Arsenal comeback cancelled out by late Morison equaliser

Arsenal had to settle for another draw as they drew with Norwich at the Emirates on Saturday. Despite going 2-1 down, the Gunners came back to lead 3-2. However Steve Morison equalised late on to again halter Arsenal's chances of sealing third place in the race for Champions League football next season. Yossi Benayoun scored a brilliant opener as Van Persie grabbed a brace to see him reach 30 goals in the League this season. The Arsenal team was unchanged from the side that drew with Stoke the week before. The only changes were on the bench as Park Chu Young and Djourou were named amongst the subsitutes in place of Squillaci and Abou Diaby. 

Van Persie scored his 30th league goal of the season to ensure a point for Arsenal

Just a minute into the game, Arsenal were ahead through Yossi Benayoun. Rosicky played the ball into him and then he cut inside, faked a pass to Gibbs, before curling the ball into the corner of the net.

However, 10 minutes later, Norwich equalised. Naughton got down the right hand side before cutting the ball back into Hoolahan whose tame shot on goal was spilt into the net by Szczesny.

The game was then turned on its head as Norwich went 2-1 ahead. Hoolahan slipped the ball into the path of Grant Holt who took a shot from just inside the area which came off Gibbs and looped over Szczesny.

Arsenal then had a decent chance to equalise. Gervinho did well to beat Naughton before playing the ball back into the path of Gibbs who put his shot wide of the far post.

The score at half time was 2-1 to Norwich.

Nothing was really created at the start of the second half. Arsenal brought on Chamberlain for Ramsey and Chamakh on for Benayoun to try and change the game around.

The substitute almost worked as Van Persie found Chamakh 12 yards out but his shot was blocked by a Norwich defender.

In the same phase of play as the Chamakh chance, Arsenal took the lead. The ball came out to Song from Chamakh's blocked effort. He then played a looping ball over the defence and into Van Persie to volley home for 2-2.

The game was then turned around for the second time in the match, this time by Arsenal as they took the lead. The ball came out to Rosicky who tried to find Chamberlain but the ball took a deflection off a Norwich player and fell into the path of Van Persie to fire home for his 30th Premier League goal of the season.

5 minutes from the end of the game, Norwich equalised. Howson played the ball over the top into Morison who fired the ball beyond Szczesny and into the far corner of the net.

Robin Van Persie then had a great chance to rescue his team again but Ruddy came out to save the Dutchman's effort from close range. The rebound was then headed wide by Chamakh.

The Gunners were then denied a clear penalty. Chamberlain's ball in was about to be tapped home by Van Persie but Naughton pushed him, and despite it looking like a clear penalty, the referee waved away the protests.

Ruddy was having to be at his best to first keep out Chamakh and then keep out Gibbs brilliantly from Koscielny's cross late on.

The final score finished Arsenal 3-3 Norwich.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna(33), Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey(63), Rosicky, Benayoun(69), Gervinho, Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Santos, Coquelin(33), Oxlade-Chamberlain(63), Park, Chamakh(69).

Norwich: Ruddy, Naughton, Lappin, R.Bennett, Martin, Howson, Johnson, Hoolahan(75), E.Bennett, Jackson(69), Holt(81).
Subs: Steer, Fox, Ward, Pilkington(75), Wilbraham(81), Surman, Morison(69).

My man of the match: Robin Van Persie

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 60,092