Comeback! Arsenal 3-1 Norwich

Arsenal came back from a goal down in the final minutes to defeat Norwich 3-1.  It all started off of a Turner header on a freekick in the 54th minute.  The original “foul” on Gibbs probably shouldn’t have been given, as it looked like he made little contact.

Wenger responded with attacking substitutions of Walcott and Podolski minutes later.  But, even that was not enough.  So finally with time running out, Chamberlain came on for Sagna for an extra attacker.   Arsenal started to get more numbers forward, and it paid off.

A bad ball from Giroud that was chased down by Ramsey as it went out of bounds, was somehow called by the referee to have touched a Norwich player, so Arsenal got the corner.  On the ensuing corner Giroud was controversially pulled down in the box, and the linesman correctly flagged for a penalty.  With five minutes remaining in regulation it was 1-1, as Mikel Arteta converted from the spot.

With in an instant it was 2-1 for Arsenal, as Bassong scored an own goal, after a good ball from Chamberlain minutes later.

Norwich had a time to equalize still however, as the fourth official signaled for 6 minutes of added time.  Arsenal were the ones to take advantage luckily, with a Podolski strike from the top of the box finding its way in. Walcott did look to be caught offsides in the build up to the goal, however the assistant missed it.

It didn’t matter for Arsenal who climbed to 3rd in the table with the controversial victory.  Although, if you were to not count all of the controversial goals, Arsenal would still win 1-0.

Man of the Match: Cazorla

Arsenal vs. Norwich Preview

Arsenal lost 1-0 to the Canaries last time the two sides met.  Now Arsenal are on a four match winning streak.  It is the currently the longest winning streak the Gunners have put together this season in the Premier League, and it couldn’t come at a more important time.

Tottenham, Chelsea, the two clubs standing between Champions League football for Arsenal.  Sunday’s clash between those two clubs was postponed due to Chelsea’s FA Cup fixture against Manchester City.  Therefore, no matter what Arsenal will be in 3rd when this weekend comes to a close.  Of course, when they do play the match at a later date,  the result can only benefit Arsenal.

However, Arsenal need to be careful not to slip up.  The momentum is certainly with them, but Norwich will not go down without a fight, especially since they are still not yet safe from relegation.

Luckily, Wilshere and Walcott are back to bring some fresh legs.  Although they won’t likely start, they will bring quite a punch off the bench, if we are in a desperate situation.

Predicted starting eleven:

Goalkeeper: Szczesny

Defenders: Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs

Midfielders: Arteta, Rosicky, Cazorla

Forwards: Gervinho, Giroud, Podolski

Wenger should rest players against Norwich.

Arsene Wenger needs to give others some minutes that haven’t gotten any in recent weeks.  For example, Podolski has hardly played since Gervinho’s impressive form in the last few matches.  However, Wenger still keeps starting mediocre Giroud, when Podolski has undersevenly been dropped to the bench over the last month or so.  (He did miss a match or two do to illness.)

It would be nice to see Wenger start Podolski as the striker instead of Giroud against Norwich.  Also, I wouldn’t mind seeing Chamberlain replace Ramsey, and Jenkinson get some minutes in the place of Sagna.  Plus, swap Monreal with Ramsey.

This would let some important players get rested before the vital midweek match against Everton.  Plus, we would have Walcott and Wilshere probably back at full fitness for Everton as well.  Therefore, we would have a fresh squad for our most important of our remaining fixtures.

The potential lineup would look something like this:

Goalkeeper: Fabianski

Defenders: Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs

Midfielders: Arteta, Cazorla, Rosicky

Forwards: Chamberlain, Podolski, Gervinho

Note: Vermaelen replaces Mertesacker, because of the German’s suspension picked up against West Brom.

Arsenal 2-1 West Brom Final

We were in full control of the match in the first 75 minutes or so.  Thomas Rosicky scored with a diving header off of a Gervinho cross/shot that went across the face of goal.  Rosicky added another one just after halftime, when his initial shot was stopped by Ben Foster, but he scored on the rebound.

Arsenal could have had a sensational goal as well in the first half, had Ramsey managed to score an easy goal from close range, after amazing string of passes from the Gunners.

We got a very nervous last 15 minutes when Mertesacker brought down long in the box, and Webb had no chose, but to send him off.  The penalty went right through the legs of Fabianski, and unfortunately the deficit was now one goal.

Lukaku caused Sagna all kinds of trouble after he was introduced, and somehow managed to miss from close range.  Long also fired over for West Brom from a few yards out.  Nonetheless Arsenal managed all three points.  And, are temporarily in the top four.

Arsenal vs. West Brom

Arsenal will go in to the top four temporarily if they can defeat West Brom. A day later Chelsea wil play Sunderland, and will have to drop points if Arsenal are to maintain their Champions League spot.  However, if Chelsea draw, and it isn’t a scoreless one.  Arsenal will have to beat West Brom by two goals.  This is because, Arsenal are two points off of Chelsea, and their goal differential is one worse.  We are tied on goals for.

A win is vital away at West Brom to say the least.  Especially, if we are going to be able to afford to drop points when we play Manchester United at the end of the month.

As for the team goes, Wenger will have yet another difficult decision to make in terms of the starting goalkeeper.  Will he go with solid Fabianski, or play Szczesny.  I personally would like to see Fabianski.  Why change it when someone is playing very well?  Same goes for Mertesacker, and Koscielny as the centerback pairing.  Of course that means to Vermaelen. Also, Arsene should start Podolski, and give him some much deserved minutes.  However, I think Wenger will result to the three forwards below in our predicted starting eleven.

Predicted Starting Eleven:

Goalkeeper: Fabianski

Defenders: Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs

Midfielders: Arteta, Cazorla, Rosicky

Forwards: Chamberlain, Giroud, Gervinho

Fourth place is Arsenal’s to lose, not Spurs.

Arsenal are in beter postion then our North London rivals to capture the last Champions League spot.  We are currently four points off the pace of Tottenham, but our remaining fixtures are much easier.  We also have one more fixture on our schedule than Spurs, a rescheduled match at home to Everton.  Here are the remaining fixtures for both clubs, an especially difficult match is in bold.

Spurs:

Swansea

Everton

Chelsea

Man City

Wigan 

Southampton

Stoke (at Stoke, so extra difficult)

Sunderland

Arsenal:

Reading

W.B.A.

Norwich

Everton

Fulham

Manchester United

Q.P.R.

Wigan

Newcastle

Spurs: four difficult matches, Arsenal two.  Plus, Arsenal have a match in hand.  If Arsenal can put together a strong finish, they will almost certainly finish fourth or better.

Also, Tottenham has midweek Europa League matches, wedged into the most difficult part of their Premier League fixtures.  (One before, and after Chelsea)

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