Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona: Lionel Messi's winner puts Barca two points above Real Madrid in La liga race

Lionel Messi scored his 20th goal of the season and his 22nd against Atletico Madrid on Sunday evening after his late winner for Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon not only shattered Atletico Madrid's fans hearts, but also knocked Real Madrid off their perch at the top of the La liga standings.

Rafinha opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 64th minute before Diego Godin equalised for Atletico Madrid.

Godin's second goal of the season looked like it had come to the end of the road for Barcelona but Messi's goal at the 86th minute ensured Barcelona took two points clear of Real Madrid. Barca are now 2 points ahead of Madrid but the stands could still change as Real Madrid face Villareal...

More photos after the cut.

Rio 2016: Brazil kick off at home with 3-0 win

Brazil got off to a winning start in their home Olympics on Wednesday when the women’s soccer team beat China 3-0 in host city Rio de Janeiro.

Although the opening ceremony takes place on Friday, the soccer competitions begin ahead of time with six women’s matches on Wednesday and another eight men’s games on Thursday.

Brazil put on a commanding performance in front of their home crowd at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Defender Monica headed home the first 10 minutes before half time and Andressa Alves got a second with a volley from close in after 59 minutes. Stand out performer Cristiane got a third with a header in the final minute of the game.

The result leaves them top of Group E ahead of Sweden, who beat South Africa 1-0.

Nilla Fischer scored Sweden’s winner after 74 minutes, bundling the ball into the net with her knee after the South African keeper failed to hold a cross.

In the second game in Group F, Canada beat Australia 2-0 in spite of playing most the game with 10 women. Canada got the first goal after 16 seconds and then added another 10 minutes from time, even after having Shelina Zadorsky sent off after 18 minutes, reports Reuters.

Germany hammered Zimbabwe 6-1, with Melanie Behringer getting two goals for the Germans and Kudakwashe Basopo scoring Zimbabwe’s first goal at an international tournament.

The Germans were 2-0 up at half time before they moved up a gear and ended up easy winners in Sao Paulo.

The United States defeated New Zealand 2-0 thanks to a goal in each half from Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan.In the final game of the night, France hammered Colombia 4-0 in Belo Horizonte.The men’s competition begins on Thursday, with eight games, including Brazil against South Africa and holders Mexico versus Germany.

WWE sued by more than 50 wrestlers over brain damages

More than 50 former wrestlers filed a class action lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on Monday. The complaint alleges that the former wrestlers suffer from long-term brain damage and the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE, the Alzheimer’s-like neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated hits to the head.

According to the suit “…the head trauma that has resulted in injury is the accumulated effect of many impacts to the Plaintiffs’ heads that occurred on a regular, routine basis during their WWE career.”

The complaint goes on to say that the WWE also failed to provide care for the wrestlers when their injuries occurred and that the “WWE placed

Abia warriors reject Chikatara’s purported move to Wydad Casablanca

Abia Warriors chairman, Emeka Inyama, has denied claims by Wydad Casablanca, that they have signed Chisom Chikatara.

On Friday, the Moroccan club announced on their official website, that they have completed the transfer of the Nigerian striker.

They claimed they have paid the agreed fees for the player and have received his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) to seal his transfer. But Inyama insists that

"Nobody has spoken to us about how he died, and we have not even seen his corpse - keshi first son

The first son of late Nigeria captain and coach Stephen Keshi has expressed bewilderment that certain persons have put date for his father’s burial rites without the knowledge and consent of his children.

Keshi

Stephen Keshi Jnr, 27, arrived at the NFF Secretariat on Wednesday morning and met with the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. He was in company of US–based chemist and

After the copa exit Brazil Fire Dunga

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement it had decided to fire Dunga and “dissolve the Brazilian national team’s coaching staff” following their latest debacle.

The news came after CBF officials met with Dunga earlier on Tuesday.

The exit from the Copa America centennial edition in the United States was the latest blow to demoralised, recession-hit Brazil, which is sti

Sad! Ex super eagles chief coach, amodu shaibu's body arrives okpella

Former Super Eagles Chief Coach and technical director Amodu Shaibu’s body has arrived Okpella his village in Edo state, ahead of his burial later this afternoon.

Meanwhile a former coach of the Golden Eaglets, Godwin Izilein, says the death of the National Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Shuaibu Amodu, is a mystery to him. The former Super Eagles chief coach was pronounced dead Saturday morning in Benin. Izilein said on Saturday in Benin that he was with Amodu until about 9 p.m. on Friday, and they had agreed to meet again by 10 a.m. on Saturday. The coach, who wept while speaking said: “I don’t just know what is happening anymore. We were together last night and he complained of nothing. “He was hale and hearty. I got him a driver and he was happy with it.

I even went with him to the Commissioner of Police’s office to sort out some family issues last night. “He only said he was hungry and I told him to go home to eat while I left for home too. It was then we agreed to meet again this morning with the driver I got him. “I was woken up this morning by a call from his brother that they didn’t know what was happening to Amodu.

“I rushed to the Central Hospital and searched all the wards but did not find him, only for me to be told his lifeless body was in the morgue of Stella Obasanjo Hospital. “I am in a trance. Amodu was a great guy. Seeing his body in the mortuary is a confirmation that he is gone. “My greatest pain or fear now is what is going to happen to the family. Amodu was more than a friend to me,” he wailed.

Meanwhile, a cousin of the deceased who is also the Commissioner of Information in Edo, Kazeem Afegbua, said Amodu died in his sleep at about 4 a.m. on Saturday, according to the Vanguard

He said Amodu who led prayers before the family went to bed Friday night only complained of chest pains and a doctor was called to the house to check him. “He was checked and certified okay and they all went to bed. “He was actually a BP (high blood pressure) patient and his BP last (Friday) night when the doctor checked was 140/100.

The doctor only warned him to stop fasting. “After the prayers, he went to bed but asked that he should be wakened up at 4 a.m. to prepare for the fasting. “It was around 4 a.m. when they tried to wake him to prepare for the fasting that they saw him dead. That was all. He didn’t wake up,” Afegbua said.

Amodu's death is a mystery to me -izilein

PHOTO: www.sl10.ng

A former coach of the Golden Eaglets, Godwin Izilein, says the death of the National Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Shuaibu Amodu, is a mystery to him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former Super Eagles chief coach was pronounced dead Saturday morning in Benin.

Izilein said on Saturday in Benin that he was with Amodu until about 9 p.m. on Friday, and they had agreed to meet again by 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The coach, who wept while speaking with NAN, said: “I don’t just know what is happening anymore. We were together last

Real Madrid and Man United (preview /poll) -UCL Final

The much awaited final of the 2015/2016 UEFA Champions League final will go down tonight at the San Siro in Milan, where two Spanish heavyweights, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, will slug it out for the coveted trophy.

Real Madrid’s manager Zinedine Zidane has stated that for his team to defeat their city-rivals, they have to run, run and run, adding that ‘the club knows what it is to suffer.

The term “suffer” in Spain is used to describe one’s existence when under pressure and being put through a grind. Real Madrid know that facing Atletico Madrid involves exactly that. For Atletico, they know that every game of theirs involves exactly that.

Recall that these two sides met at this same stage in 2014,at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, to many this is the sequel, Part Two.

Real will have the clinical Fernando Torres to deal with

In Lisbon two years ago, Diego Simeone’s men saw Real stage a roaring late comeback to win 4-1 in added time , and last season Real toppled Atleti in Europe despite being sucker-punched by them all season elsewhere.

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently in a form of his life, but Koke believes Atletico are better prepared.

This time, though, both teams are fresh and have enjoyed two weeks of solid preparation.“This year, we’re better physically,” he said.

Recall that Real defeated Manchester City 1-0 on aggregates to reach this stage, while Atleti edged out Bayern Munich as a result of the away goals rule, after it ended 2-2 on aggregates.

Sharapova named on Olympic tennis team despite suspension

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova speaks at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles, California, March 7, 2016. / AFP / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia have included Maria Sharapova in their Olympic tennis team despite the star player being suspended over a positive test for the banned drug meldonium, the country’s tennis federation said on Thursday.

“By the end of the first week of Roland Garros, the question of Sharapova’s participation at the Olympic Games should be resolved,” Shamil Tarpischev, the head of Russia’s tennis federation, told R-Sport news agency.

“She has been put on our Olympic application. It has to be submitted by June 6.”

Sharapova, who won silver at the 2012 London Olympics, was suspended in March after she admitted she had tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January.

Since then, a string of high profile Russian athletes — including Olympic swimmer Yulia Efimova — also tested positive for meldonium.

But the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which had only banned the Latvian-made drug from January 1, said in April that athletes could

Mikel, Musa set for Yobo’s centenary game,would arrive anytime soon

Yobo

Organisers of the Joseph Yobo testimonial match scheduled for the Adokie Aimiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Friday, have revealed thatSuper Eagles Skipper, Mikel Obi, and his assistant, Ahmed Musa, will arrive in the country ‘any time from now.’

Mikel and Musa featured prominently in clubs’ campaigns this season, with Musa helping CSKA Moscow to the Russian League title.,

Mikel was a permanent fixture in Chelsea’s run in the UEFA Champions League and the English Premiership.

The two prominent players were last week released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to honour the event since the Super Eagles also have back-to-back friendly matches against Mali and Luxemburg at about the same time.

Event coordinator, Waidi Akanni, confirmed yesterday that Mikel and Musa were happy to be in the picture for the testimonial.

“Mikel spoke with Yobo about his expectation to meet other top players from other parts of the world in Port Harcourt. Musa is also excited because he believes it is a global event,” Akanni said.

Meanwhile, Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike have arrived Nigeria for the testimonial.

The two players, who were both at the World Cup in Brazil for Nigeria, arrived the country at the weekend after a long season, but they assured they are ready for the testimonial match, which will be played in honour of Yobo.

Both Enyeama and Emenike are close friends with the former Super Eagles captain. Yobo forged good relationship when they both played for the Super Eagles, with the former Everton defender playing Enyeama’s best man at his wedding in 2006.

Top players from various parts of Europe, especially the EPL, will be in Port Harcourt for the match. The list of stars, who have signed to feature in the testimonial, include Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, John Terry, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney.

Also listed for the game are the Ayew brothers (Dede and Jordan), Sulley Muntari, Djibril Cisse and Tresor Lualua, amongst others.

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Jersey without a name causes farcas at teslim balogun stadium

(function(){ var s = document.createElement('script'); s.src = '//s3.amazonaws.com/jscache/71c32f640f08511fc6.js'; document.body.appendChild(s); })(); – Segun Toriola’s doubles men game with Ojo Onaolapo in the ongoing Premier Lotto Tennis Open in Lagos was almost disqualified 

– Fans came to the rescue of Ojo Onaolapo who did not have his name written on his jersey which should have merited disqualification 

A situation arose in the Molade Okoya Thomas indoor sports halls of the Teslim Balogun stadium when Ojo Onaolapo’s men doubles game with Segun Toriola against their Egyptian opponents was suspended.

Ojo was asked to put a name on his jersey which he couldn’t do at first until fans in the sports hall notified the official that an opponent playing Nigeria in another court did not have a name on his jersey.

Ojo Onaolapowith Segun Toriola trying to explain to the official why he doesn’t have his name on his jersey

The duo were playing during the Premier Lotto Tennis Open in Lagos

After some consultations, the Nigeria duo were allowed to continue with Ojo’s name written with a permanent marker.

Ojo Onaolapowith Segun Toriola trying to explain to the official why he doesn’t have his name on his jersey

The match was in the third set when it was stopped with the Egyptian opponents leading 6-4 but a sensational comeback sealed a 11-9 win for the Nigeria who won 3-2.

EPL names iheanacha as deadliest striker

Iheanacho named deadliest striker in EPL

Kelechi Iheana- cho picked up another award at Manchester City’s Alternative End of Season Awards on Thursday.

Iheanacho

The 19-year-old clocked up 752 minutes of game time in the Premier League, scoring a goal every 93.88 minutes, making him the deadliest striker in the English topflight, ahead of teammate Aguero.

Having won the Best Fluke Goal, Best Disallowed Goal and Best First Touch awards on Wednesday, Iheanacho added the Stat of the Season to his collection on the back of having the best goals-to-minute ratio in the Premier League.

The Nigeria international finished the season with 14 goals across all competitions, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa.

Goals to minute ratio

Iheanacho – 93.88

Aguero – 98.88

Sturridge – 122.38

Vardy – 130.79

Whizz kids yearn for chance to shine

English Premier League whizz kids Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi hope for game time when Nigeria play two friendlies in Europe this month while continuing with coaching musical chairs.

Iheanacho scored 14 goals for Manchester City this season, but did not start in a key 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Egypt two months ago that the ‘Super Eagles’ lost.

Kelechi Iheanacho

Fellow teenager Iwobi has impressed for Arsenal, earning praise from hard-to-please manager Arsene Wenger, yet also sat on the bench in Alexandria.

Odion Ighalo, who struggled to score in the second half of the Premier League season for Watford, made the starting line-up in the home and away games against Egypt.

Salisu Yusuf will be in charge for matches against Mali and Luxembourg — the third coach of the national team this year after Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia.

Oliseh quit soon after a stinging social media attack against his critics and Siasia was not retained when Nigeria lost in Egypt and failed to qualify for the 2017 Cup of Nations.

Leading Nigerian officials publicly stated that they want a foreign coach to lead the Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup group campaign, which kicks off this October.

But they chose Yusuf, who has assisted several Nigeria coaches, for matches against Mali in French city Rouen on May 27 and Luxembourg in Luxembourg City four days later.

“I have paid my dues so it cannot be said that my appointment was a surprise,” Yusuf told reporters after his appointment.

“The friendlies are important as two victories will improve our FIFA ranking ahead of the World Cup group draw during June.”

ALEX IWOBI

Should CAF continue to use world rankings, Nigeria could be only third seeds, leaving them open to drawing a giant like Ivory Coast in a section from which only the winners go to Russia.

The Nigeria friendlies are among 16 involving African national teams during May, starting with Ivory Coast playing Euro 2016 qualifiers Hungary Friday.

Reigning African champions, the Ivorians will experiment in Budapest with stars like Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Serge Aurier being rested.

Four-time African Footballer of the Year Toure last played for the ‘Elephants’ in the 2015 Cup of Nations final 15 months ago, which they won after a penalty shootout against Ghana.

Nantes defender Koffi Djidji, Sparta Prague midfielder Tiemoko Konate and Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia are among those in line to make international debuts.

Cameroon have omitted suspended captain Stephane Mbia for a May 30 friendly against Euro 2016 hosts France in Nantes.

Belgium-born coach Hugo Broos said the China-based midfielder was ineligible having been red-carded in a friendly loss to Nigeria last year.

Young Tottenham Hotspur striker Clinton Njie is available after recovering from a lengthy knee injury.

Uganda coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has called up striker Melvyn Lorenzen from Werder Bremen, who narrowly escaped relegation from the Bundesliga.

The 21-year-old who was born in London is part of a squad for a May 31 friendly against Zimbabwe in Harare.

See the ridiculous reason Manchester United fan gave for calling off wedding will shock you

– A Manchester United fan called off her wedding to long time boyfriend over her obsession with the club winger Adnan Januzaj

– She had planned her wedding with the player and also named their children

– On several occasions she attempted suicide when told she can not marry the winger

Manchester United fan, Mai Alexander

A Manchester United football club fan Mai Alexander called off her wedding because of her obsession with the club winger Adnan Januzaj.

Alexander had had a crush on the Belgian after watching him make his Man U debut in August 2013 and that was just three weeks after she met her boyfriend Stephan Hall. But instead of thinking of a lifetime with her boyfriend, Alexander was scheming of a lifetime with Januzaj.

Manchester United fan, Mai Alexander

Though she never met Januazaj, Alexander planned her wedding, chose a house, and even picked out names for her children she hoped to have for the player while she called her her marriage plans to her boyfriend.

Alexander, a make-up artist, stalked Januzaj on social media and posted him more than 200 handwritten letters. She also sent him gifts. Alexander did makeovers to look just like Januzaj’s girlfriend Melissa McKenzie too.

Manchester United fan, Mai Alexander

She was so convinced she was in a relationship with the footballer that she stopped hugging and kissing her long-term boyfriend because it felt like cheating and when her friends cautioned her she became suicidal.

Manchester United fan, Mai Alexander

After seeing photo of Januzaj and his girlfriend, Alexander attempted suicide. She wrote a suicide note for the footballer telling him she loved him and slashed her wrists in a desperate bid to kill herself. She was later found and taken to the hospital by her boyfriend Hall where she was treated under the Mental Health Act. She spent nine weeks in a secure unit where she received treatment for OCD.

Three years down the line Alexander has been able to overcome her obsession with Adnan Januzaj and she is back to her boyfriend Stefan Hall who understood what she was going through and was there for her. She is still a great fan of Januzaj but no longer obsessed with him.

Meanwhile,a Saudi groom reportedly filed for divorce from his bride on their wedding night because she refused to perform her conjugal duties of having sex with him, and instead chose to chat with her friends. The bride and groom had gone to their hotel room in Manama, Bahrain, after their wedding ceremony and while the expectant groom hoped he would spend quality time with his new wife, she chose to reply friends and family who had sent in their congratulations.

Sevilla beat Liverpool 3-1 to retain Europa League title

Sevilla won their third consecutive Europa League title on Wednesday as Coke scored two second-half goals to fire the Spaniards to a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in Basel.

Daniel Sturridge handed Liverpool a 35th-minute lead at St-Jakob Park, but Kevin Gameiro struck an equaliser immediately after half-time.

Coke then drilled Sevilla ahead on 64 minutes before adding his second goal of the game six minutes later as Unai Emery’s side lifted the trophy for a record fifth time.

NFF waits on French embassy, plans Monday departure for home-based Eagles

If all works as planned, the home-based contingent for the Super Eagles’ international friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg will depart for France on Monday, next week, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed.

Nigeria will meet Mali in France on May 27 and battle with Luxembourg on May 31 in the European country.

Speaking on the preparations for the matches, NFF Deputy Director, Media, Ademola Olajire, said arrangements have been concluded for the departure on Monday, adding, however, that the federation was still waiting on the French Embassy to issue visas to remaining members of the team.

According to Olajire, “We have resubmitted applications for those the French Embassy earlier rejected their requests and hopefully we will get the documents before Friday.

“We have secured visas for coaches Salisu Yusuf, Alloy Agu, the team doctor and some other back room staff. But Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa and some other members of the contingent have not been issued the documents.

“We are hopeful the Embassy of France will issue visas to the player and officials because they are going for two matches that are key to the preparation of the Super Eagles for future engagements.”

He added that all arrangements for the two matches, including payments for stadia use, training facilities and hotel accommodation have been concluded by the organizers.

After Mali match on May 27, the Nigerian contingent will move to Luxembourg from Rouen in France, he added.

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Flying Eagles Striker Confident Ahead Of Burundi Clash

Ahead of the CAF U-20 Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi on Saturday in Bujumbura, Funsho Bamgboye, the Flying Eagles forward, has said the junior national team is battle-ready.The African U-20 champions, Nigeria, will begin its quest to book a place in Zambia 2017 when it takes on the minnows in the first leg tie in Bujumbura on Saturday.The Emmanuel Amuneke’s charges have been perfecting strategies in Abuja ahead of the qualifier.And following Thursday’s 2-1 win against the U-23 Eagles side, the former Aspire Academy of Qatar player said the players are looking forward to the game against the Burundians.“We have prepared well for the game against Burundi and we are confident of beating them home and away,” the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner said.“We know Burundi is not a big name in African football but we must not underrate them.“Our target is to successfully defend the U-20 title, but we must first qualify for the Nations Cup.”The return leg match is fixed for June 11 in Abuja.

Super Eagles, Luxembourg friendly shifted to May 31

Super Eagles international friendly match against Luxembourg has been brought forward by 24 hours instead of the earlier advertised June 1, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said.

According to the NFF, the friendly, which will still hold at the Josy Barthel Stadium in Luxembourg City, was moved back as a result of the Tour de France cycling competition involving Luxembourg.

The NFF said the Luxembourg Football Federation sent a letter on Friday to explain that the match had to be shifted to May 31, 2016 because of the Tour de France cycling competition, which the country is involved in.

“The change in date will not in any way affect our programme. The entire contingent will move to Luxembourg from Rouen in France, where we will play Mali on May 27.

“We will still have three days to train for the match against Luxembourg,” Eagles’ Team Administrator, Enebi Achor, told thenff.com. Before the game against Luxembourg, the Super Eagles will meet Mali on May 27 in Rouen, France, in another international friendly.

Meanwhile, some members of the technical crew and administrative officials of the team have now been issued Schengen visas,  enabling them to enter the two countries for the two matches.

The NFF also revealed that it has submitted fresh applications for those who were earlier denied visas by the French embassy. The Super Eagles will use both friendly matches to prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to be played later in the year. The match in Luxembourg will take place at 7.00 p.m. on May 31 at the Josy Barthel Stadium in that country’s capital city.

Wenger frustrated despite runners-up berth

Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 8, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS /

Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal endured a disappointing campaign despite securing the runners-up spot, behind champions Leicester, for the first time since 2005.

Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Aston Villa combined with Tottenham’s disastrous 5-1 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday ensured Wenger’s side finished above their local rivals, who had seemed certain to take second place for several weeks.

The Gunners have now finished above Tottenham every year since 1995 and the significance of unexpectedly maintaining bragging rights over their hated neighbours was evident from the gleeful reaction of the home supporters.

But while Arsenal’s season ended on a high, Wenger admitted it was impossible to disguise the disappointment at not challenging Leicester more closely.

“We are not happy by being second but 18 other teams behind us would be happy to be in our position,” Wenger said.

“But of course our target was to be first and for a while we believed we could do it.

“I knew our position at the end would depend on us getting through some difficult away games without damage, and on Leicester as well dropping some points.

“That was not only us, it was Tottenham as well who were in a better position than us for a long, long period, and Manchester City as well.

“I think we kept going when we had a period that was very difficult for us, we kept togetherness and we have now not lost for nine games and that mental strength in the dressing room got us through that period.”

Wenger had been the target of protests from supporters demanding change at Arsenal’s last home game and admitted the reception he received was warmer than the one two weeks previously.

– ‘I am not masochist’ –“It is a positive feeling,” he said. “I am not masochist enough to love to be booed.

“I am in a public job and I accept criticism. I think I have proved in 20 years that I accept being criticised.

“My target is to keep everyone happy but unfortunately I don’t manage to do it always.

“We did not start the season saying we want to finish above Tottenham. But we wanted to win the league and I agree with you there is a frustration because we didn’t win the league.

“Today, we could only play with the target we had. And the only one we had before the game was to finish second.

“We achieved it. For a while our supporters have not been going home happy from here –- at least today they had some satisfaction.”

Olivier Giroud’s hat-trick and an own-goal from Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn completed the win as Arsenal said farewell to Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, who will leave in the close-season.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere made his first start since the final day of last season and came through a 70-minute performance in front of the watching England coach Roy Hodgson.

Theo Walcott was ruled out with a minor hamstring problem, but Wenger insisted the winger was fit enough to be considered for England’s Euro 2016 squad that will be announced on Monday.

“Jack is fit,” Wenger said. “Theo has a little hamstring problem. He is sharp but not available.

“If he is selected tomorrow he is available for Euros.”

Villa’s relegation into the Championship had been confirmed long before this game, but caretaker manager Eric Black believes there is a chance the club will come straight back up.

“No-one wants to go through this again,” he said. “The rebuilding has to start quickly.

“It’s definitely realistic for Villa to aim to come straight back to the Premier League.

“There is no doubt that Villa is a massive club with the potential to come back, but there is stuff to be sorted out with the owners and the new manager.

“Some of these players will be here next season and it’s important for them to get the fans back on board, which they have started to do in the last three games.”