Arsenal v Norwich – Match Review

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goal kept all three points in North London after a period of bad form. 


Arsenal v Norwich – Match Review

Arsenal finally kickstarted their Premier League campaign with a convincing 1-0 victory against Norwich.

The clash was a crucial fixture after a disastrous start to the season and despite being winnable on paper - the Canaries and Gunners had both lost three games from three – few Arsenal fans expected a walkover.

The scoreline ended up being somewhat deceptive, with the Gunners dominating much of the game – racking up a whopping 30 shots – and several players putting in impressive performances.

The win moves Arsenal up to 16th, but will mean nothing if Mikel Arteta fails to lead his side to victory against Burnley at Turf Moor next week.

Defence

Despite the shaky start, Arsenal’s defence has appeared to have been steadily improving for a while now.

And with every player fit, it looks as though Saturday’s back four could be the one for Arsenal to persevere with moving forward.

Gabriel, Ben White, debutant Takehiro Tomiyasu and the ever-reliable Kieran Tierney are combining to form the early foundations of a rock-solid unit.

It may not be perfect, but it’s a lot better than where Arsenal’s defence was two or three years ago and hopefully, it can continue to improve over the season.

Tomiyasu was a standout performer on Saturday, and though it may be too soon to say, Arsenal have possibly found a long-term option at right-back.

Tierney also impressed and at the heart of it all, Gabriel and White stood firm in the face of Norwich’s sporadic – and albeit limited – attacking prowess.

All in all, it was a performance to be satisfied within Arsenal’s defensive third.

Midfield

After a frustrating first half, the turning point in the game was when Arteta introduced Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey for Albert Sambi Lokonga and Tomiyasu.

The substitution put Ainsley Maitland-Niles right-back and gave Smith Rowe significant freedom going forward.

It completely changed the game and was probably the reason why Arsenal were eventually able to grind the gritty Canaries down.

However, it doesn’t change the fact that this was probably the least encouraging aspect of Arsenal’s performance.

The Gunners lost the ball on too many occasions – and too easily – while failing to offer much going forward before the substitutions.

One downside was the performance of Martin Odegaard, who many expect to be a key figure at The Emirates this season.

He failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and, as a result, gave Smith Rowe a golden opportunity to show why he is the best option at No.10 moving forward.


Attack


After a disappointing 18 months at The Emirates, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally appears to have turned a corner.

His form has been patchy – to say the least – for over a year, but he is still Arsenal’s best hope of avoiding a relegation scrap and getting the club back where it belongs.

On Saturday, the Gabon international looked considerably closer to his old prolific self, popping up in the 66th minute to grab the crucial goal and wrap up a much-needed three points.

Arsenal fans everywhere will be hoping that Aubameyang can maintain his return to form and finally return to the type of performances that made him one of the most feared strikers in the league.

On the flanks, Pepe was one of the most influential players on the pitch, providing the assist for Aubameyang’s goal and generally proving a nuisance all game.

He also struck the post twice during an impressive performance that probably deserved a goal.

It wasn’t Bukayo Saka’s best performance, but it was solid enough and Arsenal’s attacking display in general means the forwards can hold their heads high.

Conclusion

All in all, the 1-0 win against Norwich was a necessary evil.

After such a difficult start to the season, it would be unrealistic to expect a 3-0 or 4-0 victory.

However, it was a must-win game for Arteta, and he’ll no doubt be breathing a sigh of relief after another match where his job felt like it was firmly on the line.

Now, Arsenal must pick up where they left off and take this vital momentum into their next game against Burnley on Saturday.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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