Published: 58 minutes ago
ARSENE WENGER saw his Arsenal side lose their bottle — and their grip on a Champions League spot.
The prickly Frenchman was left fuming as his side dropped two crucial points at the Emirates.
Wenger vented his anger by throwing his water bottle in the dugout after Grant Holt had put Norwich 2-1 up.
Arsenal thought Robin van Persie's late double had cemented third spot. But sub Steve Morison fired in a late leveller as Norwich grabbed a point in a thriller.
Things could get worse for Wenger tomorrow, with Tottenham and Newcastle both able to leapfrog his side if they win.
That nightmare scenario would see Arsenal down to fifth — outside the Champions League places.
The day started brilliantly for the home side as Yossi Benayoun, on his 32nd birthday, curled in a beauty after just 66 seconds.
Van Persie blazed over when well set. But it was Norwich who looked the livelier and they went in front on 27 minutes as Holt surged clear and saw his effort deflected in over Szczesny off Kieran Gibbs.
Things got worse for Arsenal when right-back Bacary Sagna had to be taken off on a stretcher on 33 minutes after picking up a leg injury, Francis Coquelin replacing him.
Koscielny then made a superb sliding tackle to deny Holt a second from close range.
Benayoun should have had a second on 57 minutes as he got up highest from a free-kick to get a header in but only straight at John Ruddy.
It was end to end now and Van Persie saw a close-range effort kept out by Ruddy before Aaron Ramsey miscued in front of an open goal — although a slight deflection may have put the Welshman off.
Van Persie was put through again on 66 minutes but he skewed wide before Thomas Vermaelen saw Ruddy pull off another save.
The pressure on the Norwich backline finally told on 72 minutes as Van Persie stroked home Alex Song's superb floated pass in behind the visitors' defence.
The Dutchman could sense another but his next effort was comfortably held by the Canaries keeper.
Van Persie slid in to brillilantly convert and put Arsenal 3-2 up. But Norwich had other ideas and Morison fired low into the far corner to silence the Emirates.
Song then thought he had scored only for Ruddy to make another important save.
And the Canaries stopper pulled off a blinder to deny Gibbs at the death.
Norwich: Ruddy, Naughton, Ryan Bennett, Martin, Lappin, Johnson, Howson, E Bennett, Hoolahan (Pilkington 74), Jackson (Morison 69), Holt (Wilbraham 81). Subs not used: Steer, Surman, Fox, Ward. Booked: Jackson, Hoolahan, Wilbraham.Goals: Hoolahan 12, Holt 27, Morison 85.
Att: 60,092
Ref: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
No comments:
Post a Comment