Van Persie signs off with brace

Arsenal swept aside Stoke with three quick first-half goals to sign off in style from a difficult Premier League campaign with a 4-1 win. An own goal from James Beattie, making his 300th league appearance, was swiftly followed up by a penalty from Robin van Persie.

Barcelona 2 - 0 Manchester United

Manchester United discovered what it is like to lose a European Cup final as brilliant Barcelona ruled Rome on Wednesday, securing a comfortable 2-0 win.
If there is any consolation in failure to become the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era, it is that they lost to a side as fluent and brilliant to watch as they are.
Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi scored the goals either side of half-time but to single those two out for special praise would be unfair on their team-mates, and particularly Xavi, who was simply awesome.The Cameroon striker cut inside Nemanja Vidic, then held off Michael Carrick as he prodded the ball goalward with enough strength to take it past Edwin van der Sar.When Xavi saw his free-kick come thumping back off a post, memories of 1999 and the mauling United nearly took at the hands of Bayern Munich sprang to mind.Sadly it did. Quite quickly as Xavi's curling cross dropped perfectly for Messi, who guided his header over Van der Sar.

Wenger will demand strong start from Arsenal

Key to Arsenal's progress in 2010 will be not only keeping the likes of captain Cesc Fabregas but also adding to a side which came up short when it mattered.
Fulham centre-half Brede Hangeland, Ajax's £7.5m-rated Belgium international Thomas Vermaelen are both reported defensive targets, while Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso and England international Gareth Barry, of Aston Villa, have been linked with a summer move to Emirates.
Should Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor be cashed in on - with reports of a £20m offers from AC Milan, Manchester City and Chelsea all in the pipeline, then Wenger could well turn to Blackburn forward Roque Santa Cruz, who will almost certainly leave Ewood Park.
Fabregas said: ''It is very important for this club to start winning trophies again, to be back at our best, so we are annoyed we could not do it this season.
''We definitely need to improve in some areas and do better as a squad. I believe that, next season, we will be stronger.
''We are really disappointed because we did not achieve what we wanted to this year, so it is up to us to come back stronger next time. I am confident we can do that.''
Fabregas added: ''We will see what happens in the summer, but the boss knows what is missing and I am sure he will do something about it.''

Wenger - Henry deserves Euro Final success

“I would want him to do well because I know one thing he needs and he deserves in his career is a successful Final. People don’t realise what happened to him in 2006.
“He played in the Champions League Final and just lost. He knows he had the chance to score the second goal. Then he went on and played in the World Cup Final and they lost on penalties. When you are 30 years-old, how much does that hurt?
“You think that might be my last chance to be in there. For him to go back into the Final and do well is very important.
“So I will support him in this game. That’s not Barcelona. I would just want him to play well and then I want the team who plays the best to win.”

Walcott and Gibbs named in Under-21 squad

Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs have both been named in Stuart Pearce’s 23-man squad for this summer’s Uefa Under-21 European Championships.Despite being included in Fabio Capello’s senior squad for England’s clashes with Kazakhstan and Andorra in June, the rapid winger will leave for the Under-21 training camp in Spain next week.Gibbs has also earned himself a place in the squad after impressing in friendlies for both the Under-20s and Under-21s earlier in the year.England Under-21 squad for European Championships:GoalkeepersJoe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough United), Scott Loach (Watford)DefendersMartin Cranie (Portsmouth), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough), Steven Taylor (Newcastle United), James Tomkins (West Ham United)MidfieldersLee Cattermole (Wigan Athletic), Andrew Driver (Hearts), Craig Gardner (Aston Villa), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), James Milner (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Mark Noble (West Ham United), Jack Rodwell (Everton)ForwardsTheo Walcott (Arsenal) Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Frazier Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur - on Loan), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)