Norwich 1 Arsenal 0

GRANT HOLT tapped home the easiest of goals to sink Arsenal at Carrow Road.

Norwich skipper Holt was in the right place at the right time to break the deadlock after 19 minutes.

And the goal secured the first Premier League victory of the season for Chris Hughton’s men as the toothless Gunners fired blanks thoughout a game they were expected to win.
Norwich started brightly as winger Anthony Pilkington, watched by Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni, fired a 20-yard effort wide.

At the other end, German forward Lukas Podolski cut in from the left and flashed a shot across the face of John Ruddy’s goal.

Despite conceding 17 goals in their previous seven games, the hosts looked dangerous with Wes Hoolahan tucked in behind Holt.

And with the confidence clearly growing as the minutes ticked by, the Canaries took the lead.

Norway midfielder Alex Tettey let fly from 25 yards across a skiddy surface and Vito Mannone — deputising for injured No1 Wojciech Szczesny — parried the ball into the path of Holt to convert from close range.Arsenal, who also fell behind at West Ham last time out, looked for an immediate response.

Bradley Johnson was cautioned for a late challenge on Santi Cazorla as the visitors pushed forward but Norwich refused to sit back and defend.

Holt drew Mannone out to the touchline and hooked the ball back across goal, where Carl Jenkinson hacked it clear as Anthony Pilkington was set to shoot at an unguarded net.

Despite all of their possession, Arsenal lacked a killer pass in the final third.

The Canaries continued to hit Arsene Wenger's men on the counter before Michael Turner planted a free header wide after a late run into the six-yard box from a corner.
At the other end, Gervinho was picked out by an angled free-kick from Mikel Arteta, but completely missed the ball — much to the delight of the home crowd.

Arsenal pressed Norwich back at the start of the second half, but again looked suspect from balls into their own area as Javier Garrido’s floated cross from the left just eluded Holt at the far post.

The Gunners broke quickly on 51 minutes with Jenkinson’s cross palmed away by Ruddy before Olivier Giroud hooked the ball wide.

As the hour mark passed Norwich continued to press with Holt again asking questions of the Arsenal defence.

When the visitors did break, Gervinho’s header lacked any pace after a clever flick-on by Giroud.

Wenger had seen enough and on 65 minutes Podolski was replaced by England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.Turner then went through the back of Giroud to concede a free-kick, which Cazorla failed to test Ruddy with after curling the ball around the wall.

Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up what appeare to be a hip problem and had to be replaced by Andrey Arshavin after less than 10 minutes on the pitch.

Norwich made a change for the final 12 minutes when winger Elliott Bennett was replaced by Robert Snodgrass, fit again after missing Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers because of an ankle problem.

Holt capitalised on a slip by Thomas Vermaelen on the halfway line to rush clear, only to float a tame chip at the keeper.

Arsenal made their final change with eight minutes left when 17-year-old German Serge Gnabry replaced Aaron Ramsey.

But there was no way through for the Gunners as Norwich held out for a much-needed win.

Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido, Elliott Bennett (Snodgrass 79), Johnson, Hoolahan (Ryan Bennett 90), Tettey, Pilkington, Holt (Morison 90). Subs not used: Rudd, Howson, Jackson, Surman. Booked: Johnson, Hoolahan, Holt,Turner.

Goals: Holt 19.

Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Ramsey (Gnabry 83), Arteta, Cazorla, Gervinho,Giroud, Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain 65), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arshavin 74). Subs not used: Martinez, Wilshere, Djourou,Coquelin.

Att: 26,825

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Source: thesun.co.uk