Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal vs Norwich preview: How to watch, lineups, injury updates & prediction

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal and Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United interact following the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on July 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal and Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United interact following the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on July 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Mikel Arteta
Arsenal vs Norwich Premier League preview: A must-win game for Mikel Arteta as he welcomes back key squad members for Saturday’s clash. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Is this going to be make or break? It certainly has the capacity to be break, but to class it as make would be hugely premature as Arsenal host Norwich in the Premier League on Saturday. Here is the preview.

Mikel Arteta’s standing among supporters has been higher. Three consecutive league defeats without a goal being scored is the worst possible start that the club could have envisaged.

Yes, Chelsea are the European champions, Manchester City are the reigning English champions and a fired up Brentford on opening night missing a string of first team players offers some mitigation.

Any platform for excuse can be put to rest now. Spending a club record £150m over the summer and the most of any side in the division, Arteta has nowhere to hide as his mid to long-term project urgently requires short-term success

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Arsenal vs Norwich Premier League preview: A must-win game for Mikel Arteta as he welcomes back key squad members for Saturday’s clash

Given the financial backing he’s had and the faith placed in him by the club’s hierarchy, victory against the Canaries won’t save his job. It would require something monumental to see him sacked in the wake of this one.

He’s nonetheless skating on extremely thin ice. If three points aren’t secured against Daniel Farke’s men it could be the beginning of the end, and even if the club may respond differently, the fans will be sure to vent their feelings in north London.

It is, without doubt, a must-win game. Spared of being rock bottom themselves by account of the one goal they’ve scored, if there was ever a Premier League fixture Arsenal would have wanted to be the springboard for a turnaround then it would have been Norwich on home soil.

Saturday is being framed as the beginning of the season. It isn’t whatsoever as the previous three matches certainly did happen, but it can be the start of a run that sees Arsenal look competitive once more; the catalyst for a stretch of form that moves the side up the table and subsequently keeps the manager employed.

Win the football match and do it with a clear sign or progression and identity. Is that so much to ask?

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 11 August
What Time Is Kick Off? 15:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? The Emirates Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Not on UK TV (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Michael Oliver

Continued…

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