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.

2.  New Signings Making Their Home Debuts

Will it be too soon for Takehiro Tomiyasu to start at right-back for his new club? Hopefully (there is that word again) it won’t be.

Japan take on China in their World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday after a shock defeat to Oman – which Tomiyasu missed as he finalised his Arsenal move – and given the fixture is being played across the globe there might be a wait yet until we see him in action.

Not having met his teammates or taken part in a single training session at London Colney, Arteta may feel it’s too early to be thrusting him into the starting lineup. Then again, he has watched Cedric and Chambers play in the last four matches, so perhaps not.

And then there is Martin Odegaard. The last time he played in front of the Emirates crowd was the final day of last season where he put in a lovely display en route to a comfortable 2-0 win. The stadium was only partially filled due to capacity restrictions, so him being ready to take his place in the No. 10 slot against Norwich is reason enough for the crowd to be excited, anyway.

The Manchester City loss was such a glorious catastrophe that fans didn’t get to see him in anything even remotely resembling an influential mode, unlike away at West Brom where he looked a his silky best.

It’s chance to fully announce himself as a permanent Arsenal player against the Canaries.

3. A Thomas Partey & Sambi Lokonga Double Pivot

Not having Granit Xhaka available for three matches is, in many peoples’ eyes, the only positive to draw from the 5-0 drubbing last time out.

That stupid, inexcusable act was a classic ‘Xhaka seeing red’ moment, with the result of that being another chance for Sambi Lokonga to continue his impressive start to life as an Arsenal player.

Looking sharp in pre-season and carrying that into the Premier League where his delightful range of pass, press resistance and positive approach have been on show, the thought of seeing that alongside Thomas Partey is possibly the cause for most excitement against Norwich.

Considered similar in terms of style and profile, if they complement each other it could be the springboard for a more dynamic midfield going forward. Or, at least, for the three matches Xhaka is unavailable.

Sambi’s defensive frailties and awareness of runners needs fine-tuning to meet the demands of the Premier League and given these are areas where Partey excels, the scope is there for the Belgian to play the slightly more advanced role in the double pivot.

That is, of course, so long as Mohamed Elneny doesn’t recover from his recent knock and Arteta subsequently causes the entirety of north London to groan.

Please don’t do that.

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?