Preview: Norwich vs Arsenal

Saturday's early afternoon kick off pits Norwich City against in form Arsenal who travel to Carrow Road with their eyes on a fifth consecutive victory in the Premier League this evening. Norwich City have surprised many with their 9th placed position this year, and have proved they are no pushovers.

Arsenal's resurgence to form sees them in 7th spot in the league, and with a win at Carrow Road that would bring their fifth victory in as many games, and could see them leapfrog Liverpool into 6th place.


Norwich on the other hand could move ahead of Aston Villa in the league table with an early afternoon victory and hope to end a 26 year victory drought over Arsenal at Carrow Road.


Any hope for Norwich will depend on how well they can cope with Dutch striker Robin van Persie, currently in one of the richest veins of form of his career with 8 goals in 4 league games.


Meanwhile, Norwich have failed to even keep a clean sheet this year in all of their 12 games, a worrying statistic for many Canaries fans, who will expect to see the full force of Arsenal's three pronged attack of van Persie, Gervinho and Walcott.


Arsenal are expected to field a full strength side after the international break, and Per Mertesacker could be drafted into the first team to partner Thomas Vermaelen in the heart of Norwich's defence. 


Many of Norwich's goals have come in the air this year, and Arsene Wenger will call upon German international Mertesacker to deal with the aerial threat.



TEAM NEWS
Bradley Johnson is available for action after recovering from concussion, whilst Arsenal will be missing Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs.


PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-1 Norwich


FIRST GOALSCORER
Gervinho