Arsenal: 4 reasons to be hopeful vs Norwich

All hope is not lost. It’s the basis for much of the blind faith Arsenal supporters have in their team when the going gets tough and something, anything, has to be clung onto for fear of losing all belief there can be a turnaround of fortunes.

Admittedly, however, it’s looking pretty bleak.

For all the excuses that can be dished out so far this season the bottom line is that Arsenal are propping up the Premier League table. Rock bottom without a single point or even a goal to ironically cheer over, the situation is damning.

Taking on Brentford under the floodlights on a Friday night as the opening fixture of the 2021/22 campaign with the newly promoted side enjoying their first ever taste of the league, it was set up for defeat. Throw in the numerous absences rocking the squad and the foundations were there for disappointment.

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4 reasons for Arsenal fans to be hopeful and excited when Mikel Arteta’s side take on Norwich in the Premier League

Still, it was unacceptable.

Hosting Chelsea who’d just invested £100m into a world class striker to complement their Champions League winning side still faced with absences that were compounded by additional players missing was also a recipe for disaster.

Still, it was nowhere near good enough.

Then the simple matter of taking on the English champions with a defence that wouldn’t be out of place at a side in the lower reaches of the division, all the while having a man sent off after 30 minutes also had defeat written all over it.

Irrelevant, it was nowhere near good enough.

So, what on earth is there to be excited about when Norwich head to north London for a relegation six-pointer in matchweek four? Well, there has to be something.

1. Having a Competent Central Defence

Even just having two central defenders who know how to track runners would be a step up from the horror show witnessed by the Arsenal back three against Manchester City.

So, with it looking set to be Ben White and Gabriel who sit in the middle of the defence against the Canaries, the jump up in quality is most welcome.

There will be teething problems, perhaps even communication issues to deal with, but merely from a quality perspective anyone with a clear head would rather have Gabriel over Sead Kolasinac and Ben White over either Calum Chambers or Rob Holding.

Expecting the pair to seamlessly partner each other in their first Premier League fixture together with one having just returned from a knee injury and the other being absent with COVID-19 might be jumping the gun. It won’t be perfect.

It can still only be improved. There is no possible way it can be any worse.

In terms of ball progression, their ability to actually kick the football and the boost in athleticism and energy, White and Gabriel playing alongside one another is genuine cause for hope that the shambolic defending of the opening three fixtures can at least be partly improved upon.