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Norwich logo
Premier League
Oct 20, 2012 at 5.30pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

1-0

Holt (19')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Norwich City 1-0 Arsenal - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live commentary as Arsenal travel to Carrow Road to face struggling Norwich City.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Arsenal's Premier League trip to Norwich City.

On paper there should only be one winner at Carrow Road. Thankfully for the hosting Canaries, it's not!

The home side are currently 19th in the Premier League table and are without a win so far this season. In contrast, the travelling Gunners have been impressive on their way to collecting 12 points.

Can Norwich upset the odds and the form book and collect a positive result? Stay tuned with us right here to find out.


7.27pmThat's about it from us. Thank you for joining us, not only for this match, but throughout the day for our Premier League coverage. We'll be back tomorrow for the eagerly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby, as well as QPR's encounter with Everton. Until then, goodbye.

7.26pmHere is our match report from Carrow Road. I'm sure it will make pleasant reading for all you Norwich fans out there!

7.24pmCome on then, who saw that coming?! I've got to confess I didn't. Still, it's a thoroughly deserved victory for Norwich - their first over Arsenal at home in the Premier League. Arsene Wenger is sure to be disappointed with the way that his side played, but credit goes to Norwich for the way that they the Gunners out.

7.23pmFULL TIME: Norwich 1-0 Arsenal

90+4 minCHANCE! Cazorla has a go from 30 yards out but his luck is out and the ball sails over Ruddy's bar. With that, I think Norwich have done it!

90+4 minOne minute to go. Just about enough time for Arsenal to mount a last attack.

90+2 minSUBSTITUTION: Final change from Norwich as the attacking Hoolahan comes off for the defensive-minded Ryan Bennett.

90 minFive minutes of stoppage time to be played...

89 minSUBSTITUTION: Goalscorer Holt is replaced by Steve Morison.

88 minCHANCE! Gnarby threads a pass through to Gervinho, who was baring down on goal. However, Bassong throws himself in the way to block the shot. Heroic stuff from the former Tottenham Hotspur defender.

87 minAnd it's good news for Norwich - Tettey is up and back on the pitch.

87 minNorwich's Tettey is currently down and receiving treatment following a challenge with Giroud. Norwich could do with him getting up, he's been solid in midfield against the likes of Arteta and Cazorla.

85 minArsenal are now camped inside the Norwich half. They've held firm for 85 minutes - can the home side hold out for five more plus stoppage time? You have to say they deserve it.

83 minSUBSTITUTION: A Premier League debut for Arsenal's Serge Gnabry, who replaces Ramsey. That is Arsenal now all out of substitutions.

81 minSAVE! Holt really should have wrapped up the points there. He races clear of the Arsenal defence but appears to be caught in several minds. He decides to try and chip Mannone and gets all wrong. The Arsenal keeper stands still and catches the ball with embarrassing ease.

79 minSUBSTITUTION:! Obviously me and Chris Hughton have different opinions! The pacey Bennett goes off and Scotland international Robert Snodgrass enters the action.

78 minSAVE! Arsenal go close and it wasn't even an intended shot! Arshavin overhits a cross but it results in Ruddy back-peddling to palm away the danger.

76 minHe's been in and out of the starting lineup this season but Elliott Bennett has really shone for Norwich tonight. His pace has really stretched Arsenal over the last five minutes or so. It could be a real asset in the closing stages.

73 minSUBSTITUTION: Oh dear Oxlade-Chamberlain. He's only been on a matter of moments and he has already limped off with a leg injury. Andrey Arshavin is on in his place.

72 minSAVE! Ruddy has not had a lot to do in the Norwich goal and Cazorla's tame effort from distance is easy for him to collect at the first time of asking.

70 minWe've got a break in play as Giroud goes down with an ankle problem. It will be a welcome breather for the home side.

67 minArsenal are now the side in control of this match. Norwich are working extremely hard and it may not be too long until they are making changes in order to get some fresh legs on the pitch. You get the feeling they'll be doing a lot of chasing between now and the final whistle.

64 minSUBSTITUTION: It appears that Mr Wenger is an avid reader of Sports Mole! He does make a change, bring on Oxlade-Chamberlain for Podolski.

61 minWe've got less than 30 minutes left to play now. Surely Wenger has got to be considering changes to Arsenal team?

58 minIt's now Norwich that are looking the more composed in possession. If they get a second it will take something special from Arsenal to recover. On the evidence of their performance so far, I'm not sure they're going to be capable.

55 minBOOKING! Norwich's Hoolahan gets his name taken for slotting the ball into the net despite the referee's whistle be blown for offside. The Irishman claims he couldn't hear the whistle, but he still goes into the book.

52 minCHANCE! Ruddy only half clears a cross and the ball falls to Giroud. The Frenchman is off-balance and the ball skids out of play. It was a difficult opportunity, but a goalscoring chance nonetheless.

51 minOxlade-Chamberlain and Wilshere are out and warming up for Arsenal. I don't think it will be too long before the Ox enters this match. Arsenal could do with an injection of pace.

47 minThe half has started similar to how the first ended. Arsenal are seeing a lot of the ball, but are yet to test Ruddy in the home goal.

6.31pmPlayers are out and Arsenal will get us back underway. Surely they can't play as poorly in this half, can they?

6.20pmWhile we wait for the players to emerge for the second half, give our half-time report from Carrow Road a viewing.

6.18pmNorwich leave the pitch to the chant of "Yellows" from their supporters. If you'd have offered Chris Hughton this at the start, I think he would snapped your hands off! It could have been even better had Turner buried his header from close range. Still, they'll have to be wary because Arsenal can only improve after the restart.

6.17pmHALF-TIME: Norwich 1-0 Arsenal

45 minOne minute of stoppage time to be played...

42 minArsenal continue to search for a route through to goal, but the Norwich defence still remains firm. Perhaps Wilshere is the man to unlock the Norwich backline?

38 min...And that would not have looked out of place in the parks tomorrow morning! Mikel Arteta swings the ball over for Gervinho, who attempts a volley. However, he gets it all wrong and the ball skips out of play.

37 minArsenal have a free kick 25 yards from goal as Bradley Johnson pulls back Cazorla. Big chance for the Gunners...

34 minWHAT A MISS! Oh dear Michael Turner. He makes a darting run to near post and a firm connection would have surely put Norwich two up. As it was, the defender glances the ball wide of the target. How costly will that prove to be come the final whistle?

30 minArsenal are now beginning to see a lot of the ball without causing Norwich too many problems. It's important that the home side keep this lead until the break.

25 minCHANCE! Holt draws Mannone out of his goal to the right of the penalty area but the striker's cut back fails to find a teammate. Big chance for Norwich to make it 2-0 there.

22 minCredit to Norwich because they're not sitting on their lead. They continue to pour forward and in truth, Arsenal look a little unsettled at the moment.

20 minThey've soaked all the Arsenal possession and now Norwich have their reward! Tettey's shot from distance is parried out by Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone. Grant Holt reacts quickest and slips the ball into an empty net. Great opening 20 minutes for the Canaries.

19 minGOAL! Norwich 1-0 Arsenal (Holt)

18 minWe've got a stoppage in play as Giroud goes down holding his neck following a battle in the air with Turner. The French striker is up now though and play continues.

17 minAgain Arsenal go forward but again the Norwich rearguard stands firm. On this occasion Michael Turner steps in to prevent Aaron Ramsey's through pass from reaching Giroud.

13 minThe Gunners now look a little frustrated. They've even tried the long ball on a couple of occasions, but to no avail. There's a long way to go of course, but Norwich are defending smartly here.

9 minIt's just not quite happening for Arsenal at the moment. It's all neat and tidy as you'd expect from Arsene Wenger's side, but the final pass is lacking.

6 minIn fairness to Norwich they've looked very assured so far. They're keeping the ball well and making the Gunners work hard.

4 minCHANCE! Some fantastic one-touch passing from Arsenal ends with Podolski firing an effort just wide of John Ruddy's post.

2 minCHANCE! First attempt at goal goes to Norwich. Hoolahan finds Pilkington, who cuts inside before dragging a shot wide of the target from 25 yards out. Good start from the Canaries.

5.30pmNorwich get this encounter underway...

5.28pmThe players are now on the pitch and the handshakes are taking place. This is a really big game for both sides. Arsenal need to win if they are to keep pace with Chelsea and the Manchester clubs, while Norwich need a win to avoid being cut adrift in the relegation zone.

5.25pmRight, the players are in the tunnel. Not long to go until we're underway at Carrow Road.

5.22pmWhat can we take from that then? I guess if Arsenal go three or four up and are cruising, then the England international may be given a chance. If the game remains tight, it seems doubtful that he will be used.

5.20pmSo, back to Arsenal and what are the chances of us seeing Wilshere at some stage tonight? "If really needed, I will play him," Wenger has just told ESPN.

5.16pmIf truth be told Norwich fans, they're are not many statistics floating around to boost your confidence ahead of this encounter. Still, history means nothing!

5.11pmNorwich have also not beaten Arsenal since the two sides met on the first day of the Premier League back August 1992. They won 4-2 on that occasion.

5.09pmArsenal have not lost at Carrow Road in their last 11 trips to Norfolk. That goes all the way back Boxing Day 1984! A lot of the players are the pitch were not even born then!

5.08pmRight, here comes pre-match statistics. Norwich supporters may want to go and make themselves a cup of tea!

5.02pmThe big news for Arsenal is that Jack Wilshere is included in the squad after 14 months out. However, he's only been deemed fit enough for the bench. Olivier Giroud, who impressed against West Ham United last time out, will lead the line. The dangerous Santi Cazorla, along with Gervinho and Lukas Podolski will provide the support.

5.00pmArsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos; Ramsey, Arteta, Gervinho, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud

5.00pmSo, Wes Hoolahan starts in an advanced for the Canaries, who will begin the encounter with Grant Holt as a lone striker. Looks like manager Chris Hughton is hoping to flood the midfield.

4.56pmNorwich X1: Ruddy; Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido; Bennett, Tettey, Johnson, Pilkington, Hoolahan; Holt

4.55pmBut more of the pre-match talk in a moment. Let's bring you the team news...

4.53pmEvening everyone. So, we round of the Premier League's Saturday action at Carrow Road. I think it would be fair to say that Arsenal are the clear favourites to claim maximum points here.
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