Red Devils are looking forward to working under new manager Moyes, who will take over at Old Trafford on 1 July.

“Of course, we get a new manager next year and everybody is looking forward to that,” he continued. “It’s a new challenge for everyone. We’ll have a nice break now and then we go again.”

Laurent Koscielny scored the vital winner in the 52nd minute at St James’ Park to help the Gunners pip Tottenham to a fourth-place finish on the final day of the season.

It has been reported that Wenger is set to be handed a significant amount of funds to strengthen his squad this summer.

And quizzed about his plans ahead of next season, the Frenchman told Sky Sports: “It depends what you call ‘big’, is it spending big or buying many players?

“We want of course to have additions to the squad but let’s first keep the structure and the quality of the team we have now and see what we find.

“Let’s not forget that there are many clubs who have big money and maybe there is not enough talent to strengthen all the teams who have money.

“But we’ll be out there [in the transfer market] in a very proactive way.”

The Black Caps were presented with a target of 239 runs to chase in five-and-a-half sessions after bowling the hosts out for 213 in the morning session.

But an inspired-Broad was rampant as he ripped into the New Zealand batting order and helped Alastair Cook’s men take the upper hand in the two-match series.

England began day four with a 205-run lead and four wickets in hand, but Steven Finn lasted a single ball, leaving the hosts on 183-7.

Stuart Broad joined Ian Bell and helped England past 200 before the bowler was caught off the bowling of Tim Southee for just six runs.

Graeme Swann came to the crease but the spinner only managed to add a single run before he recklessly swung at Southee’s delivery to give the Kiwi bowler his tenth wicket of the match.

Kane Williamson ended England’s resistance as James Anderson sent a tame attempt into grateful Black Cap hands to leave the hosts with a 239-run lead to defend.

However, Broad proved devastatingly effective with the ball as Peter Fulton nicked a delivery to Matt Prior with one run on the board before his fellow opener Hamish Rutherford also fell to the Nottinghamshire man.

Ross Taylor came to the crease but managed to survive just one Broad ball before marching back to the pavilion, out for a duck to leave the tourists on 16-3.

Next to go was Kane Williamson as his shot was caught by Finn to hand Broad his fourth wicket of a prolific spell.

James Anderson, who secured his 300th Test wicket on day two, got in on the act and Dean Brownlie was caught by England skipper Alastair Cook.

Broad claimed 5-22 in the morning session with the scalp of New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum to leave the tourists needing 210 runs with four wickets in hand.

Southee and BJ Watling emerged after lunch at a darkened Lord’s ground, and the partnership lasted 12 runs before Root caught Southee’s lofted effort to hand Broad yet another wicket.

Watling managed to get the Kiwis over the 50-run mark but Anderson took his second wicket of the second innings as Kiwis bowler guided a shot to Jonathan Trott second slip.

Leaving the tourists on 54-8, the end was nigh and Bruce Martin was bowled by the in-form Broad before Wagner was run out to give England an emphatic 170-run win and a 1-0 lead in the series.

Darren Bent put the visitors ahead in the fifth minute with a neat finish but Emmerson Boyce equalised for the Latics and Nathan Baker’s own goal put the hosts 2-1 up before the break.

However, Ron Vlaar’s brilliant half-volley earned Villa a point, with relegated Wigan preparing for life in the Championship.

And Martínez, who has been linked with the soon-to-be vacant Everton job, refused to be drawn on his future after the game.

“I will have a full week to sit down with the chairman to talk about things,” Martinez, who led the club to an FA Cup triumph last weekend, told BBC Sport.

“Whatever happens I think Wigan has a bright future.

“It’s a day of mixed feelings but the fans understand the magnitude of winning the FA Cup. The first team to win it and get relegated shows you how difficult it is to win the FA Cup.

“Now is also the time to look back at all the great games we have played in the Premier League over the years.”

The Reds have lost once in 12 outings, including seven victories, but have fallen short of a European place following a difficult start to the campaign.

Philippe Coutinho scored a 23rd-minute winner as the Brazilian continues to impress after a £8.5m move from Inter Milan in the January transfer window.

And with the Reds in solid form, Rodgers was left to rue the campaign coming to an end.

“The win marks a terrific end to the season for us,” Rodgers told BBC Sport.

“We would love the season to continue as we have found our feet and form. [But] we’ve got work to do during the summer in terms of reinforcing the group.”

Rodgers also heaped praise on Jamie Carragher after the centre-half finished his playing career with three points and a clean sheet.

“Carra is a true great. This is a guy, who after 737 games, is a true legend of this club,” he added.

“His performance was immaculate. I only wish for him and his family that his strike would have gone in. He gets credit for defensive qualities but he is also a great technical player.

“It has been a pleasure working with him. My only regret is that I would have liked to have had many more years and games working with him.”

Juan Mata slotted the Blues ahead in the seventh minute at Stamford Bridge, but Steven Naismith drew the visitors level shortly after.

However, Fernando Torres scored his first Premier League goal of 2013 in the 76th minute to wrap up victory over the Toffees in what was David Moyes’ last game in charge.

“It’s not just what we’ve achieved,” Benítez told Sky Sports. “It’s with the team that we achieved these things.

“With a team in transition, with young players and with all the circumstances around us. The staff have done a very good job, and when I say this it’s not just because I have to, it’s true.

“We finished where we wanted to finish and I think it’s quite good for everyone.

“It’s a record number of games for the club, but we scored 147 goals so there are plenty of positives. It’s a very good team for a future. They have players that are improving and growing and I think they will be great next year.”

Asked if he could be coming up against new Manchester United boss Moyes in the Premier League again next season, Benítez replied: “You never know.

“I wish him all the best for the future but you never know because I don’t know where I will go next year.”