Arsenal drop points at Norwich as injury crisis deepens
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ByEurosport
Updated 30/11/2015 at 08:11 GMT
Carrow Road, Premier League – Norwich 1 (Grabban 43) Arsenal 1 (Ozil 30)
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez (right) leaves the field injured against Norwich City
Image credit: PA Sport
Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez left the field injured as Arsenal were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at Norwich.
Arsenal started brightly, welcoming Aaron Ramsey back to the starting eleven, and they took the lead with a smart piece of play. Alexis Sanchez seized on a poor John Ruddy clearance to slip in Mesut Ozil, who flicked the ball over the 'keeper.
The away side continued to create, but Arsenal were profligate, and Ruddy made a couple of important saves. They paid for that wastefulness when Gabriel - on for the injured Laurent Koscielny - allowed Lewis Grabban to turn in the box and sidefoot past Petr Cech.
In the second half, Arsenal suffered another injury as Sanchez suffered a hamstring injury. Cech then pulled off an excellent save as a cross ricocheted towards the far corner off Gabriel's head.
Arsenal struggled to create clear chances as they faded, and Norwich chased a win, and the home side will be the most disappointed with only taking a point.
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Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud (R) reacts after the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and Arsenal at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on November 29, 2015
Image credit: AFP
KEY EVENTS
27' - SANCHEZ SHOT - Ozil takes a short free kick and Arsenal continue their patient approach. Cazorla picks up the ball outside the box, dribbles forward brilliantly, lays it off to his right to Sanchez, and his fierce drive is beaten behind by Ruddy.
30' - GOAL! Norwich City 0-1 Arsenal. Ozil scores - A Ruddy clearance finds Sanchez, who slips in Ozil down the left, and he chips an effort over the 'keeper.
42' - CECH SAVE - Brady comes inside from the left, and curls a shot towards the top corner that Cech palms away.
43' - GOAL! Norwich City 1-1 Arsenal. Grabban scores - Brady fires in a pass into the box. He spins the falling Gabriel, and fires low into the near post.
67' - BELLERIN SHOT - Bellerin receives the ball in the box, players waiting for a cross, and he miskicks into the side netting.
70' - CECH SAVE - Cech pulls off a great save as a cross comes off the back of Gabriel's head, pushing it behind for a corner.
71' - HOWSON CHANCE - Bennett heads a corner back across goal, Howson attempts an overhead kick, but it's just over.
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Arsenal's French defender Laurent Koscielny (R) leaves the pitch injured during the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and Arsenal at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on November 29, 2015
Image credit: AFP
KEY STATS
Mesut Ozil has been involved in 13 goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances. (Opta)
Norwich have won only one of their last nine Premier League games. (Opta)
TALKING POINT
Another Arsenal injury that could have been avoided. In the build up before the match, Arsene Wenger mentioned that Alexis Sanchez was in the red zone of fatigue. Norwich are not a special side, and this was a perfect chance to give him a rest as other injuries piled up. Instead, even with Aaron Ramsey and Oxlade-Chamberlain back to help, Wenger persisted with Sanchez up front and duly, he was injured. Unless he makes an unusually quick return from a hamstring injury, Arsenal's title challenge and Champions League qualification chances have taken another battering.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Robbie Brady (Norwich City): When he moved from Hull City in the transfer window, the fee of seven million pounds brought surprise. While it is a relatively high figure, his contribution, full of discipline and attacking intelligence, is well worth the fee. He set up one goal, and was often Norwich's biggest attacking threat throughout.
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Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (L) vies with Norwich City's Irish midfielder Robbie Brady during the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and Arsenal at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on November 29, 2015
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Norwich City: Ruddy 5, Wisdom 6, Bennett 6, Bassong 6, Olsson 6, Howson 6, Dorrans 6, O'Neil 6, Brady 7, Hoolahan 6, Grabban 7. Subs: Jerome 6, Redmond 6, Odjidja 6.
Arsenal: Cech 7, Bellerin 6, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Flamini 6, Cazorla 6, Ramsey 6, Ozil 7, Alexis 6, Giroud 5. Subs: Gabriel 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Campbell 6.
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