please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Norwich City at the Emirates this Saturday and the Gunners are within touching distance of clinching that third spot. It's in their hands and that is the position you want to be in come the end of the season. But, Arsenal have not won any of their last three league games and that is a worry. After the Wigan defeat, the Gunners have earned back to back draws against Chelsea and Stoke City. In both games, Arsenal had the chance to get all three points but a lack of cutting edge has thwarted them. Against Stoke, they went a goal behind after Peter Crouch put the Potters into the lead with a trademark header. Arsenal equalized through their main man, Robin Van Persie who got on the end of a Thomas Rosicky cross. Considering Arsenal's poor record at the Britannia Stadium and Stoke's ability to stop the big teams at home, it was decent point for the Gunners. But with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea winning on the following day, it did mean that their gap on the chasing pack was reduced. Norwich City have lost their last three league games but with nothing to play for it is somewhat understandable. Norwich's last league game was against Liverpool at Carrow Road, and they were on the wrong end of a Luis Suarez master class. The Canaries lost 3-0 and they were never in the game from start to finish. The amazing thing is the fact that Norwich have nothing left to play for is because they have already made sure that they will remain in the premier league for another season. Many tipped Norwich City for relegation so it's been an amazing achievement by Paul Lambert's men. Norwich have stay well clear of the relegation scrap all season and it's mainly down to their amazing team ethic. Norwich really are a team in the true sense and despite their recent slips, they are not an easy team to beat because they never stop trying. Norwich pushed Arsenal close in the first meeting between the two sides in the league this season. Norwich took the lead through Steve Morrison, but Robin Van Persie got Arsenal back in it after converting a pinpoint cross from Theo Walcott. In the second half, Arsenal and Van Persie got their second goal with a lovely chip into the near post. It was very tight game and Arsenal should expect yet another tight game if Norwich turn up with the same intensity and drive. Norwich City under Paul Lambert has been one of the most remarkable stories in English football. Before he took over the managerial reigns at Norwich, he was in charge of a Colchester side that trashed Norwich by six goals at Carrow Road in the 2009/10 season. That was Lambert's last game as manager of Colchester as he decided to join Norwich. Back then, Norwich languished in league one and despite being one of the bigger sides in that league there was no guarantee that they would bounce back into the Championship. But under the leadership of Lambert, they did work their way up and they went on to claim back to back promotions which was a truly astounding feat. Norwich have players in their squad that have played in League one and those players have helped them with this amazing rise. One of those players is Grant Holt, he in fact made his debut for Norwich in that disastrous game against Colchester. His rise has been as spectacular as that of Norwich. In his first season for Norwich in league one, Holt scored an impressive 24 goals, he then scored another 21 goals in the championship which helped Norwich into the premier league. Grant Holt is Norwich's top scorer in the league with 13 goals. His goals have been absolutely vital for Norwich this season. From the players of the bottom ten sides, he has the most goals. Teams like Bolton,Wigan,Aston Villa and QPR have lacked such an efficient marksmen in front of goal. Steve Morison has also contributed with goals and he has eight to his name, so the Norwich forward line has an impressive 21 goals between them, and when you analyse the teams in the bottom half and where some of them go wrong, it explains why Norwich have done so well compared to those teams. Norwich Ctiy have scored 47 goals in the league and out of the bottom ten sides, only Blackburn amazingly can match that goal return. Norwich have won five away games this season, and the most famous one was in North London against Tottenham Hotspur. A result that stunned many and it was probably Norwich's most impressive win of the season. Although they did also record another impressive win against one of the top six sides but that was at home. That win was their 4-2 victory over Newcastle United, Norwich have managed to get a possible seven points out of 33 against the top six sides this season. A win against Arsenal at the Emirates will be yet another highlight in a season of many for Norwich City. The game against Norwich City will be Arsenal's last home game of the season and the Gunners have had some undoubted highs at home this season but they have been a few lows. The defeat against Wigan was very unexpected and Arsenal could yet look back at the result with dismay should Arsenal finish outside the top four. Arsenal currently have a four point lead over Tottenham Hotspur who sit in fourth place. But the three teams below Arsenal do have games in hand. Arsenal fans will no doubt be keeping an eye over some of the midweek games in the premier league this week. The good thing for Arsenal is the fact that they have their own destiny in their hands. If Arsenal win their last two games, then they do not have to worry about anyone else because third will be secured. With Chelsea reaching the Champions league final, third has become even more important and it's crucial that Arsenal end the season well. To do that, Arsenal will have to end a three game run without a win. Norwich at home might seem like a great chance to get a win but if Arsenal fail to match Norwich's work ethic, then like Spurs they could be in for a long afternoon. Robin Van Persie finally scored from open play and that was his first in eight games. Van Persie has started to look more and more tired as the season come to an end, and that is expected, Van Persie has had to lead from the front, on and off the pitch. Also, this is his first real season without an injury so it's been a new experience for him. The great pity has been the fact that Arsenal do not have other forwards who are good enough to share the work load upfront this season. But Wenger has already signed a player for next season who might lessen the burden on Van Persie. That player is German international Lukas Podolski who was signed from FC Koln just this week. The news was greeted well by Arsenal fans and they hope that it's a sign of things to come in the transfer window. So Arsenal have had some good news off the pitch this week, and a win against Norwich will great news on the pitch because it will take Arsenal one step closer to finishing in third. Norwich will not make it easy and the Arsenal players will have to match the drive and energy of the Norwich players if they are to impose their style of football on the game. It should be a great game and as it's Arsenal's last home game of the season, so the team will hope to end it on a winning note. Team News: Diaby, ruled out with a calf injury. Park Chu Young replaces him in the squad. Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Norwich City: Played: 50 Wins: 23 Draws: 17 Losses: 10 For: 88 Against: 49 GD: 39 Last 6 Matches: Norwich City 1 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 4 - 0 Norwich City Norwich City 0 - 4 Arsenal Arsenal 5 - 1 Norwich City Norwich City 0 - 0 Arsenal Norwich City 1 - 1 Arsenal please log in to view this image Managers View: Wenger on Norwich and Grant Holt: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
should win. norwich have nothing to play for and have been dreadful recently. having said that, stoke were exactly the same...
Stoke at the Britannia is always hard. Norwich will not be easy either but this is a game we should win. Hopefully there will be no QPR/ Wigan-like complacency.
Stoke away is a very different prospect to Norwich at home. To be honest the form Norwich are in, if we can't beat them at home, then we don't really deserve 3rd. That said, I think we should win
I think we should win this, Norwich seem to have finished the season early, they haven't really turned up for the last 3 games. Arsenal: 3 Norwich:1
We absolutely HAVE to win this game, unfortunately for us our track record has'nt been the greatest when that is the case. We seem to leak goals whenever the pressure mounts. Even though Norwich are a weak side with nothing to play for i'm going for a tight 3-2 win.
Yoou might be right - could be tough. Basically its a nail biting last 2 games. Even if we win against Norwich, it's very likely we'll stil need to beat West Brom to get 3rd.
Hopefully the dropped points vs Wigan will not come back to bite us...... Under normal circumstances we should be thrashing teams like Norwich (at home), but with this Arsenal side you just don't know, beat Mancity when most expected nothing and then capitulate to Wigan at home...... I know it definitely will not be easy.....Particularly without Arteta.
I hope the lads are sent out with a shouted - ' Win this or forever be labelled Losers!' Its a must win - make no mistake. Imagine the pressure if we lose then turning out against WBA.
I think most of our guys are expecting a bit of a thumping from you Gunners today. Like most, I will be watching but only through tiny slits in my fingers. Having said that, despite our poor recent form, you just never know. We live in hope, but hopes are certainly not high.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Ramsey, Song, Gervinho, Rosicky, Benayoun, van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Park, Andre Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou, Chamakh, Coquelin. Norwich: Ruddy, Naughton, Ryan Bennett, Martin, Lappin, Johnson, Howson, Elliott Bennett, Hoolahan, Jackson, Holt. Subs: Steer, Morison, Surman, Pilkington, Fox, Wilbraham, Ward.
