Preview: Arsenal – Norwich: Ozil & Cazorla set to feature as the Gunners look to maintain their strong form

Arsenal – Norwich

Date: Saturday 19th October

Venue: The Emirates Stadium

KO: 3pm

The international break is over and England have secured their passage to next summer’s World Cup, but there is no time to reflect on that particular triumph as the Premier League gets back underway this weekend.

Table-topping Arsenal will look to build upon their impressive form in the opening seven games as they host struggling Norwich, whose much anticipated new squad has failed to live up to the billing so far, with the Canaries sitting in the bottom three prior to this weekend’s round of matches.

Team News:

Arsenal

Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of Mesut Ozil after the German midfielder limped out of international duty in midweek, however The Independent report that he will be fit for this fixture.

Bacary Sagna could also return after a hamstring injury, while it looks set to be one game too soon for Theo Walcott to make his comeback.

However, in better news, Santi Cazorla should be ready to make his comeback to the team, while Tomas Rosicky will hope to overcome a late fitness test on a calf strain.

Norwich

Norwich will be without Anthony Pilkington for this match after he picked up a knock, so that should mean a recall for Nathan Redmond after he dropped to the bench for the game against Chelsea prior to the international break.

Chris Hughton will also have to decide who he wants to lead the line, with Ricky Van Wolfswinkel having mustered just six shots on goal in the opening seven matches of the season. Gary Hooper could be called-up in replacement to take on Arsenal.

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Some suggested the break came at the perfect time for Arsenal, as they dropped their first points since the opening day defeat to Aston Villa by drawing with West Brom.

Five straight victories in the league prior to that, coupled with success in the Champions League will hardly dent their confidence going into this match, as they will look to get back to winning ways at the Emirates.

Norwich on the other hand have managed just two victories all season and have lost three of their last four games, although that has seen them come up against Spurs and Chelsea in that period.

Their last away match saw them take a win away from Stoke however, so Arsenal should beware of the counter and set piece threat of a side that will come to defend a vital point that they haven’t managed to claim against the top sides so far this season.

Key Players

Arsenal: Jack Wilshere

Norwich will come to get in Arsenal’s faces and look to make the game uncomfortable for their hosts, so Arsenal will need their midfield to be up for the fight if they are to come away with the expected victory.

Fresh from playing a very bit-part role in England’s internationals, Wilshere has never backed down from such a challenge, having won all of his attempted tackles this season.

His pass accuracy will need to remain at the 86% mark to avoid any sloppy errors, while he will also look to add to the nine chances he has created for his colleagues in the attacking third.

Norwich: Michael Turner

Norwich are likely to be on the back-foot for the majority of this match, so they will need a big performance from their defensive recruits, with Michael Turner having stood out as the pillar of the centre.

Turner has won 71% of his tackles so far this season, while he has also been successful in 71% of his aerial duels, so Arsenal will be best pressed going low to get round the Canaries titan.

13 interceptions suggest that will be easier said than done, while the big man has already ensured he will be the man to rely on at the back by making 45 clearances, over 6.5 per game.

Prediction

One would be hard pressed to look beyond Arsenal for this game. They have been firing on all cylinders of late and look to have no shortage of creative options to break down even the most stubborn of defences.

Plumping for a score prediction, Norwich will be hard to break, but will eventually cave to a 2-0 defeat.