Arsenal: 4 reasons to be hopeful vs Norwich

4. The Beginning of the Season

There is no hiding from the pressure Arteta is under. While no supporter should ever wish to see their side lose just to force an issue, if it were to end in disaster against Norwich then the growing contingent of fans who want to see the back of the manager edge closer to getting their wish.

But that’s not the way it should be viewed as. After all, the season only begins in September, right?

Three points won’t suffice against Daniel Farke’s men. It has to be three dominant points with improvements galore. This match can’t even be a contest.

Win, and win comfortably, and this can be the catalyst needed to build a run going forward. Beating the side in the league who also have a -9 goal difference will not absolve Arteta or pressure, nor will it tell us a great deal.

Even dreadful Arsenal sides should be beating newly-promoted Norwich at home.

But win here and carry that momentum on forward and the season can start to take shape in a positive way. In what will hopefully be an Emirates Stadium with near full capacity, the team and the supporters need to connect in a way that at least offers a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Without reforging that bond the season might as well be forfeit and Arteta may as well hand in his resignation. Something has to be evident on that turf that indicates moving upwards is a possibility and not a impossibility. Let’s hope for that.

It’s only Norwich, anyway. Isn’t it?