Norwich City Match Preview

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IT HAS BEEN a particularly good week for Arsenal with two consecutive wins and progress to the semi-final of the FA Cup.

Following the disastrous restart with defeats at Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion, wins at Southampton and Sheffield United have shown how quickly fortunes can change in football.

After four away trips in a row, it is a relief to finally return to the Emirates on Wednesday evening with relegation-threatened Norwich City the visitors. We are the only team to not yet play a home match since the restart so it will be an historic occasion.

We have not lost to the Canaries in the last seven meetings, since a 1-0 defeat at Carrow Road in October 2012, and that has been our only defeat against them in the last 19, since they won 4-2 at Highbury on the opening day of the Premier League in August 1992.

I have watched far too much football over the years to ever describe a match as a guaranteed win, but Daniel Farke’s side has lost all four matches since the restart and look almost certain to drop straight back to the Championship after just one season in the top flight. 

Quite honestly if we do not beat them on Wednesday it will a huge shock.

I have been impressed with the improvements we have shown in the last two games. Of course, it is still far from perfect, but the defensive shape of the team has been much better, and we have had more connection between the midfield and attack.

At Bramall Lane on Sunday, Joe Willock added a forward thrust from the middle of the park not seen since Aaron Ramsey left, while Nicolas Pepe had his best game of the season so far.

There are still question marks over the defending of set pieces but with all the defensive injuries we have suffered in recent weeks it is perhaps worth giving them the benefit of the doubt, for the time being at least.

The defensive concentration has been much better since the late collapse at Brighton. We have suffered a little physically in the second half of the matches at Southampton and Sheffield United but showed great character to come through and win both games, and both with a very different looking defence.

At St. Mary’s we had a back four of Hector Bellerin, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney, while at Bramall Lane we went with a three of Mustafi, David Luiz and Sead Kolasinac.

This flexibility gives us options and shows that Mikel Arteta trusts his players to adapt to different systems.

The upturn in results has also coincided with the return to fitness of Granit Xhaka. The Swiss midfielder gets a lot of stick but there is no doubt his influence on this team is immense. 

In truth he should be given back the armband as he is the real leader of this group, shown by his constant encouragement observed much more clearly in these matches behind closed doors.

Looking ahead to the Norwich match I think we will revert to the back four. With that in mind this is the team I expect to start on Wednesday:

Martinez – Soares, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney – Xhaka, Willock, Ceballos – Pepe, Aubameyang, Saka.

Although Ainsley Maitland-Niles impressed on Sunday, I feel playing in a back four does not best his attributes, so I would prefer to see Cedric Soares given his first start at right back.

The fitness of David Luiz is a worry, although I would not risk him against Norwich with bigger matches to come in the next few weeks, so I expect a recall Rob Holding, who played well at Southampton last week.

The big issue now seems to be Mesut Ozil, who was again omitted from the squad on Sunday. The official line was a back injury, but he has not featured at all in any of the four games since the restart and has not even made the bench in two of them.

This is an issue that needs a resolution, and quickly. If Arteta does not fancy him, or the club want him out, then it needs to happen as soon as possible as the longer this situation drags on the bigger the problem it creates.

Personally I hope the issues can be resolved and he can come back to his best but I am now resigned to the fact that it is extremely unlikely and it may be best for all concerned that he leaves at the end of the season. It is such a shame as he remains one of the best players I have ever seen play for the club.

The other player in the news has been Matteo Guendouzi. Another one left out of the squad completely following his disciplinary issues at Brighton, it has since been reported that he has asked to leave.

Although the club has denied this, his omission from two squads in a row since suggests otherwise and I do not expect him to play for the club again. Hopefully, we can make a tidy profit on him in the summer transfer window.

Sunday’s win in the FA Cup has given us a renewed interest in the season so I am looking forward to the matches once again. 

Despite what fans of other clubs think it will be strange to see an empty Emirates, but I am sure we will be too strong for a struggling Norwich side. 

My prediction, therefore, is a comfortable 3-0 victory with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back in the goals.

If you have enjoyed the previous match watchalongs, come and join us again on Wednesday evening on the Mr Arsenal Podcast channel on YouTube live from 5.50pm UK time. After all there are far worst ways to spend a couple of hours on a summer's evening...