Hull City were relegated from the Premier League on Sunday after drawing 0-0 at home to Manchester United on a final day of the season marked by high-profile departures. Hull, beaten FA Cup finalists last season, needed to beat United to stand any chance of staying up, but their failure to do so left them three points adrift of safety.
Newcastle United were the only other team at risk of relegation, but they secured their top-flight status with a 2-0 victory at home to West Ham United.
Jonas Gutierrez, who returned to action last month after a 17-month battle with testicular cancer, was Newcastle's saviour, teeing up Moussa Sissoko for a 54th-minute header and scoring with a deflected effort.
At Hull, Manchester United were without on-loan striker Radamel Falcao and injured goalkeeper David de Gea, heavily linked with Real Madrid, meaning both may have played their final games for the club.
The hosts made an enterprising start and saw Paul McShane and Dame N'Doye have goals ruled out for offside, while United goalkeeper Victor Valdes saved brilliantly from Ahmed Elmohamady.
Arsenal rubber-stamped third place by demolishing West Bromwich Albion 4-1 as Theo Walcott staked a strong claimed for a cup final place with a first-half hat-trick.
Villa will go into the cup final on the back of a defeat after a first-half Danny Ings header saw them beaten 1-0 at relegated Burnley.
Leicester City celebrated their stunning escape from relegation with a 5-1 romp at home to relegated Queens Park Rangers, who finished the season bottom of the table. In the day's other game, Crystal Palace beat Swansea City 1-0 courtesy of a 57th-minute goal by Marouane Chamakh.