Three goals inside the last seven minutes gave Arsenal victory over a spirited Norwich who will count themselves hard done by to leave the Emirates point-less.
Michael Turner’s 56th minute header – his second goal in as many games – looked, for a while, as if was going to be enough to earn the Canaries a priceless three points but the single wave of a lineman’s flag in the 83rd minute changed the course of the game.
The flag – from a linesman on the opposite site of the pitch and with an obscured view – was in response to a shirt-tug by Kei Kamara on Olivier Giroud. The resultant penalty was coolly converted by Mikel Arteta.
The momentum afforded to the Gunners by this lifeline led to City finally caving into the pressure and two late goals from Giroud and substitute, Lukas Podolski secured the points for the home side.
Chris Hughton made three changes from the side that drew with Swansea; Mark Bunn recovering from injury to take his place in goal but Steven Whittaker coming in at left-back to replace Javier Garrido. In midfield Elliott Bennett made way for the more defensive qualities of Alex Tettey and Wes Hoolahan, in the ‘number 10’ role, sacrificed in preference to the physical qualities of skipper Grant Holt.
For the Gunners Jack Wilshire returned to the central-midfield after a 6-week spell out through an ankle problem.
With Kei Kamara lining up wide on the right, Grant Holt was again asked to plough the lone furrow up front with Jonny Howson, Bradley Johnson and Alex Tettey making up a central-midfield triumvirate designed to break up Arsenal’s renowned free-flowing passing style.
In an excellent first half from a Norwich perspective the hosts typically had a lot of early possession, but were unable to make a breakthrough. City – with Steven Whittaker making an eye-catching return to the side – defended solidly with the trio of central-midfield players providing excellent protection to the back-four.
Arsenal’s possession – while being plentiful – was slow and lacked penetration and gave Norwich time to organise their two lines of defence.
The closest the home side came was on 29 minutes when Gervinho was released in the inside right channel by Santi Carzola’s nicely weighted pass but, after rounding Bunn, the Ivorian’s heavy touch took him wide and he could only roll the ball across the face of the City goal.
Earlier Giroud had glanced a header on to the top of the Norwich crossbar after Bacary Sagna had been given too much time to swing in a right wing cross.
Other than these two close calls, City defended relatively comfortably and as the half progressed started to enjoy more possession of their own, albeit without seriously troubling Łukasz Fabiański in the Arsenal goal.
The second period was a much more end-to-end affair and was reminiscent of last season’s thrilling 3-3 draw.
On 56 minutes, some excellent work down the right flank ended with Kamara being tripped by former City loanee, Kiernan Gibbs. From the resultant free-kick Robert Snodgrass’ beautifully delivered left-footed inswinger was met perfectly by Turner, who glanced an unstoppable header inside Fabiański’s right-hand post.
As the game continued to ebb and flow – in contrast to the first half – City had a great chance to go two nil up when, following a fantastic run out of defence by Sebastien Bassong, the Cameroonian had the composure to pick out an overlapping Russell Martin. Unfortunately for City, having made the lung-bursting run, the Scottish international could only fire straight into the midriff of the Gunners’ keeper.
On the hour mark an increasingly agitated Arsene Wenger had made a double substitution, Wilshire and Gervinho making way for Podolski and Theo Walcott, both of whom had a positive impact on the home side as an attacking force. Chances continued to come and go with the Norwich goal at times leading a charmed life, particularly when only a brilliant finger-tipped saved by Bunn from Podolski’s shot preserved their slender lead – his tipped shot thumping the crossbar.
The game’s pivotal moment came on 84 minutes when, from a hotly disputed corner – Snodgrass looking as though he’d successfully shepherded the ball out for a goal-kick – the ensuing scramble resulted in Kamara harshly being adjudged to have pulled Giroud’s shirt. With few appeals from the Arsenal players, and referee Mick Jones just 10 yards away, the linesman – some 50 yards away and with a goalmouth full of players to obscure his view – gave the dreaded flag-across-the chest.
To the fury of the City players – Bunn was booked for his part in the protests – the referee concurred with his assistant and Arteta did the rest.
With the momentum firmly with the home side – Wenger’s grimace replaced by a smirk – on 88 minutes they went ahead; Giroud’s close-range effort coming after good work by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, himself a late substitute for Sagna.
The Norwich response was a positive one and Howson – who was excellent throughout – saw his well-struck shot well saved by Fabiański, but alas for City that was the last they were seen as an attacking force.
Two minutes into injury time Podolski rubbed salt into the City wounds when Walcott picked him out on the edge of the box; his crisp shot fizzing inside Bunn’s left-hand post.
A hard one to take for City – particularly given the nature of defeat – but the type of performance that, if repeated in the coming weeks, will surely see them through to Premier League safety.
Follow us on Twitter
What game was yr reporter watching??? ” supposed tug” Giroud was pulled to ground with the neck of his shirt pulled over his shoulder try being unbiased in yr reporting report the facts an not what you wished the facts were
0
I know you’re a local reporter but be a bit more realistic. Norwich were outplayed for 89 minutes. Before they scored Arsenal had had two good penalty shouts turned down and had hit the bar twice. Outpossessed, outpassed, out fought, out gunned. Just think yourselves lucky that Holt got away with his customary unsportsmanlike behaviour. In fairness though he only committed three clear bookable offences today, rather fewer than usual.
0
BG – Thanks for your comment… odd that not a single Arsenal player – or a ref that was ten yards away – thought it was a pen though.
0
Mike – thanks for your comment. Sorry if Holty upset you. Outplayed for 89 mins??
0
Hey what game did you watch…. “with not a single appeal from arsenal players”??? Check the video again…. Ramsey was screaming at the ref. what kind of appeal where you expecting??
0
Stop the crying. Kamara had a handful of jersey pulling Giroud down. You must be nearsighted!
Pace , pace , pace ! Norwich could not handle the change of pace !
0
Suggest you view the vid again m8 at least one Arsenal player rises his arm appealing for the pen
0
Thanks for your comment Crispen – Ramsey screaming at the ref? I will indeed check the ‘video’. You guys were awfully quiet today for 87 minutes…
0
Great performance by Norwich. Very disciplined and solid . It was a very obvious tug and was in fact appealed by the Arsenal player next to Giroud and by Giroud himself. But if Norwich can show this spirit and discipline hey should be OK.
Good luck
0
In fact ive justed viewed it again an the only Arsenal player looking towards Giroud clearly appeals
0
Yes Gary 89 minutes! As for Holt, he’s just a cheating thug really. Ask anyone who isn’t a Norwich fan.
0
Mike – thanks for your feedback. I’m a Norwich fan… you’re an Arsenal fan. We see things differently. This is a Norwich City website. Good luck for rest of the season.
0
Oh now your popping at the fans cos youve lost your argument Norwich played for the draw, 4 across the back with another 5 just in front of them clearly proves this, nearly stole a win and ending up getting beat.
Arsenal had twice the number of attempts on goal and 3 times the number of corners those are facts
0
Doesnt matter who’s website it is should still report the facts u can be upset u lost but dont change the facts to appear like u were robbed, u weren’t u tried to play for a draw an got beat not by a lineos flag but by the better team
0
And have you looked at video yet or is that the reason youve now gone quite??
0
BG – just an observation. I’m not arguing with the stats; on the balance of play you deserved the win – no arguments. Just hard to take in the circumstances given how badly we need the point(s)and if a similar penalty had been awarded against you…
0
Glad we got the victory today and deserved it on the balance of play but from the performance today Norwich don’t have too much to worry about – best of luck for the rest of the season !
0
Bug Gooner, grow up. What other tactic do you expect from us? We can’t pay what you pay your players. We have to grind out every single precious point we can and if it means defending away to a top 4 team then that’s what we will do.
I think it was penalty. An extremely harsh one that would never have been given at the other end. My beef is with that same linesman’s decision to give a corner a few seconds prior to the penalty incident. In my opinion, the lino guessed and gave it to the home team. The decision was undoubtedly wrong.
I think this article is naturally written with a slant towards Norwich. However, the reporter doesn’t mention your 3rd goal was offside. And he has every right to put a positive spin on what was a good Norwich performance.
0
Just what do u mean “in the circumstances” what are those then ? a pen that should have been given was, a freekick that shouldnt was, leading to yr goal, and you were outplayed by a better team, who admittedly struggled to break down a 9 man defensive wall, and who failed to take the chances they created
0
Classy stuff from the red and white contributors -so dignified and magnanimous in victory!
You dominated play, got 3 points and deserved it -none of that excuses the ref who is on the spot and sees no infringement trusting a linesman who is approx. 5 times further away and couldn’t possibly be 100% sure of what he thought he saw. The same linesman who gave the corner when it was a clear goalkick! I don’t suppose that a single Arsenal player was pulling a shirt? Let’s wait for the next terrible decision to go against Arsenal (Everton on Tues.?)and see their fans shrug their shoulders and say ‘oh well, that’s all part of the game’.
0
OC l never said yr tactics were wrong l merely pointed out that due to them u lost you thought u could do what others have done
B4 u defend an hope to nick a goal an rely on our poor finishing to hold on
0
If some care to hunt a still of the incident, I think you will see Giroud has hold of Kamara shirt equally as much. (wish I could post the picture on here)
Whinging wenger complaining every time Bunn took a goal kick for time wasting, then next week we will see his keeper doing just the same. Always whinging, always moaning
0
Bug gooner – how much did you pay the officials today, i think you were watching a different game!
0
Russ the reason Arsenal fans responded was the headline on this article so dont bang on about magnaimous an dignified when thewriter was implying that the only reason we won was a linos flag as for the ref not giving it maybe he saw it but wasnt sure an because the lino flagged it helped make his mind up
0
@ Tim Dawson
How mature. What a laugh calling someone names and then accusing a fan of bribing the officials. Keep taking the tablets. Bad losers or what.
0
Ah time to leave the tractor boys to their deluded dreams reason for this is now the sensible arguments have ended an the swearing has started.
l watched a game where only one team was trying to win an did!
0
You were too biased in your report,I was almost made to believe it wasn’t the one I watched. Take the punch on the chin, Norwich deserved nothing from that match. The time wasting tactics was also comical from them!
0
I think Matt Le Tissier sums the game up nicely from a neutral point of view:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/matt-le-tissier-on-arsenal-3-norwich-1/
Here is the still for the penalty incident:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BHvyVgjCcAETWcx.jpg:large
0
Dear author, I come not to praise, but to correct. It wasn’t Ramsey’s shot Bunn saved (not sure he got anything on it from where I sit behind the goal), it was Podolski’s effort following Giroud’s lay-off, trust me. I won’t add to the critique of your report by my Gooner bretheren, as there’s nothing that hasn’t already been typed. Just one observation; Canary support was impressive today, but if I wonder how many are satisfied to makethe away journeys across the country to be rewarded with that shower of toss for 95% of the match? Not many, I would hope.
0
OC on the Tiss he always pops at us dont knw why but he does as to yr pic its a still yes it shows both players holding shirt but the difference is that Giroud was pulled to the ground by his as he was attempting to strike the ball the norwich player makes no attempt at the ball until after he pulled Giroud to the ground
0
I will answer your seemingly rhetorical question, I saw it!
My answer is yes and I love it. I have been to 11 away games (and lost on a ballot for today) this season and the majority have been utter tripe. But I go for the glorious wins (4-3 at Swansea), the adrenaline pumping penalty saves (Bunn at QPR) and the priceless late equalizers (Snodgrass at Spurs, Turner at Villa) because they are oh so sweet. The defeats and defensive tactics aren’t ideal but they’re part of the fun and make the good times even better. We can’t all support teams that play good football unfortunately. It would be nice if we did but sadly we really cannot afford to in this rather competitive league.
0
No matter how much that result hurts, or how horribly we were cheated by the ref’s assistant – at least Gervinho is not on our team.
0
THen fair enough, OC.
@ ant; let’s see if they show the shirt-pulling & grappling in the Norwich C. box before the penalty…
0
Embarassing from the Arsenal fans, considerably more noise on the forums than in the ground.
0
@Sydney – priceless comment, I could hear on the ball city on MOTD too, thanks for brightening my Sunday
0
It is really quite shocking how arrogant most Arsenal fans have become nowadays! Whilst walking out of the Emirates (Library)with my tail between my legs after yet more contentious decisions given against my team all I heard was singing and praise by gooner fans who ten minutes previously were slating, booing and getting on players backs! If we’re still around in this over hyped and manipulated league by the top four clubs, I urge Gunners fans to take a trip to Carrow Road and we’ll show you what love and support for a team is! PS give me League One or The Championship any day of the week, proper players, no play acting, better officials!!
0
Gary – just re-read your piece over my cornflakes. It’s a balanced and fair assessment of yesterday’s events, so God knows what the Arsenal fans were getting so worked up over. What are they like when they are on the wrong end of a result?!
Sad to see Becchio marooned once more on the bench and not given an opportunity. Reading is win or bust now in my opinion.
0
Cannot understand the Becchio situation either Russel, we took a player in form and have now made him our fourth choice striker without even giving him a chance. Couldn’t believe when Jacko came on yesterday
0
I think Becchio must have run over Chris Hughton’s puppy! Proven goalscorer in English football in a very average Leeds side, albeit 2nd tier (Holt and Lambert were the same until they were given a PL chance). We paid a tidy sum for him and he doesn’t even get 5 mins off the bench. All the hype that surrounded Kamara’s arrival seems woefully misplaced to me now.
Arsenal fans seem to think the opposition has a duty to afford them the space to play their fancy flowing football at the Emirates. I notice the rather obsequious MOTD interviewer didn’t even ask Wenger his opinion of the penalty award. ‘Le Profeseur’ would have been apoplectic if it had been given against them.
0
In response Bug Gooner, first of all, all 3 of your goals should not of stood. The first is never a corner, then the so called penalty both players are tugging each other and Kamara clearly gets his foot to the ball. The second goal Giroud is clearly seen holding, tugging Bassong back as the ball comes across so lets say the first was a penalty HOW has the linesman missed the second incident?? And the 3rd goal was offside. You might of had more of the play and more chances but face facts for 84 minutes you were poor, laboured and out of sorts. The fact your fans were booing every misplaced pass tells you the level of performance was not that great. We fought hard, defended superbly and warranted a point. The appalling officiating has turned the game and momentum in your favour. The second time in three away games where this has happened to us, we probably would of ended up with 2 wins and safety assured, instead we have 1 point and are in serious trouble. So you can surely understand our anger/frustration?
0
Russ S – cheers for your comment. Appreciated.
It seems…
1) Arsenal never question poor decisions that go against them, and
2) Opposition teams are not permitted to go to the Emirates to defend and ‘get in their faces’, but should just sit back and admire the pretty passing circles…
0
So all the ‘unbiased’ Arsenal supporters on here think it was a corner and a penalty and the ‘unbiased’ Canaries think that both decisions were wrong. How about listening to the views of two impartial MOTD ‘experts’ David Moyes and Alan Hansen, neither of whom think either decision was right. Oh sorry, am I adding to the ‘no-one likes us, and we care’ Gunners paranoia?
Big teams get the big decisions – again. Until the penalty Arsenal had been outfought, tactically and were heading for a defeat. FACT
0
Right, a few points- Norwich free kick for the goal was very soft, walcott not given a penalty and constant unpunished Norwich time wasting. Corner for arsenal goal probably not a corner, giroud shirt pulled equals penalty, Walcott offside for the third. That’s how I see it.
The Norwich talk of cheating and conspiracies is laughable. These things happen, you lost get over it. The article and the views of most Norwich fans I’ve read is very selective.
Regarding the atmosphere Norwich is hardly a game that gets people fired up although its a big and exciting day out for you lot. Atmospheres at most big clubs grounds for these sort of games are rubbish these days.
Enjoy your relegation battle.
0
Oohtobe – Thanks for your comments. The comments posted in the direct aftermath of a game are not always the most measured… that’s just how it is.
We’ll do our best to enjoy the relegation battle ahead… your best wishes are much appreciated. 😉
0
not sure vwe desrved much from the game BUT the Sunday Times shows Giroud with nhis hand buried in KK’s shirt up to the wrist hauling him to the ground. SKY showed Giroud’s blatant yank on Bassong’s shirt to get him away form the ball as the secong went in. Which means the o0ffside was academic. I was sitting with home fans bang in line with the linesman for all three of those decisions. The Arsenal season ticket holders around me all, to a man and woman , agreed that the penalty was highly marginal; Giroud clearly fouled Bassong and Walcott was a yard off so goals thus 2 and 3 ought in their view to have been disallowed. They were really sympathetic about the wrong decisons .Some Gooners have a sense of true sportsmanship
0
Does continuous time wasting, tripping yourself up to win a free kick which lead to a goal and surrounding officials constitute true sportsmanship then?
The holier than thou attitude shown by some Norwich fans over this is incredible.
0
Oohtobe – holier than thou? A few maybe, but the majority just want to be treated fairly. On Saturday we don’t feel that was the case… simple as that.
But what’s done is done – we dust ourselves down and move on.
I’ll be intrigued to see the reaction of you and the rest of the Arsenal support next time you’re on the receiving end of some iffy officialdom.
And re your condescending comment about our big day out – sorry to disappoint you but trips to Manchester, Merseyside and even Chelsea trump you in that department… nice stadium though.
Good luck for your final five games.
0
Haha, a bite!
Were you complaining when holt fell over to win a penalty earlier in the season or when naughton pushed over van persie in the three all last season?
Probably not but that doesn’t fit the anti Norwich / smaller club theories being bandied about so let’s not mention them eh?
By the way, we’ve had our fair share of iffy decisions.
0
Oohtobe – Yep; well done, you win.
You’ve tied us all up in knots… clever you 😉
0
That wasn’t the intention, the intention was to point out the holes in lots of the arguments and opinions I’ve seen.
Oh well, I’d still rather see stoke go down!
0