Match ends, Norwich City 0, Arsenal 2.
NorwichNorwich City0ArsenalArsenal2
Norwich City's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed as a stunning Aaron Ramsey strike spurred fourth-placed Arsenal to victory.
The Canaries were all but down before kick-off, and Ramsey's volley on the angle and Carl Jenkinson's opportunistic strike sealed their fate.
Earlier, Norwich keeper John Ruddy had to be alert to keep out Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.
Gunners keeper Lukasz Fabianski denied Jamar Loza and Robert Snodgrass.
It was a sombre finish to a disastrous season for Norwich, who could only have survived if they had won and West Brom had lost to Stoke, coupled with a highly improbable 17-goal swing.
Whether Neil Adams starts next season's Championship campaign in charge is yet to be seen, after the former youth coach had the unenviable task of trying to keep City up following Chris Hughton's sacking with five games left.
Striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, the £8.5m signing whose only goal this season came on the opening day, was conspicuous by his absence from the squad.
There was good news for England fans the day before Roy Hodgson names his World Cup squad as Arsenal's Jack Wilshere returned after a foot injury for the final 30 minutes, while knee injury victim Abou Diaby also came on for the Gunners in his first game in 14 months.
But it was Ramsey, also returning from injury, who shone for the visitors, rifling in a superb volley from Giroud's delicate chip to the back post.
It was the Welshman's 17th goal of an injury-disrupted season, and fans will wonder if Arsenal's title challenge, which looked promising until February, would have flourished had he not missed so much football.
Arsenal went into the game with a Champions League spot already secured and with the prospect of a first trophy for nine years still to come in next week's FA Cup final, and a strong Gunners side rarely had to rise above second gear at Carrow Road.
After Ramsey's opener, Jenkinson grabbed his first Arsenal goal, pouncing on Podolski's deflected shot from Kieran Gibbs's cross.
Norwich never wilted, and debutant Loza stung Fabianski's fingers while the Polish keeper had to be quick off his line to close down Snodgrass.
But City face a summer of upheaval if they are to mount a challenge to make an immediate return to the top flight.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: "Unfortunately it's the first time in the Premier League that you finish fourth with 79 points and it was very tight.
"We can be frustrated. We have won 11 games away from home, I think it's the best in the league and it was our 17th clean sheet - that is remarkable as well.
"We just wanted to finish the season well and we did it in a serious way, so it is a good basis to prepare for the FA Cup final."
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ruddy
- 2Martin
- 23Olsson
- 4Johnson
- 24BennettBooked at 80mins
- 6Turner
- 7Snodgrass
- 27TetteySubstituted forLozaat 58'minutes
- 16ElmanderSubstituted forHooperat 58'minutes
- 8Howson
- 22RedmondSubstituted forBennettat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Whittaker
- 10Fer
- 11Hooper
- 13Bunn
- 17Bennett
- 30Loza
- 31Murphy
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 21Fabianski
- 25Jenkinson
- 28Gibbs
- 16RamseySubstituted forWilshereat 63'minutes
- 3Sagna
- 6Koscielny
- 7RosickySubstituted forAbou Diabyat 74'minutes
- 8Arteta
- 12GiroudSubstituted forSanogoat 74'minutes
- 11Özil
- 9Podolski
Substitutes
- 1Szczesny
- 10Wilshere
- 17Monreal
- 20Flamini
- 22Sanogo
- 24Abou Diaby
- 29Källström
- Referee:
- Lee Mason
- Attendance:
- 26,848
Match Stats
Home TeamNorwichAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away8
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Norwich City 0, Arsenal 2.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Russell Martin.
Post update
Attempt saved. Elliott Bennett (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal).
Post update
Jamar Loza (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Yaya Sanogo (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jack Wilshere.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
Post update
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.
Post update
Attempt saved. Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gary Hooper.
Post update
Attempt missed. Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Russell Martin.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Booking
Ryan Bennett (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Yaya Sanogo (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Bennett (Norwich City).
Post update
Attempt saved. Elliott Bennett (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass.
Post update
Mesut Özil (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Bradley Johnson (Norwich City).
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamar Loza (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Gary Hooper.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Elliott Bennett replaces Nathan Redmond.
