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

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…

Arsenal Team News – Thomas Partey Returns With Emile Smith Rowe a Doubt

Talk of Arteta no longer having any excuses stems largely from the players he now has to choose from in competitive action.

Missing a wealth of stars through various means of absence, he now welcomes back a near full strength contingent for the visit of the Canaries.

Most notable is the return of Thomas Partey. Yet to feature this season after suffering an ankle injury, the Ghanaian is now available for selection. Whether he starts or not is another matter. Centre-backs Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes are also back, with the pair looking set for their first outing alongside one another. It might come too soon for Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Up front Eddie Nketiah is back fit albeit unlikely to feature on the day, while there have also been some casualties since the last outing.

Emile Smith Rowe is a doubt having fallen ill while away with the England Under-21 side, although it’s been confirmed not to be COVID-19.

Mohamed Elneny is also unavailable and will be for some time after suffering a hamstring strain that has ruled him out of returning to training for up to three weeks.

As for the visitors, new signing Christos Tzolis netted twice on his debut in the EFL Cup but looks set to miss out of this one, with Bali Mumba and Przemyslaw Placheta the others due to miss out.

Continued…

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Norwich – Partey to Start With Smith Rowe Out?

Arsenal: Leno; Chambers, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Sambi; Pepe, Odegaard, Saka; Aubameyang

Norwich: Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams; Gilmour, McLean, Lees-Melou; Cantwell, Pukki, Rashica

Arsenal vs Norwich City Score Prediction

There shouldn’t be this level of excitement and nerves for a home clash against the side heavily tipped to finish bottom of the table this season.

However, there is. It’s unavoidable.

Arsenal will know they have to get their noses in front in the first half. Such is the atmosphere around the club at the moment that if it’s goalless by the 60th minute or so any confidence will be sapped out of the players and the supporters. Every Norwich foray will require defibrillator on hand.

What Arteta does have is the platform to play a team that is the closest to the one he envisages as ideal throughout his entire 20-month tenure. He’s never been nearer to his Arsenal.

Will that reflect in the scoreline? Ish, is the prediction.

Partey is far from being match fit, nor are White and Gabriel who have yet to feature alongside each other apart from 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly, and the fear is that the on-field chemistry will time.

Equally, Norwich will attack. They’re not afraid to push their full-backs up high and wide, inviting deep midfield runners in tandem and we’re all aware how easily Arsenal can get rattled.

But Arsenal will win. Just. With a horrible final ten or so minutes.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Norwich