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Norwich will look to keep their fairy-tale start to their first season back in the Premier League since 2005 going when they play hosts to a resurgent Arsenal on Saturday.
Sitting in 9th place going into the international break, Paul Lambert’s men have already accumulated 13 points from their first 11 games, although the 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa before the break offered a shot of realism for the Canaries, and they’ll have a hard time in picking up three points against an Arsenal side that has overcome their horrendous start and are now pushing for a top four spot.
Arsene Wenger faced calls for him to step down from his job of 15 years after a start which saw the Gunners succumb to a humiliating 8-2 defeat against Manchester United and a 4-3 loss against lowly Blackburn, but thanks to the form of Robin Van Persie amongst others the North London side find themselves just three points behind fourth and fifth placed Chelsea and Tottenham in seventh.
Norwich centre half pairing Elliott Ward and Zak Whitbread continue their rehabilitation from injury and will miss out against Arsenal, while there was more cause for concern on the injury front for Lambert – who admitted earlier this week that the game against Arsenal represented a “mammoth task” for his side – after Russell Martin, a full back filing at the heart of defence for the Canaries, pulled out of Scotland’s international friendly against Cyprus over the weekend with an ankle complaint.
Defence has proved to be a real area of weakness for Norwich, with the Canaries shipping 22 goals in all competitions already this season and failing to keep a clean sheet in the process, while defensive mistakes handed Villa all three points before the international break despite a trademark spirited comeback from the men in yellow.
The home side will be wary of their poor record at the back taking an even bigger turn for the worse when Van Persie and co visit Carrow Road, with the Dutchman in the form of his life having found the net 11 times in the Premier League already.
Arsenal haven’t tasted defeat in their last six games and have conceded only six goals – three of which came against Chelsea – showing their notoriously leaky defence has tightened up somewhat.
Jack Wilshere is still someway off match fitness and is unavailable for the game against Norwich, while Bacary Sagna and Marouane Chamakh will also miss out through injury.
Match Winner
It comes as no surprise that Norwich are underdogs for the game, although the home side will take heart from their 1-1 draw with Liverpool earlier in the season and hope they can repeat the trick this weekend.
The Canaries are 5.50 (9/2) withBet365 to claim an unlikely win on Saturday, while Arsenal are heavy favourites at 1.70 (7/10) with Paddy Power.
The draw is 3.80 (14/5) with StanJames.
First scorer
Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie has already shown himself to be perhaps the most deadly striker in the Premier League on current form, and the Dutchman is the favourite to open the scoring on Saturday at 3.60 (18/5) with VC Bet. His regular partner in crime Gervihno is the second favourite at 7.50 (13/2) with the same bookmaker.
Having usurped Grant Holt as the target man for Norwich, Steve Morison represents the hoe sides best chance of opening the scoring, with the Welshman placed at 10.50 (19/2), also with VC Bet.
Recommended Bets
Correct score: Arsenal 3-1 Norwich, 13.00 (12/1) BetFred
Halftime/fulltime: Draw/Arsenal, 5.00 (4/1) BWIN
May 10th, 2012 at 9:21 am
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