Olivier Giroud scored in the first half to give Arsenal a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Sunday, although the Baggies still finished the day virtually assured of staying in the top flight.
Giroud headed home at the near post in the 14th minute, getting in front of Craig Dawson and shrugging off the defender’s attempts to hold him back as Santi Cazorla delivered a corner.
It was the striker’s 22nd goal in all competitions this season.
“We played well,” Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, said. “They had a few chances as well. We wanted to finish with a win and we did it. Maybe it was a bit subdued because we knew beforehand we would remain in the top four.”
Despite the loss, West Brom can start planning for another season in the Premier League after Norwich only drew 0-0 at Chelsea.
That leaves West Brom three points ahead of the 18th placed Canaries with a game in hand and a vastly superior goal difference, with Norwich only having one more game to play against Arsenal.
Cardiff and Fulham have already been relegated to the League Championship for next season.
Arsenal still has one more match to play in north London and the FA Cup final against Hull at Wembley Stadium on May 17.
A win for Arsenal would mean a first trophy in nine years after failing to win silverware since lifting the 2005 FA Cup.
After the final whistle on Sunday, the Arsenal players, many of them carrying their children, walked around the pitch in a lap of appreciation.
The overwhelming chant from fans was: “Bacary Sagna, we want you to stay,” after recent reports linked the right back with a move to Manchester City.
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