Arsenal head to Carrow Road looking to end a seven match winless run which has resulted in Unai Emery’s firing, as they take on a relegation battling Norwich City.
Norwich can move back above Southampton with a win whilst Arsenal could go fifth with victory and results elsewhere swinging in their favour.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesJamal Lewis could return from a knee injury for Norwich whose injury crisis seems to be easing.
Todd Cantwell however is doubtful with a foot injury but resumed training on Thursday, after missing Monday to Wednesday with his foot in a protective boot.
Alexander Tettey is ruled out for personal reasons alongside Grant Hanley (groin), who is close to a return but wont be risked here.
Josip Drmic (muscle) and Timm Klose (knee) are both ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Arsenal could be without six players as four defenders all face late fitness tests.
Hector Bellerin (hamstring), Rob Holding (knee), David Luiz (ribs) and Shkodran Mustafi (foot) are all doubts alongside Sead Kolasinac who has missed their last two games with a hamstring issue.
Dani Ceballos meanwhile is still a few weeks away from returning from a hamstring injury.
Form
Norwich ended a seven match winless streak last weekend with a win at Everton, although they have lost their last three home games since beating Manchester City in mid September.
Arsenal are winless in seven of their last eight across all competitions but have lost their last two away league trips.
Stat Attack
- Norwich have taken just one point from their last five league meetings with Arsenal (D1, L4).
- Both teams have scored in four of their last six meetings in all competitions.
- Arsenal have dropped just four points from their last five league trips to Carrow Road (W3, D1, L1).
- Norwich’s Tim Krul is yet to make a sweeper clearance this season.
- Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka is the only player from either team to have made a last man tackle this season.
Prediction
Norwich were disciplined and clinical last weekend against Everton so will need to produce more of the same, because Arsenal will be desperate to produce a reaction under Freddie Ljungberg following Emery’s departure.
I therefore am expecting Arsenal to dominate but if they make a slow start like they have done recent games, Norwich are going to need to take their chances otherwise I can see an away win.
Arsenal however have taken 2-2 draws against the Canaries’ fellow relegation zone companions earlier this season, so I am going for a draw but just not as entertaining as the other two were.
Prediction: Norwich 1-1 Arsenal
Result: Norwich 2-2 Arsenal