[ 2011-11-20 ]

Robin van Persie celebrates scoring Arsenal's equaliser at Norwich

Norwich City 1 - Arsenal 2
Robin van Persie hit a brace as Arsenal came from
behind to beat Norwich City 2-1 at Carrow Road and
record a fifth straight Barclays Premier League
win.

The in-form Dutchman made it 30 goals for 2011,
the second a sublime finish, after the Canaries
had snatched a shock early lead when Wales striker
Steve Morison capitalised on an horrendous blunder
by German international Per Mertesacker.

Fired by van Persie's goals, Arsene Wenger's side
are now transformed from the shambles of the start
of the campaign as they closed to within striking
distance of the top four.

The Gunners signalled their early intent as Theo
Walcott, who played twice for England at Wembley,
got away down the right and cut the ball back for
van Persie, but for once he failed to connect
properly and dragged the shot wide.

After Norwich ventured forward, the visitors were
soon back on the offensive, van Persie driving a
low shot across the face of John Ruddy's goal
after latching onto Andre Santos' pass.

After 12 minutes, it took an acrobatic clearance
by Russell Martin to deflect Walcott's curling
left-foot effort wide just when the ball was
destined for the bottom corner following a quick
counter-attack by Gervinho.

REVERSE FLICK
The Gunners continued to pour forward as Norwich
were stretched down both flanks.

However, yet again Arsenal were undone by a
mistake at the back.

Mertesacker failed to shield what should have been
a routine ball through to the keeper, which
allowed Morison to outmuscle the 6ft 4in German
before slipping a shot past Wojciech Szczesny to
give the Canaries the lead on 16 minutes against
the run of play.

After such a period of dominance, Arsenal were
shell-shocked, but soon went back on the
offensive.

Martin was again in the right place to knock van
Persie's looping header clear.

Norwich keeper Ruddy and the Scotland defender
then combined to hack away Gervinho's angled drive
after the Ivory Coast wideman had cut in from the
left.

The equaliser eventually arrived on 26 minutes
when Walcott skipped past Marc Tierney to cut the
ball back through the six-yard box, where Gervinho
failed to connect with a reverse flick, which
fortunately presented van Persie with a tap-in for
his ninth goal in five Premier League games.

To their credit, Norwich were not overrun, and
continued to make progress in the Arsenal final
third, with Morison battling well supported by
Anthony Pilkington.

ANGLED FINISH
However, more often than not, the home side opted
for the wrong choice of pass with men over.

Walcott switched to the left and continued to
torment the Norwich backline, but Arsenal could
not find a way through ahead of the interval.

Thomas Vermaelen then scampered forward and his
cut-back was glanced goalwards by Gervinho, but
without any real power to trouble Ruddy.

Walcott was sent clear away down the right, and
his near post cut-back was slotted into the
sidenetting by the on-rushing Aaron Ramsey.

Norwich were cut open again when a sweeping
Arsenal counter saw van Persie slip Gervinho
through the centre, but Ruddy was out quickly to
block before the loose ball was then hacked away.

On the hour, the Dutchman showed him how it should
be done when referee Phil Dowd played a fine
advantage after Ramsey had been tripped, which
allowed Alex Song to send van Persie away in the
right channel.

The Gunners skipper took one touch before clipping
a superb, angled finish over Ruddy.

To their credit, Norwich quickly tried to get
themselves back into the game, with Bennett's low
cross only needing a touch from Pilkington at the
near post.

Paul Lambert's men have shown great deal of
character this season, earning a 1-1 draw at
Liverpool, and refused to accept defeat, with
substitute Grant Holt giving Mertesacker a real
test.

However, the Norwich club captain was booked for
taking a tumble in the box as Arsenal kept
possession well during the closing stages to close
out a fifth straight Premier League win as their
resurgence continued.

Source - Barclays Premiere League

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