The Premier League returns with a bang this weekend following the international break and the Emirates Stadium will be the venue when Arsenal host Norwich City on Saturday.
The game will be a battle between the bottom two sides, with both sides among just three sides yet to pick up a point this term.
Arsenal have endured a miserable start to the new campaign, losing their first three league matches for the first time since 1954.
As well as failing to put any points on the board so far, Mikel Arteta’s team have conceded nine goals without finding the net once at the other end of the pitch.
Norwich City have not fared brightly on their return to the top-flight and need to start racking up points to avoid suffering an immediate relegation.
The Canaries come into this game with a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on home turf.
Arsenal VS Norwich – Team news
Arsenal
Ben White and Thomas Partey have returned to Arsenal training and are fit to feature against Norwich in the Premier League on Saturday while Takehiro Tomiyasu could make his debut after his work permit was approved.
Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Magalhaes are also back in contention to boost Mikel Arteta’s squad as they go in search of their first victory of the season.
The Gunners will have to make do without Emile Smith Rowe (illness), Mohamed Elneny (hamstring) and Granit Xhaka (coronavirus).
Norwich
Norwich will be without Christoph Zimmermann and Dimitris Giannoulis for the trip to the Emirates.
Midfielder Kenny McLean could feature after returning to training after injury, while the Canaries will have Christos Tzolis available for selection.
Arsenal vs Norwich -Possible Lineups
,Arsenal Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno ; Tierney, Gabriel Magalhaes , Ben White, Cedric Soares; Albert Lokonga, Thomas Partey; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Nicolas Pepe ;Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Norwich Predicted XI (4-3-3): Tim Krul ; Brandon Williams, Ben Gibson, Grant Hanley, Max Aarons; Kenney McLean, Billy Gilmour, Pierre Lees-Melou; Milot Rashica, Teemu Pukki, Todd Cantwell
Arsenal VS Norwich – Key Players
Arsenal – Bukayo Saka
NORWICH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 01: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal takes on Todd Cantwell of Norwich during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Arsenal FC at Carrow Road on December 01, 2019 in Norwich, United Kingdom. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Saka has become a key part of Arsenal literally in all areas of the pitch. He still has not found his place properly this season at club level. His late arrival coincided with Arsenal’s dismal form, although his latest MOTM display for England suggests he might be back on track.
Arsenal he will be relying more on Saka to be at his best and find form in the long run, which could define Arsenal’s season.
Norwich – Teemu Pukki
NORWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Teemu Pukki of Norwich City scores a penalty for his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Leicester City at Carrow Road on August 28, 2021 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Temmu Pukki opened the scoresheet for Norwich this season against Leicester with a penalty before Marc Albrighton second half goal ensured Norwich left their turf empty-handed.
Despite the disappointing result overall, the Finland will have taken confidence from the goal after Scoring 26 goals last season to send relegated Norwich back to the Premiership again and all eyes will be on the star man this season especially against bottom fellow, Arsenal.
Opta stats
- Arsenal have lost just two of their 18 Premier League meetings with Norwich (W9 D7), and are unbeaten in seven against the Canaries since a 1-0 loss in October 2012.
- Since winning 4-2 at Highbury in their first-ever Premier League match in August 1992, Norwich are winless in eight away league games against Arsenal (D2 L6), conceding 24 goals in that run.
- Arsenal have scored at least three goals in six of their last seven home league games against Norwich, winning 4-0 in July 2020 in their last such meeting.
- This is Arsenal’s first 3pm Saturday game in the Premier League since June 2020, when they lost 2-1 at Brighton. At home, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last 26 games in this kick-off slot (W21 D5) since a 3-1 loss against Aston Villa in August 2013.
Arsenal VS Norwich – Prediction
Arsenal desperately need to get a win to kick-start their season after three consecutive defeats and if there was ever a Premier League fixture Arsenal would have wanted to be the springboard for a turnaround then it would have been Norwich on home soil.
They will be confident of correcting that when they take on the only team with a worse defensive record than themselves after three matches, with the Canaries letting in 10 goals so far.
However, Arsenal’s defence can’t be trusted and the Gunners should concede given that Norwich won’t be afraid to commit players forward
Score Prediction
Arsenal 3: 1 Norwich
Possible Goalscorers – Aubameyang, Pepe, Saka ; Cantwell