Wiltord started the scoring on 6 minutes after new vice-captain Patrick Vieira's through-ball. The canaries levelled just before the break.

On the hour Wiltord made it two with a curler from the edge of the box, and 3 minuites later Paddy nodded home a Pires corner. Jeffers and Kanu came off the bench and combined for the 4th, the new-boy given a simple finish from Kanu's good work.

City got their second with an excellent volley from Paul Hayes. Early copies of the Sun said it was Martin Hayes, prompting a few puzzled emails from ArseWeb readers who thought the ex Arsenal winger was selling motors in Islington these days (thansk to Richard Adams for writing to point out that Hayes is actually "proving a competent manager at non-league Bishop's Stortford, narrowly missing out on promotion last year to the Ryman's Premier." Richard adds, "Many Bishop's Stortford supporters will be hoping that he replicates John Radford's success at the club.")

Other sources (including this report on AFCi) say Paul Hayes is Martin's brother, while the Mirror reckon he's Martin's son. The official Norwich site doesn't list Paul Hayes at all. Spooky.

After the match Wenger admitted that he has no idea which strikers are going to start the first game. Tony Adams missed the game with an elbow infection, and Lee Dixon has a knee problem. Luzhny deputised at right-back.

Arsenal fans: the following paragraph contains an offensive 2-word phrase. You are advised to stop reading now.

I'd like to apologise to all Norwich City fans for my reference to "Norwich Town" in the first version of this story. It was an appalling error. Thanks to Phil Stevenson for writing to point it out. As a self-inflicted punishment, punishment, I am allowing his Norwich-supporting mate's phrase "Arsenal Hotspur" to appear on this site.