Arsenal 1 Everton 0: THIS MATCH may have had a soporific end-of-season air about it but the next week promises to have major ramifications for both clubs.
Nicklas Bendtner's second-half header means Everton must avoid defeat at home to Newcastle on Sunday to guarantee fifth place and the return to the Uefa Cup they crave while the futures of several Arsenal players will be determined in the next few days.
Chief among them is the livewire midfielder Mathieu Flamini. The 24-year-old, who was absent here because of an ankle injury, will shortly become a free agent and the Milan vice-president, Adriano Galliani, last night claimed he expects Flamini to sign for them today.
"He will come tonight and sign a four-year contract," Galliani said.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger appeared resigned to losing Flamini when he revealed that the Gunners' offer of a new contract for the Frenchman would be withdrawn if he did not agree to it today. "We have done what we had to do, it is down to him now to decide," said Wenger. "Am I super-confident? No. If he goes, we have to look at our options."
Looking at his options was what Wenger did here, with Cesc Fabregas also missing on his 21st birthday - a groin strain will prevent him from lining up at Sunderland on Sunday, too, but Wenger assured a Spanish journalist he will be fit for Euro 2008.
Alongside Gilberto Silva, another player who could be on his way this summer according to Wenger, Denilson was given a rare opportunity to show he can be Flamini's permanent replacement. However, with his pretty passing but lack of the Frenchman's bite, the Brazilian continues to look more of an understudy to Fabregas than a potential accomplice.
Theo Walcott failed to impress, too, on the left, unable to find space behind the Everton right-back, Tony Hibbert, as the substitute Armand Traore did to provide the game's defining moment - it was Traore's cross that Bendtner headed powerfully beyond Tim Howard for his ninth goal of the season.
Walcott was stationed on the left because of the suspension of Alexander Hleb, who could be another Gunner to move to Italy after Internazionale expressed their desire to sign him.
Wenger confirmed Arsenal would report Inter to the game's governing bodies over their public stalking of Hleb. "There are rules in football - when the player is under contract, you first contact the club to see if he is available," said Wenger.
If Wenger was reluctant to concede Hleb may not be with the club next season, he was more forthcoming about Jens Lehmann's impending return to Germany. Lehmann, who won the league in his first campaign with Arsenal in 2003-04, was given a standing ovation by the home support when he was brought on as a substitute with 20 minutes to go.
"It was a farewell," Wenger confirmed. "I wanted him to say goodbye to the fans and the fans to show they respect him for what he has done for us. He was not always an easy character but always 100 per cent professional. He was the best 'keeper in the Premier League."
Everton are staggering towards the finish line but their manager, David Moyes, noted their points total is still their highest ever in the Premier League. "We reached the Champions League with 61 three years ago - we've got 62 which hasn't even earned us a Uefa Cup spot," he said.
A 63rd on Sunday will suffice.
