It was a season that ended as it had begun. With Thierry Henry plundering goals and Arsenal winning in style.

But then, as this was a party that had been four years in the planning stages, a few hiccups along the way against Everton were not going to be allowed to spoil a raucous double-winning coronation at Highbury.

The celebrations which started in Cardiff last weekend and gathered renewed momentum at Old Trafford in midweek had finally reached a perfect crescendo.

The home fans stood up for the newly-crowned champions, sang until they were hoarse and fervently hoped that the balance of domestic power has now taken a significant southern twist.

Appropriately enough, the Gunners set a record of scoring in every game of a Premiership season as Dennis Bergkamp struck early on amid a carnival atmosphere with the shackles of pressure cast off.

Then again, Everton, who sportingly applauded the new champions onto the pitch, tore their makeshift defence apart in the first-half as Lee Carsley and Tomasz Radzinski both scored.

It was left to Henry to haul his side back into the game with a double-strike that fittingly left him as the league's leading scorer.

The final gloss was applied by substitute Francis Jeffers against his former club and a late consolation by Steve Watson was effectively ignored by the Highbury faithful.

This, after all, was a match which more than anything else summed up the attacking philosophy which has carried Arsenal to the title on a wave of power and panache.

Then again, it was not just a moment to celebrate the achievements of Henry, Patrick Vieira, Bergkamp and Fredrik Ljungberg. They, after all, speak for themselves.

No, this double was achieved thanks to the entire Arsenal squad and Arsene Wenger's team selection was entirely fitting for the occasion.

While Lee Dixon and Gilles Grimandi made their final competitive bows, there was even the sight of injured winger Robert Pires limping onto the pitch to receive his richly-deserved player of the year award.

The only significant absentee was Tony Adams, whose weary limbs ensured that his own send-off ahead of possible retirement will come in his testimonial on Monday.

The only trouble was that there were rather too many defensive understudies on display to ensure a virtuoso performance.

With less than four minutes gone, the party started with a bang. Ashley Cole's persistence was rewarded when Alan Stubbs dithered on the ball and the full-back nipped in to cross to Bergkamp, who converted the chance with a minimum of fuss.

However, while Henry struck the side-netting, Arsenal's first-half defending was in truth shocking and Cole was caught out several times by Swedish midfielder Niclas Alexandersson.

A centre-back partnership of Oleg Luzhny and Igor Stepanovs hardly inspired confidence and it was Stepanovs who played a suicidal ball across his own penalty area on 20 minutes to allow Radzinski to tee up Carsley.

It was the first goal conceded by the Gunners in more than 15 hours' open play but as Cole's error let in Radzinski again to shoot just off target, it did not look like being the last this season.

So it proved. Radzinski promptly burst clear down the other flank as Luzhny rashly committed himself, before producing an accomplished finish past Wright into the far corner.

The response was at least immediate.

Stubbs was again at fault for the visitors as Bergkamp robbed him of the ball and although he could have shot himself, the Dutchman instead selflessly chose to set up Henry.

Arsenal continued to struggle to impose themselves after the break, with Wright producing a series of fine saves to deny Carsley and Radzinski.

And so it was against the run of play that Henry scored his second of the game in capitalising on Edu's through-ball.

From then on, however, Arsenal were majestic as they finally turned on the style.

Jeffers endured a torrid time as he was first denied by Simonsen and then fluffed an open goal, but he kept his head to nod home the final goal with seven minutes.

The fitting finale was the appearance of substitute keeper Stuart Taylor to ensure that he receives a championship medal.

And while he was promptly left exposed to allow Steve Watson to hit a consolation effort, Arsenal had rounded off the season as they had started it, with a touch of attacking class.

Teams:

Arsenal: Wright (Taylor 84), Dixon, Luzhny, Stepanovs, Cole, Wiltord (Vieira 65), Parlour (Jeffers 64), Grimandi, Edu, Henry, Bergkamp.

Subs Not Used: Ljungberg, Lauren.

Goals: Bergkamp 4, Henry 33, 72, Jeffers 83.

Everton: Simonsen, Watson, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Alexandersson (Ginola 78), Linderoth, Carsley, Pembridge, Radzinski, Campbell.

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Gemmill, Cleland, Chadwick.

Goals: Carsley 20, Radzinski 31, Watson 89.

Att: 38,254

Ref: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).