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Mikel Arteta’s adventurous Arsenal side turned on the charm in the Premier League, bagging an emphatic 5-0 win at Norwich City on Boxing Day.
Having won their last four games in all competitions, the Gunners traveled to Norwich in good spirits. They knew they were considerably better than the 20th-placed side in the English top-flight and were not afraid of showing it.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka got the party started after just six minutes of play, applying a cool finish after being played through on goal by Martin Odegaard. Kieran Tierney doubled Arsenal’s tally before half-time, practically sealing Norwich’s fate.
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The Gunners came out all guns blazing in the second half and eventually got their third goal, again through the impressive Saka. Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette scored the fourth from the spot before substitute Emile Smith Rowe netted the final goal of the night in injury time.
Norwich were practically down and out of the contest even before kick-off, as the bottom-dwellers never looked like threatening Arsenal’s goal. Following the massive win, Arsenal remained in fourth position in the Premier League, having played three more games than fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Here are the top five Arsenal players who helped the north Londoners register their biggest win of the season on Sunday afternoon:
#5 Kieran Tierney
Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney was exceptional against Norwich on Sunday night. He contributed immensely in attack and was a rock at the back as well. Overall, Tierney made one interception, attempted one tackle, and won eight of his 11 duels.
Tierney’s most notable moment of the match came just before half-time when he was played through on goal by Odegaard. Tierney controlled the ball with a great first touch inside the box before slotting it into the bottom-right corner.
#4 Emile Smith Rowe
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta once again started Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing, leaving Emile Smith Rowe on the bench. Marinelli did manage to create a few chances, but could not apply the finishing touch in the final third.
Smith Rowe, on the other hand, looked a lot more urgent and took the game by the scruff of its neck immediately after coming on.
The Arsenal graduate’s clever no-look pass forced Norwich midfielder Ozan Kabak to commit a clumsy foul on Lacazette inside the box. Lacazette expertly put away the resultant penalty to push Arsenal further ahead.
Having already helped the Gunners score their fourth goal, Smith Rowe decided to take the matter into his own hands for Arsenal's fifth.
Smith Rowe found himself in the right place at the right time and turned in Nicolas Pepe’s deflected shot from point-blank range. The goal marked Smith Rowe’s third consecutive strike off the bench.
#3 Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette was as selfless as ever in the Gunners’ impressive win over Norwich City on Boxing Day. Starting as the Gunners' only striker, Lacazette was expected to stay in and around the penalty box. However, as always, Lacazette was determined to showcase his versatility and spent the game sliding into little pockets of space all around the pitch.
The Frenchman contributed immensely to Arsenal’s build-up play and was at the heart of almost every impressive piece of play. Lacazette completed two of his three attempted dribbles, made a key pass and won six duels, apart from a goal and an assist.
In the 67th minute, Lacazette used his awareness to find Saka in space. The winger finished emphatically to score Arsenal’s third goal of the night.
Next, in the 84th minute, he was fouled inside the box and won himself a penalty. He stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick confidently to put Arsenal 4-0 up.
#2 Martin Odegaard
Former Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard has settled in nicely at Arsenal. He has had plenty of chances to prove his mettle and has taken them well so far.
Against Norwich, Odegaard was one of Arsenal’s most important players. He dictated the tempo of the play, made three key passes and showed exemplary awareness to bag two assists.
Odegaard’s first assist came just after six minutes of play. The Norwegian found Saka inside the Norwich box with a clever pass, allowing the England international to hit the back of the net.
Odegaard doubled his tally with another killer pass just before half-time. He spotted Tierney’s dash from deep and fed the ball to him with ease. The full-back fired the ball into the bottom-right corner to give Arsenal a two-goal cushion.
#1 Bukayo Saka
Arsenal’s pride and England’s golden boy was the star of the show against Norwich City on Sunday night. The Englishman was like a live wire on the pitch, always doing his best to make a positive impact for the Gunners.
Bukayo Saka used his pace brilliantly to keep Norwich City defender Brandon Williams on his toes all night long. In the sixth minute, the right-winger scored Arsenal’s opener, applying a composed finishing touch to Odegaard’s excellent through ball.
He kept knocking on Norwich’s door in the first half but the goal did not come until the second 45.
Having received the ball from Lacazette, Saka cut inside, and cushioned it into the bottom-left corner. Another impressive display by the utterly promising 20-year-old.
