Arsenal vs. Norwich City Preview

Third placed Arsenal should secure Champions League qualification for next season when Norwich City visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday May 5.

Victory for the Gunners will take them onto 71 points which is likely to be enough heading into the final game of the camapaign.

And Arsenal will be determined to hold onto their current position as fourth place could be under threat in terms of qualifying for the tournament if Chelsea manage to win this year’s final in Munich at the end of May – a result which would see the Blues into the competition next season at the expense of the team who finishes fourth.

The hosts have had a largely indifferent term by their own standards but will be pleased to have picked up in recent weeks.

Their upturn in form has at least given them almost certain entry into the 2012/2013 Champions League, which will be their fifteenth consecutive appearance in the competition under boss Arsene Wenger.

Scant consolation perhaps for yet another season devoid of silverware but better things can surely be expected from Arsenal next time around if they can get off on the front foot and replicate what they have achieved since losing to AC Milan at the end of February.

Whilst Arsenal have been on the upgrade, Norwich City have fizzled out following an impressive return to the top flight.

The Canaries impressive early season form guaranteed the club safety a long way out from the finish however Paul Lambert’s side have been unable to keep up the same standard in recent weeks.

Heavy home defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool in the last fortnight have put a dampener on the club’s success and it looks as if Norwich are in dire need of the final whistle in order to regroup and rest over the summer.

Lambert has achieved a lot at Carrow Road and his men can certainly hold their heads up high for comfortably staying up – but they now look to be sitting ducks, especially for teams such as Arsenal who can be devastating on their day.

Norwich will have to find a lot of energy in reserve at the Emirates as a lot of ground will need to be covered over the duration of the ninety minutes.

The Gunners can be ruthlessly efficient at home and on the whole their form at the Emirates has been strong in 2011/2012.

Twelve wins have already been secured in North London, a decent return by all accounts - and a thirteenth victory is likely to arrive here.

Arsenal may have become a little predictable due to only having Robin Van Persie to rely on up front, but the Dutch ace continues to fire and he can spearhead a strong performance to round off the Gunners home campaign.

There is little to get excited about by way of price for an Arsenal win but the odds can be successfully stretched by backing the hosts to win by two or more goals.

Norwich will no doubt give it 100% but this is not the right time for a floundering, fatigued side to play Arsenal and Wenger’s men should be too strong from the outset.

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30/04/2012     © Frixo 2026