Wenger hails the returning hat-trick hero

Last updated : 02 April 2005 By Chris Parry

He said of the striker:

"Overall it looks like the three weeks rest that he had, and that he did not play for the national team, did him some good. Today he played with his brain because he did not feel completely physically ready to play 90 minutes - but when a guy is not ready and he scores three goals it is not too bad."

He went on to make general comments about the performance:

"We became a little bit complacent, in the first half especially, and allowed Norwich to come back into the game at 2-1, but when it went 3-1, we looked always in control and you felt if we needed to push it a little bit, there was some more petrol in the tank, but we were not forced to use it."

"We have 67 points, and that is our second best total with 31 games played, since I have been here. Any other year, with 67 points and seven games to go, you are in a very strong position to win the Championship - it is just Chelsea has made an exceptional total this season."