Barclays Premier League: Arsenal 3-1 Norwich – Late comeback spares Gunners blushes

Arsenal scored 3 goals in the last five minutes to see off a brave Norwich side at the Emirates yesterday. With the win, Arsenal are now 3rd in the table, one point clear of both Chelsea and Tottenham, having played as many games as Spurs but one more than Chelsea.

The Gunners looked as though they were going to start what is a huge week for the club with a shock defeat, but the late comeback was the perfect way to start the week off.

Arsenal wasted first half chances when Olivier Giroud’s header hit the crossbar after a fine cross from Bacary Sagna. Gervinho appeared to be back to his normal self, the one that lacks the end product but does everything else right. His best chance came when Santi Cazorla sent him through on goal and the Ivorian rounded Mark Bunn, but a heavy touch made the angle hard for him to score from and he missed the target.

The visitors failed to create any chances in the first half, but defended well throughout the half when Arsenal tested them.

After the break, Norwich offered a bit more in attack as Michael Turner’s header was desperately cleared away by the Arsenal defence. Turner was involved at the other end minutes later, as Jack Wilshere’s shot was blocked by him and the hosts appealed for a penalty.

In the 56th minute, the visitors took a shock lead. Kei Kamara was clipped by Kieran Gibbs which lead to a promising free kick for the Canaries. Robert Snodgrass whipped it in and Turner headed past Fabianski, who was rooted to the spot. Poor marking from the Gunners let that goal go in, nobody was near him, there was nothing the keeper could do. It was like a training ground routine, without the defenders being there!.

Arsene Wenger immediately sent on Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott from the bench to help rescue the game.

Instead it was Norwich who came closest to scoring again. Russell Martin’s powerful effort was straight into the arms of Fabianski as the game was nearly put to bed.

With just over 10 minutes left, the Gunners nearly equalised when Giroud chested down a Kieran Gibbs cross and Podolski’s effort smashed against the crossbar, with Bunn getting a crucial touch on it. Podolski’s effort appeared to be going in, so it was a great save from the Norwich keeper.

With five minutes to go, the game looked as though it was getting away from Arsenal. But when Olivier Giroud had his shirt pulled by Kei Kamara in the box, the linesman signalled for a penalty and the referee pointed to the spot. Norwich were furious. The referee (Mike Jones) had a better view of the incident and hadn’t pointed to the spot, but the linesman who was further away from it, saw the incident. Of course the linesman would have had a restricted view and just seen the tug on Giroud’s shirt that forced him to ground. I don’t think there are too many complaints from the Norwich camp that it was a penalty, just that the referee didn’t give it and his linesman did.

Another thing that infuriated Norwich was the fact that the corner that lead up to the penalty being given appeared to come off an Arsenal player last, so Norwich were furious that the corner was even given in the first place.

Regardless of whether it was a penalty or not, Mikel Arteta stepped up to the spot and had the opportunity to level the scores. The Spaniard just about got the better of Bunn, who got a hand to it, but it still ended up in the back of the net. Arsenal were level. They had just under five minutes to win it now.

Mikel Arteta scores from the spot.

With just two minutes to go, Arsenal found their second. Some neat play between substitutes Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski put the England international in a good position to cross the ball. He clipped the ball across the goal for the two strikers, Podolski and Giroud to tap in. Podolski nearly got to it but Giroud did as he bundled in Arsenal’s second goal of the game and surely the winner.

Olivier Giroud puts Arsenal in front.

Norwich came fighting back though. Jonny Howson forced a fine save out of Fabianski and Martin saw a header gratefully caught by the Pole in the Arsenal goal. Norwich coming back attacking like that reminded me of the same fixture last year when Arsenal went 3-2 up with just 10 minutes left thanks to Robin Van Persie’s second goal of the game, but five minutes later were caught napping by a Steve Morison goal. Howson’s effort had shades of Morison’s to it, but Fabianski saved it, whereas it went past Szczesny last season.

A big groan came from the home fans when 6 minutes of stoppage time were added on. Giroud came close as his effort was tipped over by Bunn, but two minutes in and Podolski made the game safe for the hosts. Walcott was played through and appeared to be offside, but the linesman did not flag and he found Podolski who turned and shot to seal all three points.

Lukas Podolski makes the game safe.

Arsenal made hard work of it, but they got there in the end. They will have to play a lot better if they are to get three points against Everton on Tuesday, but all that matters at this stage of the season is the 3 points.