Arsenal Vs Norwich City
Oct 19, 2013 at 3pm (UK)
Emirates Stadium
Premier League action returns this weekend after an entertaining International weekend and Arsenal go into game week 8 standing at the top of table tied with Liverpool on 16 points. Last time around the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns by a brilliant West Brom side who were unlucky to secure all three points. Jack Wilshere scored a deflected second half goal to help the Gunners to rescue a point. Arsene Wenger and his men will be hoping to maintain their place at top of the Premier League when they entertain Norwich City tomorrow.
Meanwhile Norwich City coming into this fixture are on the wrong end of the table. The Canaries lie on a lowly 18th with just 7 points from 7 games, but their spirited performance against Chelsea last week should give them a boost as Chris Hughton and his men will look to turn the tides against a fragile Gunners backline, but they will need to improve if they are to do so, having scored just five times this season.
Team News:
Arsenal:
Yesterday we predicted a line-up considering Ozil’s injury scare and Ramsey’s fatigue leaving out both the high-flying midfielders. However, Mirror reports that Mesut Ozil is expected to recover from injury and feature in the starting line-up. Although it is clearly upto Wenger to decide on Ozil’s involvement in the game, it is expected that Santi Cazorla and Bacary Sagna could be a part of the game.
Theo Walcott is still sidelined after a minor abdominal procedure. Fowards Yaya Sanogo and Lukas Podolski are still sideline from their back and hamstring injuries respectively along with midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby who are under rehabiliation from their lone term injuries.
Norwich:
Chris Hughton might have to cope up without midfielder Anthony Pilkington, who might miss the clash as he faces a late fitness test due to a hamstring injury. In other areas, Defender Elliott Bennett is still out with a knee injury.Winger Robert Snodgrass might also return to the starting berth.
Predicted starting lineups:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta, Flamini; Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazrola; Giroud
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, Bassong, Turner, Olsson; Howson, Tettey, Fer; Pilkington, Snodgrass, Van Wolfswinkel
Match Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Norwich