Saints will play European football next season after Arsenal won the FA Cup final.

With the Gunners already qualified for the Champions League, their European spot for lifting the famous old trophy has now reverted back to the Premier League, meaning Saints will play in Europe for the first time since 2004 as their reward for finishing seventh.

Saints will enter the third-qualifying round of the competition, which means they will start their season on July 30.

The draw will take place on July 17, with the two-legged tie played on July 30 and August 6.

If Saints get through that then they will go into the play-off round, another two-legged affair played on August 20 and 27.

If they are successful once more they enter the group stages of the competition.

Saints had one of their former academy stars to thank in part for qualification, with Theo Walcott scoring the first Arsenal goal in what turned out to be a 4-0 romp.

After a bright start Arsenal were the first to seriously threaten as Alexis Sanchez cut in from the left but his dangerous low cross was cut out by Kieran Richardson.

Moments later Laurent Koscielny got the better of Christian Benteke from an inswinging corner but headed a reasonable chance well off target.

He didn’t make the same mistake on 15 minutes when he headed goalwards from Sanchez’s cross but Villa keeper Shay Given produced an excellent save to push the ball away.

It didn’t disguise though the Arsenal were well on top.

Next up was Aaron Ramsey, who slid in at the near post to turn Hector Bellerin’s right wing cross into the side netting.

Another chance came and went for Arsenal on 20 minutes as Ron Vlaar failed to clear in the area and the ball dropped to Ramsey but his half volley from eight yards out was over the bar.

The Gunners were close yet again four minutes later as Theo Walcott looked certain to score from six yards out but Richardson made a terrific sliding block to prevent him.

Ramsay got a shot on target but it was a simple save for Given.

It took until the half hour mark for Villa to really get any kind of a foothold in the game and actually enjoy a bit of possession.

However, they never really looked like creating a chance.

In the end the inevitable happened as the Arsenal pressure paid off and they took the lead on 40 minutes.

Nacho Monreal stood up a cross from the left that Sanchez headed back into space in the area with Walcott arriving on the scene and firing home a brilliant left footed volley.

That gave the Gunners a totally deserved lead at half time.

It got even better for them five minutes after the restart as they got themselves 2-0 up.

The goal was a fabulous strike from Sanchez who hung onto the ball and cut in from the left before unleashing a wonderful right footed strike.

The ball was fiercely struck and moved in the air, giving Given no chance whatsoever.

Villa were suddenly facing an uphill battle to get back into the game.

They made a change on 53 minutes with Gabriel Agbonlahor for Charles N’Zogbia.

The big problem for them was that Arsenal looked likely to get more, while Villa hadn’t created anything at all to give even a hint that they might score once, let alone twice.

Arsenal had the ball in the net again on 56 minutes as Given saved at close range from Walcott and Sanchez finished but it was ruled out for offside.

Given had to make another save moments later from Santi Cazorla.

He was helpless though on 62 minutes as Arsenal secured the win, and sent Saints into Europe.

It was so easy for Arsenal as well as an outswinging corner found Per Mertesakcer in space eight yards out and he headed home.

Villa made a second switch with Leandro Bacuna replacing Richardson. That was soon followed with Carlos Sanchez coming on for Ashley Westwood.

Walcott had another chance but fired across goal before he was given a standing ovation as he was replaced on 77 minutes by Olivier Giroud. Jack Wilshere also came on for Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal rounded things off in injury time by adding a fourth.

It was late sub Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, another former Saint, who crossed for Giroud to side foot home from close range.

At the full time Arsenal were delighted, and so were Saints.