Arsenal fall to disappointing defeat at Norwich

Arsenal missed the chance to overtake rivals Tottenham on Saturday evening, as the Gunners suffered a very disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of winless Norwich. It was a game in which Arsenal were expected to coast to victory but that wasn't to be as Grant Holt's first half goal proved crucial. The Gunners didn't really look like scoring at any point in the game. Podolski only had one real sight of goal and Giroud didn't show any signs of troubling the hosts. Meanwhile the midfield was once again Arsenal's best aspect as Arteta and Cazorla had good games but Gervinho was once again quiet out wide. Arsenal made one change to the starting lineup that faced West Ham as Santos came in for the injured Kieran Gibbs. Meanwhile 17 year old Serge Gnabry was included on the bench for the first time in a Premier League game. The match also signalled Jack Wilshere's return after 14 months out injured, as he also made the bench.

Arsenal were left frustrated as they failed to open up Norwich on Saturday

The first chance of the match fell to Norwich as Pilkington cut inside from the left before firing a shot wide.

Lukas Podolski then almost had a brilliant chance to give the Gunners the lead but Martin slid in to deny the German.

Podolski then had another chance as he hit a speculative effort from just inside the box but the ball flashed passed Ruddy and out for a goalkick.

However on 18 minutes it was Norwich who took a surprise lead. Tettey was allowed to find space and fire in a shot from distance which was palmed away by Mannone but straight into the path of Holt who slid the ball home.

Just after the half hour mark Norwich had a great opportunity to double their lead as Pilkington picked out the unmarked Turner from a corner but he headed wide.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Norwich.

Arsenal had the first chance of the second half as Jenkinson whipped in a ball from the right hand side which Ruddy came out to and punched the ball into Cazorla, however the ball then fell to Giroud but he scuffed the shot wide.

Giroud then turned provider as he knocked the ball down and it fell to Gervinho but Ruddy easily kept the Ivorian's header out.

Grant Holt had Norwich's first chance in a while as he ran through the midfield and took a shot from outside the box which bounced wide.

Holt was then the man who had another chance as he stole possession off of Vermaelen and went clean through on goal. However he tried to cheekily dink the ball over Mannone but it didn't work and it fell greatfully into the hands of the Italian goalkeeper.

Five minutes from the end of the game Mikel Arteta hit a left footed strike from outside the area but Ruddy was equal to it.

Gervinho then had Arsenal's best chance of the game as Gnabry slipped the ball through to him but he didn't shoot straight away which allowed Bassong to slide in and make the challenge.

Arsenal's final chance came in injury time as Santos pumped the ball forward towards Giroud who knocked it back to Gnabry but he sliced the ball wide.

The final score finished Norwich 1-0 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Norwich: Ruddy, Martin, Bassong, Turner, Garrido, Johnson, Hoolahan(90), Bennett(79), Tettey, Holt(90), Pilkington.
Subs: Rudd, Bennett(90), Howson, Snodgrass(79), Surman, Jackson, Morison(90).

Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos, Arteta, Ramsey(83), Cazorla, Gervinho, Giroud, Podolski(65). 
Subs: Martinez, Djourou, Coquelin, Wilshere, Arshavin(74), Oxlade-Chamberlain(65)(74), Gnabry(83).

My man of the match: Mikel Arteta

Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 26,825