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Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson bid farewell to Norwich City Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson bid farewell to Norwich City
(about 1 hour later)
It will not be a disaster if Arsenal are beaten by Hull City in next Saturday's FA Cup final and extend their failure to win a trophy into a tenth season, according to defender Per Mertesacker. The club will not fall apart, according to manager Arsène Wenger. Tell that to the supporters, whose very first chant in this almost entirely bloodless encounter concerned their impending trip to the national stadium. Second-half goals from Aaron Ramsey, a first-time volley of the very highest quality, and Carl Jenkinson, poking home after a goalmouth scramble, ensured that the Gunners finished the season with a fifth successive win, but there was almost as much interest in Wenger's selection as their performance against a miserably unambitious Norwich. It will not be a disaster if Arsenal are beaten by Hull City in next Saturday's FA Cup final and extend their failure to win a trophy into a 10th season, according to the defender Per Mertesacker. The club will not fall apart, according to manager Arsène Wenger.
Perhaps most important, with England manager Roy Hodgson due to announce his World Cup squad on Monday, was that Jack Wilshere replaced Ramsey with half an hour remaining, while Wenger also confirmed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also available for international selection. Tell that to the supporters, whose very first chant in this almost entirely bloodless encounter concerned their impending trip to the national stadium. Second-half goals from Aaron Ramsey, a first-time volley of the very highest quality, and Carl Jenkinson, poking home after a goalmouth scramble, ensured that Arsenal finished the season with a fifth successive win, but there was almost as much interest in Wenger's selection as their performance against a miserably unambitious Norwich.
"Jack has been out for eight weeks, so it was good to be able to give him some competition, because training is training and competition is competition," said Wenger, somewhat gnomically. Perhaps most important, with the England manager Roy Hodgson due to announce his World Cup squad on Monday, was that Jack Wilshere replaced Ramsey with half an hour remaining, while Wenger also confirmed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is available for international selection.
"The World Cup is one month [away], so it's plenty of time. [Wilshere] can play now, so it shows you there is no problem for him to be available for England. The news [on Oxlade-Chamberlain] is good, he should reintegrate into our squad on Wednesday for normal training. He will be available for Roy to pick and I would not be surprised if he's picked," said Wenger, before pointing out it is the first time in the history of the Premier League a team has finished fourth with 79 points. "Jack has been out for eight weeks, so it was good to be able to give him some competition, because training is training and competition is competition," said Wenger. "The World Cup is one month [away], so it's plenty of time. [Wilshere] can play now, so it shows you there is no problem for him to be available for England. The news [on Oxlade-Chamberlain] is good, he should reintegrate into our squad on Wednesday for normal training. He will be available for Roy to pick and I would not be surprised if he's picked," said Wenger, before pointing out it is the first time in the history of the Premier League a team has finished fourth with 79 points.
"It was very tight. I believe Liverpool can be frustrated tonight, we can be frustrated, Chelsea can be frustrated, but only one team can win it. At the top the number of points made by the four teams is top quality," Wenger said."It was very tight. I believe Liverpool can be frustrated tonight, we can be frustrated, Chelsea can be frustrated, but only one team can win it. At the top the number of points made by the four teams is top quality," Wenger said.
The sight of Abou Diaby coming on to make his first appearance since March 2013 added to the Arsenal supporters' sense of wellbeing, but it will take another victory next Saturday to send them away for the summer in any way mollified after what has been another otherwise disappointing season.The sight of Abou Diaby coming on to make his first appearance since March 2013 added to the Arsenal supporters' sense of wellbeing, but it will take another victory next Saturday to send them away for the summer in any way mollified after what has been another otherwise disappointing season.
Norwich supporters would dearly love to have experienced such a season, of course, and even though the Canaries had nothing to lose, they were forced to endure another pathetically conservative performance. The Norwich supporters would dearly love to have experienced such a season, of course, and even though the Canaries had nothing to lose, they were forced to endure another pathetically conservative performance.
How many of their players will still be at Carrow Road at the start of next season remains to be seen and, with a decision expected on his position by the end of this week, it seems unlikely acting manager Neil Adams will be confirmed in the role.How many of their players will still be at Carrow Road at the start of next season remains to be seen and, with a decision expected on his position by the end of this week, it seems unlikely acting manager Neil Adams will be confirmed in the role.
About the only Canary to impress was goalkeeper John Ruddy, who made three excellent saves from Olivier Giroud to keep the scoreline respectable, and probably deserves one of the backup positions to England number one Joe Hart. About the only Canary to impress was the goalkeeper John Ruddy, who made three excellent saves from Olivier Giroud to keep the scoreline respectable, and probably deserves one of the backup positions to the England No1 Joe Hart.
Man of the match Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)Man of the match Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)