Match Review 2011 - 2012

Arsenal were todays visitors to Carrow Road, after a defeat in the last game before the International break against Villa things weren't going to get any easier with Arsenal having the most in form striker Robin Van Persie fully rested for the game. He was joined in attack by Gervinho and Walcott with Arsenal adopting a 4-3-3 formation with Arteta playing in midfield. Paul Lambert made a couple of changes bringing in Crofts and Fox in place of Bennett and Holt, Norwich played a 4-5-1 formation.

Arsenal nearly made the perfect start to the game, with Walcott getting away down the right and pulling the ball across the box to Van Persie, he didn't get a great connection with his right foot but it was a sign of things to come. Arsenal continued to attack with Gervinho getting away from Naughton and playing the ball deep into the Norwich box where Walcott hit a first time shot which was well blocked by the Norwich defence. On 6 minutes the sharp looking Van Persie had an effort that just went wide of the post, Norwich were lucky not to concede a goal after great play by Gervinho setting up Walcott who faked a shot and cut inside of Tierney and curled a left footed shot past Ruddy but Russell Martin made an unbelievable clearance on the line keeping the score even. Norwich took the lead against the run of play, the cumbersome Mertesacker was dispossessed in his own box by Morison when all he had to do was clear it, Morison coolly slotting past Szczesny, cool finish but shocking defending. Arsenal kept playing their passing game still looking to their dangerous front 3 to make something happen, Van Persie had a header cleared off the line, again by Russell Martin, on 22 minutes. Only a minute later Gervinho should have done better when clean through but Ruddy stood up big and made a good save with Martin clearing the rebound. Even though Arsenal were controlling the game Morison was still a handful for the two Arsenal centre backs holding the ball up well and bringing people in. Crofts had a shot from long distance that he rushed. On 26 minutes Arsenal got their deserved equaliser, Walcott skinned Tierney down the right and showed good composure to cross the ball across the 6 yard box, Gervinho missed it but the man of the moment Van Persie tapped it in from 4 yards out. The dangerous Gervinho nearly scored on 37 minutes when he cut inside of Naughton into the 18 yard box but his effort was blocked well by Barnett.

Overall the first half was dominated by Arsenal with Walcott, Gervinho and Van Persie all looking very dangerous, Norwich didn't create much but when the chance came Morison took it very well.

Paul Lambert made a change at half the replacing Fox with Bennett and Crofts moving to his more comfortable central midfield role. Arsenal could have taken the lead on 49 minutes when Vermaelen got down the left but his cross was headed straight at Ruddy by Gervinho, Norwich won a free kick in a dangerous area on the edge of the Arsenal box, Pilkington stepped up, connected well but his free kick went straight to Szczesny. Arsenal were starting to look even more dangerous, Walcott broke down the right and pulled a good ball back but Ramsey's shot went into the side netting. Arsenal should have took the lead on 54 minutes when a good move sent Gervinho straight through on goal, he rounded Ruddy and looked odds on to score but he dallied for a split second giving Ruddy the chance to make a brilliant block and keep the scores level. Arsenal did take a deserved lead on 59 minutes, a mistake from the up till then excellent Martin, who was caught in possession on the half way line, Song broke through the middle and managed to put Van Persie through who clinically finished with a clinical chip over the onrushing Ruddy. Norwich made their best chance of the second half, Bennett did well down the right and got a good cross in, Pilkington made a great run but his connection with the ball wasn't great. Ruddy made two more saves, first from Arteta and then from Gervinho. On the 86th minute Holt was booked for diving when it seemed easier to go for the ball than going over, 1 minute later Walcott let fly from an acute angle that clipped the corner of the upright as it was going over. Norwich had one last chance to try an unlikely draw when Johnson's free kick from a dangerous area was easily caught by Szczesny.

Overall not a bad second half, Arsenal were always in control and with Van Persie in this form he will cause many a team problems.

Result: Norwich City 1, Arsenal 2

Norwich City: Ruddy; Naughton, Barnett, Russell Martin, Tierney; Crofts, Fox (Bennett, 45), Bradley Johnson; Pilkington (Jackson, 82), Hoolahan (Holt, 68); Morison.

 Subs (not used): Rudd, Drury, Surman, Wilbraham

Arsenal: Szczesny; Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos; Song; Walcott (Djourou, 90), Arteta, Ramsey, Gervinho (Benayoun, 78); Van Persie.

 Subs (not used): Fabianski, Arshavin, Rosicky, Chamakh, Coquelin.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Attendance: 26,801

Goals: City: Morison (16). Arsenal: Van Persie (27, 59)

Bookings: City: Bennett (66), Tierney (81), Holt (86).

Didn't crumble against a very good Arsenal attack.

We were in the game right to final whistle even though it didn't look like we'd get the equaliser.

Ruddy made some excellent saves and could do nothing about the goals he conceded.

A bad mistake by Russell Martin, which was harsh considering he's made some excellent blocks and clearances.

Gervinho and Walcotts pace caused us problems all afternoon, but sometimes you can't do anything about it.

Even though Mertesacker looked slow and cumbersome we didn't realy get at him enough and we didn't create that many chances.

Holty looked for a penalty and got booked when he could have quite easily of got a shot off instead.

John Ruddy

Robin Van Persie - a class act, every time he touched the ball he oozed quailty.

Match report by Darren Huckerby