Arsenal give Lehmann a winning send-off but Everton must sweat on Euro spot

So when Jens Lehmann loped on to the field for a sentimental Arsenal farewell, the game was up.

Lehmann protected the clean sheet in his 199th appearance for the Gunners, Nicklas Bendtner popped up with a late winner and the home crowd overlooked the fact that another campaign had ended without a trophy.

Arsene Wenger has served up some delicious football this term and, despite the fact that his team have settled for third place, the crowd sang their manager's name as he joined the players for a lap of honour.

It was Lehmann who stole the show, though, bringing down the curtain on five colourful years in north London. His first game in the Premier League was a win against Everton, as was his last. He savoured the applause, lingering at the back of the group as they made their way round the pitch. He was the last to leave the pitch.

His highs included winning the League in his first season without losing a game, helping to win the FA Cup on penalties and saving a spot kick in the final seconds of a Champions League semi-final in Villarreal to send Arsenal into their first European Cup Final.

His sending-off in that final must rank among his low points, along with a variety of comical blunders and temperamental outbursts which tarnished his final months at the club. Manuel Almunia took his first-team place and sparked a feud with his keeping colleague, but Wenger still wanted Lehmann to take a bow and sent him on to replace Lukasz Fabianski for the final 21 minutes.

'I wanted him to say goodbye to the fans and show him we respect him for what he has done for us,' said Wenger.

'He was not always an easy character but there has not been one day, one minute, one single training session when he has not been fully committed and that deserves a lot of respect.

'He was the best keeper in the Premier League when he came. He read the game well and was not frightened of anybody. He was sometimes easily upset when people walked on his toes at a corner but he became better.'

There was no public farewell from out-of-contract Mathieu Flamini, who hid himself in the pack of players as they lapped the pitch, but he said his goodbyes to staff at the Emirates Stadium after the match.

AC Milan president Adriano Galliani claimed that Flamini was expected in Milan last night to sign a four-year contract and complete the details of his free transfer.

'The situation is out of my hands,' said Wenger. 'It is down to him to decide what he wants. If he goes, I am not happy but I can do no more.'

Flamini watched yesterday's uneventful game from the bench, as did Cesc Fabregas — missing with a groin injury — but he should be fit for Euro 2008.

Arsenal had none of their usual fluency as Everton smothered midfield. Fabianski saved with his boot to deny Andy Johnson in the first half and Denilson cleared a Phil Jagielka header off the line from the resulting corner.

Tim Howard saved from Emmanuel Adebayor when he was clean through but could do nothing about Bendtner's winner 13 minutes from time.

Armand Traore collected a pass from Bendtner, sped past Tony Hibbert and clipped an inviting cross into the path of the Dane, who sprang high to power a header inside the post. But Everton can consider themselves unlucky not to have collected the point they need to secure fifth place and qualify again for the UEFA Cup. They have another chance in their final game at home to Newcastle, however.

'I'm confident the players can do it,' said Moyes. 'They want it as much as me. We enjoyed Europe this year, we have to try to do it again.

'We qualified for the Champions League three years ago with 61 points. We've now got 62 and we should have done better. I don't know if that says the top has got better or the bottom haven't taken as many points as in the past.'