please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Norwich City at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon as the Gunners look to get their fourth league win on the trot. Their previous win came against West Brom at the Hawthorns and Arsenal were certainly made to work for the three points. Thomas Rosicky put Arsenal into the lead after he got the end of a shoot come cross from Gervinho and it was only Rosicky’s second goal of the season. After the half-time break, Thomas Rosicky doubled Arsenal’s lead after a close range strike. At the point, it looked like Arsenal would cruise to the win, but West Brom were given a life-line when Per Mertesacker took down Shane Long in the penalty area, the Baggies were awarded the spot kick and Mertesacker was also sent off for his troubles. James Morrison just about converted the penalty and it was game on at the point. Despite a few hairy moments, the Gunners held on and bagged another win. While, Arsenal continued their excellent form, Norwich once again failed to get a much needed win after a 2-2 draw against Swansea City at Carrow road. Norwich came out on top when they last met Arsenal and it was a result that surprised many, but the Canneries fully deserved their win. It was also without a doubt, one of Arsenal’s worst performances of the season and Norwich took advantage. Grant Holt scored the only goal of the game to earn all three points for the home side. On Saturday afternoon, the Gunners can’t afford to put in a similar performance, as the race for the top four places continues to heat up. Norwich still have relegation worries and another defeat could see them get dragged into the relegation dogfight. So, both teams have plenty to play for, so plenty is at stake when these two meet on Saturday. Under the management of Paul Lambert, Norwich played and defended as a team and the spirit they had saw them defy many of their critics last season. This season, they have so far conceded 49 goals in the league, and that has been one of their major problems this season. On the road, they have conceded 32 goals and have only managed to win one away game all season. Also last season one thing they had in their team was goals. Grant Holt and Steve Morrison between them scored 24 league goals last season. This time around, Morrison only has the one goal in the league and Holt has scored five. Morrison has left Norwich to join Leeds, while Grant Holt continues to struggle. In the January transfer window, Norwich brought in forward Kei Kamara from Sporting Kansas City to try and help them upfront, and he got off to a good start after he scored against Everton in his first game for Norwich. But that has been his only goal in a Norwich shirt and like the other Norwich forwards, he has struggled to find the net. The Canneries have only scored 12 goals away from home this season, and only West Ham and Stoke City have scored fewer goals on the road this season. So from a statistical point of view, Norwich’s prospects at the Emirates do not look good but they have upset the Gunners before. Per Mertesacker is suspended for the visit of Norwich, so Thomas Vermaelen is expected to replace him in the starting line-up. After spending some time out of the first team, the Belgian knows that this might be a rare chance to impress Arsene Wenger, so he needs to his chance. In midfield, Thomas Rosicky is a doubt for the game and that is a blow to the Gunners, because Rosicky was in excellent form and he was providing Arsenal with a different dimension in attack. Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are expected to make their returns from injury against Norwich after both took part in full training this week. Their return is welcomed, but at the same time, Wenger has to be wary of the potential risks of disrupting a winning team. With Tottenham Hotspurs not playing this weekend, and Chelsea having to play an FA Cup semi-final, this is Arsenal’s chance to overtake both sides and climb into that third spot. The pressure is going to be on the Gunners and so far, they have coped with that pressure having won their previous three league games. Norwich are not in great form, but they were not in great form, when these two teams last met, and it was Norwich that came out on top that time. With plenty to play for, this should be an excellent game and one that Arsenal have to win. Team News: Arsene Wenger: 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: 52 Wins: 23 Draws: 18 Losses: 11 For: 91 Against: 53 GD: 38 Last 6 Matches: Norwich City 1 - 0 Arsenal Arsenal 3 - 3 Norwich City Norwich City 1 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 4 - 0 Norwich City Norwich City 0 - 4 Arsenal Arsenal 5 - 1 Norwich City please log in to view this image Manager's Views: Arsene Wenger on Thomas Vermaelen: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/team-news-wilshere-walcott-rosicky Rosicky is a major doubt for this game, and that is annoying. Just when he was starting to hit some real form.
Credit to SJW, he's managed to find 1 picture where Mikel Arteta has a hair out of place. That's a tough thing to do. On less important matters, i smell a big win this weekend, Norwich have been meandering for some time, we're hitting some form, so providing we play well, we should thump them.
This is our chance to overtake the Spuds (and Chelsea) and quite simply, we have to take this opportunity
I think we're owed a win over Norwich seeing they've taken 4 points from us in our last 2 encounters.
Rosicky is a doubt because of hamstring irritation, so best not risk it and get a full blown hamstring pull. We can switch Cazorla back to his midfield position, and start Podolski on the left.
Norwich are without a win in five so they will be looking to get back up the table and avoid relegation. Pointless reminding everyone that the last two games against them have been dire from our perspective. The 3-3 was some absolutely horrific Arsenal defending; the worst I have ever watched.
Also, have to be wary of Chris Houghton and his tactics. Twice he has beaten us and he did it with the same tactics, once with Newcastle and the other with Norwich. He makes his teams defend deep and allow us space in the wide areas, and in both those games our crossing was next to useless, from the full backs and wide players. If we can get an early goal, then I can see us winning easily, if the early goal does not come, then it could be a long afternoon.
Found this entertaining video about our win over Reading. Hopefully we can play like this against Norwich too: [video=youtube;dfnFSymdd-0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfnFSymdd-0[/video]
I think they are, the Reading home game proved it, more so than the West Brom, West Brom away, you know you have a tough game and need to be up for it. But Reading, at home, on paper this looks so easy, and these are the type of games we've usually dropped points in, thinking we'd just get the 3 points because it was such an inferior side on paper, but we went out there, and put in one of our best performances. I think the Munich game gave them the kick in the backside they needed, and they realise they need to be focused in every game. You can see the difference.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/an-eye-for-goal Interesting article from Michael Cox on Gervinho. A good read.
