19.11. (Sat) 13:45 Norwich City vs Arsenal

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

NORWICH Ruddy Naughton, Martin, Barnett, Tierney Fox, Johnson Bennett, Hoolahan, Pilkington Morison

ARSENAL Szczesny Djourou, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Santos Song, Ramsey, Arteta Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho

Norwich City have suffered a series of injuries to their back four over the opening months of the season and while manager Paul Lambert hopes the likes of Zak Whitbread, Daniel Ayala and Elliott Ward are close to returns, none are likely to be thrown straight back into the side here. That means Russell Martin and Leon Barnett should continue at centre-back – that new partnership enjoyed a promising start but went on to allow six goals in the Canaries’ previous two matches. If Norwich opt for a 4-4-2, Grant Holt will continue to partner Steve Morison in attack but expect David Fox to replace the former and drop to midfield if their more common 4-2-3-1 is preferred.
Arsenal could remain unchanged, with the clean sheet earned at West Bromwich Albion before the international break enough to keep Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen ahead of Per Mertesacker at centre-back. Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson are both sidelined, so Johan Djourou is likely to slot in at right-back.
Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby are also long-term absentees, but Arsene Wenger hopes to be able to include Kieran Gibbs and Marouane Chamakh amongst his substitutes after injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Arsenal’s last visit to Carrow Road, way back in August 2004, was a successful one. Jose Antonio Reyes, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp were the scorers in a 4-1 away victory, with Darren Huckerby on the score sheet for Norwich.

• Only two players – Adam Drury for Norwich and Manuel Almunia for Arsenal – in the match day squads for that game remain at the two clubs today. Both are available for selection on Saturday, but are not likely to feature.

• Perhaps the most unlikely score line on Saturday is 0-0. Neither side has played out a scoreless draw this season and Norwich have played 29 league matches since their last stalemate.

• Norwich midfielder Bradley Johnson will hope to make an impression in this match against his boyhood club. Born in Hackney, Johnson was released by the Gunners as a 15-year old and picked up by Cambridge United.

• The Canaries have not been afraid to mix up their approach in order to adapt to life in the Premier League. Only three sides – Stoke City, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers – have completed less passes than Norwich’s 2,907 so far this season.

Prediction

Norwich are the sort of confident, enthusiastic and positive team that could cause the big sides a few problems this season. But their leaky, defence combined with the ability of Van Persie to win games on his own in this vein of form, does not bode well for Paul Lambert’s side in this fixture.

Editor's Prediction

Norwich City 1-3 Arsenal