John Landamore For their final game of 2009 City welcomed Arsenal to Colney and it was the league leaders who went home with all three points with Norwich guilty of gifting the visitors two of their three goals.

John Landamore

For their final game of 2009 City welcomed Arsenal to Colney and it was the league leaders who went home with all three points with Norwich guilty of gifting the visitors two of their three goals.

Remi Matthews continued his role in goal with Jed Steer having again travelled with the first team.

It was an unfamiliar sight as the Canaries took to the pitch sporting their new Norfolk County Council sponsored shirts.

The game was just seven minutes old when the Gunners opened their account after City were guilty of giving the ball away allowing Jernade Meade to slot the ball past Matthews.

Shortly after, David Stephens was forced into clearing the ball off the line from a Sam Byles effort as Arsenal threatened to extend their lead.

Matthews then made a good save to deny Luke Freeman before goalscorer Meade headed wide after superb build-up from Arsenal.

Norwich found chances few and far between and when on a couple of occasions the ball was bobbling around the Arsenal penalty area City couldn't get the final touch.

City captain George Francomb provided a good cross that Ryan Oakley volleyed over the bar, but with 38 minutes on the clock Arsenal extended their lead when Meade beat the offside trap to fire the ball past Matthews.

City might have pulled one back just before the break but Francomb saw his goalbound effort blocked.

Shortly after the start of the second half Oakley robbed the centre back just inside the penalty area but the Arsenal defender spared his blushes when he recovered to clear the danger.

Danny Kelly saw a shot well saved by James Dunn but just when City were looking to get back in the game on 55 minutes Arsenal scored their third when Oguzhan Ozyakup finished from close range.

Francomb saw a free-kick go just wide of the target before Ricky Martin introduced both David Nwaogu and Patrick Drmola into attack.

With 71 minutes on the clock City pulled a goal back after Danny Kelly was brought down in the penalty area and up stepped Francomb to convert the spot kick.

Norwich continued to push forward but the visitors' defence held firm, indeed they almost extended their lead when Freeman rattled the City crossbar with a 30-yard effort.

t Norwich City: Matthews, Osemwegie, A Stephens (Gordon, 58), Francomb, Dumic, D Stephens, Clarke, (Drmola, 70), S Kelly (Nwaogu, 70), D Kelly, Oakley, Dawkin.

Subs not used: Ball

t Arsenal: Dunn, Ayling, Obed, Brislen-Hall, Edge, Yennaris, Afobe (Boateng, 58), Freeman, Meade (Webb, 58), Ozyakup, Byles.

Subs not used: McDermott, Ansah, Neita.

t Norwich City Man of the Match: George Francomb

t There was better news for City's U16's who ran out 2-1 winners over Arsenal with goals from Jamar Loza and Phil Roberts.