Arsenal vs Norwich Saturday 13th April 2013 Match Preview
12th April by Jeff @ArsenalTrend
Arsenal will continue their push for a top-four finish when they welcome Norwich City to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal (16-8-7) have won six of their last seven games and are behind only league leaders Manchester United in the form table, but were beaten 1-0 by Saturday's visitors earlier in the season.
Heading into the game against Norwich on the back of three straight wins, Wenger called for his team to start the game with intensity. "Once we are in front, the teams who usually defend against us have to come out and that gives us space to develop our game even better," explained Wenger in his pre-match press conference. "That shows you that when we start our games in a positive way, we can dominate. It shows you just how important the confidence is to go into the games and to have a strong start."
Despite losing just two of their last nine league games, Chris Hughton's Norwich (7-14-11) remain only four points clear of the relegation zone. Fully aware that his side aren't yet safe, Hughton wants his team to up their performances for the run-in. "The most important game is the Arsenal game - that's the next one," said Hughton. "We've got to go to Arsenal and look to get something there, as we will do in all of these last six games. "The fact we are playing the teams around us has a different bearing on it because any points we get are points they don't get. But it's going to be over these six games, three at home and three away, and our approach to the away games has to be exactly the same as the home games and must give us the opportunity to get something."
Arsenal's 39 goals at home is the second highest tally in the league (after Manchester United), but they have already lost three home games this season - meaning that they are one away from matching the most home defeats in Wenger's era at the club. Hughton's side have managed just one win in their last 15 games, but have drawn six of the last nine. The Canaries record away from home is poor. They have won just once on the road, scored only 12 goals, and conceded 32 - managing only two clean sheets in the 16 matches. Norwich have lost just twice in their last six visits to Arsenal, and secured a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the ground last season. A Grant Holt goal settled the game when these teams met at Carrow Road back in October.
Team News
Arsenal :Arsenal have doubts over Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), who according to Arsene Wenger will face a late fitness test as he is declared 50/50. Theo Walcott (groin) and Jack Wilshere (ankle), are declared to be 90% fit, so both are expected to be in the squad but Abou Diaby is out until next season with a knee ligament injury.
Norwich : Norwich are without Andrew Surman (knee) and John Ruddy (hip), but Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) and Mark Bunn (groin) could feature, as they will face a late fitness test. Norwich City are struggling to avoid the drop and also considering the fact they earned four points or never lost in last two games against the Gunners, clearly indicates this game may be another tough one to crack for the home team. Arsenal indeed will want to continue their momentum of good run and will try to avoid it being halted as they could be seven points clear of North London rival's, Spurs when they play again in 10 days time. Arsenal are favorites going into this game on paper, will the Gunners live up to the billing once more?
Predicted Line Ups
Match Facts via BBC Sport
Head-to-head
Norwich beat Arsenal for the first time in 10 attempts last October when Grant Holt's goal gave the home side their first league victory of the season. They have never won this fixture home and away in the same season.
Arsenal are unbeaten at home in this fixture since a 4-2 defeat at Highbury on the first day of the Premier League in August 1992.
Arsenal
The Gunners have won six of their last seven league matches, a record matched only by Manchester United.
Arsenal are yet to lose a Premier League game in which they have taken the lead this season (W16, D2). They have only dropped four points from winning positions.
Arsene Wenger's side have the best second-half record in the Premier League, outscoring their opponents on 17 occasions and only being outscored twice.
There have been more Premier League goals scored at Emirates Stadium than any other ground this season (59: 39 for Arsenal, 20 for the visitors).
Gervinho has scored two goals and assisted three in his last three league appearances.
Norwich
Norwich are winless in their last five league matches, and have only managed one victory in their last 15 (W1, D7, L7).
The Canaries have won one of their last 18 away matches in the league. They have earned just two points from their last seven away games, scoring three goals and conceding 15 during that run.
Only Stoke and QPR have scored fewer goals this season than Norwich (30).
Grant Holt has only scored once in his last 14 league and cup appearances, and twice in his last 23 games since netting the winner against Arsenal in October's reverse fixture.
Heading into the game against Norwich on the back of three straight wins, Wenger called for his team to start the game with intensity. "Once we are in front, the teams who usually defend against us have to come out and that gives us space to develop our game even better," explained Wenger in his pre-match press conference. "That shows you that when we start our games in a positive way, we can dominate. It shows you just how important the confidence is to go into the games and to have a strong start."
Despite losing just two of their last nine league games, Chris Hughton's Norwich (7-14-11) remain only four points clear of the relegation zone. Fully aware that his side aren't yet safe, Hughton wants his team to up their performances for the run-in. "The most important game is the Arsenal game - that's the next one," said Hughton. "We've got to go to Arsenal and look to get something there, as we will do in all of these last six games. "The fact we are playing the teams around us has a different bearing on it because any points we get are points they don't get. But it's going to be over these six games, three at home and three away, and our approach to the away games has to be exactly the same as the home games and must give us the opportunity to get something."
Arsenal's 39 goals at home is the second highest tally in the league (after Manchester United), but they have already lost three home games this season - meaning that they are one away from matching the most home defeats in Wenger's era at the club. Hughton's side have managed just one win in their last 15 games, but have drawn six of the last nine. The Canaries record away from home is poor. They have won just once on the road, scored only 12 goals, and conceded 32 - managing only two clean sheets in the 16 matches. Norwich have lost just twice in their last six visits to Arsenal, and secured a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the ground last season. A Grant Holt goal settled the game when these teams met at Carrow Road back in October.
Team News
Arsenal :Arsenal have doubts over Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), who according to Arsene Wenger will face a late fitness test as he is declared 50/50. Theo Walcott (groin) and Jack Wilshere (ankle), are declared to be 90% fit, so both are expected to be in the squad but Abou Diaby is out until next season with a knee ligament injury.
Norwich : Norwich are without Andrew Surman (knee) and John Ruddy (hip), but Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) and Mark Bunn (groin) could feature, as they will face a late fitness test. Norwich City are struggling to avoid the drop and also considering the fact they earned four points or never lost in last two games against the Gunners, clearly indicates this game may be another tough one to crack for the home team. Arsenal indeed will want to continue their momentum of good run and will try to avoid it being halted as they could be seven points clear of North London rival's, Spurs when they play again in 10 days time. Arsenal are favorites going into this game on paper, will the Gunners live up to the billing once more?
Predicted Line Ups
Match Facts via BBC Sport
Head-to-head
Norwich beat Arsenal for the first time in 10 attempts last October when Grant Holt's goal gave the home side their first league victory of the season. They have never won this fixture home and away in the same season.
Arsenal are unbeaten at home in this fixture since a 4-2 defeat at Highbury on the first day of the Premier League in August 1992.
Arsenal
The Gunners have won six of their last seven league matches, a record matched only by Manchester United.
Arsenal are yet to lose a Premier League game in which they have taken the lead this season (W16, D2). They have only dropped four points from winning positions.
Arsene Wenger's side have the best second-half record in the Premier League, outscoring their opponents on 17 occasions and only being outscored twice.
There have been more Premier League goals scored at Emirates Stadium than any other ground this season (59: 39 for Arsenal, 20 for the visitors).
Gervinho has scored two goals and assisted three in his last three league appearances.
Norwich
Norwich are winless in their last five league matches, and have only managed one victory in their last 15 (W1, D7, L7).
The Canaries have won one of their last 18 away matches in the league. They have earned just two points from their last seven away games, scoring three goals and conceding 15 during that run.
Only Stoke and QPR have scored fewer goals this season than Norwich (30).
Grant Holt has only scored once in his last 14 league and cup appearances, and twice in his last 23 games since netting the winner against Arsenal in October's reverse fixture.
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