We’re at Carrow Road for the visit of Arsenal.
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Norwich 1-0 Arsenal
Welcome along. We’re seven down, one to go as Arsenal travel to Norfolk for a meeting with Norwich City. If reports during the week are to be believed Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has been told to attend more English games and will start with a trip to Carrow Road to watch Chris Hughton’s Irish contingent.
And the Italian will be happy to hear that both Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington start today. We’re ten minutes away from kick-off.
The starting line-ups look like this:
Norwich: Ruddy, Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido, Elliott Bennett, Johnson, Hoolahan, Tettey, Pilkington, Holt. Subs: Rudd, Snodgrass, Howson, Jackson, Surman, Morison, R Bennett.
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos, Ramsey, Arteta, Cazorla, Gervinho, Giroud, Podolski. Subs: Martinez, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou, Coquelin, Arshavin, Gnabry.
Not yet, but we’ll keep you updated…
A big ask here for 19th-placed Norwich to contain the Gunners, who have looked strong in the middle since the acquisition of Santi Cazorla. Here we go then.
We’ve had the first shot of the evening and it’s gone to the home side. Pilkington, playing on the left, cuts inside and lets fly from around 20 yards out. He doesn’t trouble Vito Mannone, however, as the shot it off-target.
Arsenal next to try their luck. Neat interchange frees up Lukas Podolski and the German international flashes a strike across John Ruddy’s goal.
Half chance for Norwich – Russell Martin robs himself a yard on the end-line and fires the ball across the goal but none of his team-mates have anticipated it. Arsenal easing themselves into the game at the moment.
First sighting of Signor Trapattoni and proof that he is, in fact, in attendance:
GOAL! Norwich 1-0 Arsenal (Grant Holt)
The home side are in front! Ghanaian midfielder Alex Tettey gets his effort from distance on target and while Mannone keeps it out, the Italian spills the ball. Skipper Grant Holt reacts first and finishes from a couple of yards out.
Former Leeds player Bradley Johnson is the first man into Lee Probert’s book after an illegal challenge on Cazorla.
Olivier Giroud, who hasn’t been in the game at all after his goal against Spain last week, crosses to the back post where Ruddy collects.
Norwich attack and Hoolahan threads a ball through for Holt. It’s a little overcooked but he does well to get onto it but his pull-back evades everyone.
A short spell of Arsenal pressure has earns them a couple of corners. Giroud leaps highest to get his head onto a good delivery but it doesn’t trouble Ruddy.
Oof, big chance for Norwich to double their lead. Michael Turner is up from the back for a corner and times his run perfectly to connect with a header. The attempt lacks accuracy and he is clearly disappointed with himself.
Arteta’s free-kick reaches Gervinho at the back post. The Ivorian tries to take the volley on first time but gets it all wrong. The Gunner cannot find any sort of rhyme in their play at the moment. Five minutes to play until half-time.
Half-time: Norwich 1-0 Arsenal
Camera picks out Wenger, who unsurprisingly does look the happiest after his side’s first half display. Second half has just kicked off with no substitutions from either side at the break.
Norwich playing with confidence and pushing the ball around well. Several passes later, Hoolahan whips a ball to the back post and it’s slightly to high for Holt.
Half-chance for Arsenal. Gervinho plays in Carl Jenkinson and his deflected cross gives Giroud a sight on goal but the Frenchman misreads the bounce of the ball.
Hoolahan puts the ball in the back of the net and earns himself a yellow card as Lee Probert has blown for offside. Cue footage of Trapattoni shaking his head. The Dubliner has been excellent tonight though.
Hoolahan again involved. He makes a run into the right channel than picks out Johnson, whose first time strike sails over.
Giroud knock-down to Gervinho, whose header is into the hands of Ruddy. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks like he’s about to enter the fray, meanwhile.
And that change has been made. The England winger is introduced in place of Podolski and immediately has a run at Pilkington.
Turner catches Giroud and picks up a yellow for his troubles. Cazorla, Arteta and Vermaelen stand over it before the former Malaga man steps up. He beats the wall but not Ruddy.
Norwich break through Holt and, with Hoolahan storming forward, the striker goes alone and shoots wide from 25 yards.
Another substitution for Arsenal as Oxlade-Chamberlain has picked up a knock and will end his short cameo. Andrei Arshavin is the man to replace him for his first league appearance of the season.
Elliot Bennett gets a great reception from the Carrow Road faithful. Scottish international Robert Snodgrass comes on for the final 10+ minutes in his place.
That’s wasteful from Holt. In a similar situation to the one a couple of minutes ago, he again opts to shoot but fails at a chip with Hoolahan free inside him.
17-year-old German youth international Serge Gnabry is on for Arsenal with Ramsey heading off.
Arteta with ha clean strike, Ruddy with the save. Time running out fast for the visitors.
Former Spurs man Sebastian Bassong has put his body on the line to make a superb block just now. With Gervinho about to pull the trigger, the defender threw himself in front of the ball.
Grant Holt has been withdrawn with Steve Morison taking to the pitch.
We’re into the five minutes of added time and Norwich make their final change – taking Hoolahan off for Ryan Bennett. Let’s hope Trapattoni was impressed with what he saw – I certainly was.
Full-time: Norwich 1-0 Arsenal
Huge win for Chris Hugton and Norwich, who made it difficult for Arsenal right up to the final whistle. The Gunners were admittedly bad on the day and, in particular, lacked conviction in from of goal.
From an Irish point of view, Wes Hoolahan and Anthony did their chances of getting an Ireland call-up for the friendly against Greece next month, with fine performances in front of Giovanni Trapattoni.
That’s my lot, cheers for the company.
