Arsenal vs Norwich: Tactical Preview
Arsenal’s and Arsene Wenger’s Premier League misery continues as they welcome Alex Neil’s side Norwich City at Emirates Stadium.
I’m not revising the fact that how Arsenal slipped out their best chance of winning the premier league title, but a win would bring them closer to the European qualification. Arsenal are currently fourth on the table, behind Manchester City on goal difference. Even after having some great stars like Sanchez, Ozil etc, Arsenal are struggling right now with 3 draws in their last 4 games.
Norwich, on the other hand, are the contenders of this year’s relegation who are on the 18th position and are in a desperate need of the points to stay in the competition. Not just their game, the Canaries are also dependent on Sunderland’s results to avoid relegation.
The last time these 2 sides met in the competition was the encounter at Carrow Road. The Canaries held the Gunners to settle down with a point. Looking at their recent results, Arsenal have won 3 of their last 6 games and have drawn 3. Norwich, on the other hand, have won just 2 of their last 6 games and have lost 3.
Arsenal and Norwich Team News-
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still a week away from being match fit.
Santi Cazorla is all set to return to the Matchday squad.
For Norwich, Alexander Tettey, Timm Klose, and Andre Wisdom are sidelined through injuries for the visitors.
As the (almost) entire squad is fit for Wenger, it will be a surprise to see who Wenger picks.
Lineups-
Arsenal-
Cech
Bellerin; Gabriel; Koscielny; Monreal
Coquelin; Wilshere
Ozil; Iwobi; Sanchez
Welbeck
Norwich-
Ruddy
Russell; Bassong; Bennett; Olsson
Jarvis; O;Neil; Howson; Brady
Naismith; Mbokany
Key Stats-
Arsenal have won eight of their last 12 Barclays Premier League home matches against Norwich City (W8 D3 L1).
Just one of the last 14 BPL meetings between the two sides has ended in a Norwich win. The Canaries have lost seven and drawn six against the Gunners in this period.
This fixture will be Arsene Wenger’s 750th Barclays Premier League match in charge of Arsenal – only Sir Alex Ferguson (810) has managed more in the competition.
Arsenal have recorded the most touches in the opposition box this season (1158), while the opponents Norwich City have made the fewest (569).
Norwich have kept just 1 clean sheet this season in the premier league.
Tactics-
Alex Neil usually goes for 4-4-1-1 formation and favors a more defensive approach. His side majorly depends on the aerial battles from the center backs and that is the reason the side doesn’t dominate the possession much often.
Norwich’s attack is usually built from the long diagonal passes from the center backs and on the other hand, their full backs charges into the opposition’s area.
The central midfield duo, Gary O’Neil and Jonny Howson are responsible for the distribution of the passes, but in the bigger games like these, the two are instructed to give a more defensive approach to the team.
Besides all of them, Arsenal need to concentrate on their January signing Steven Naismith who is an intelligent player. The Scottish star is capable of reading the movements and marking opposition’s holding midfielders which result in a free run for the striker.
Prediction
A must-win win game for the Gunners or they may lose their traditional 4th spot this season. Norwich, on the other hand, will be looking forward to gaining at least a point from the game.
2-0 Arsenal