Arsenal vs. Norwich: 4 Key Battles to Watch at the Emirates

In their quest to finish in the top four, Arsenal will look to continue their winning ways against Norwich City on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.

On paper, it is a game that the Gunners should win. The Canaries are in 14th place and struggling to find much consistency on the attacking or defensive sides of the ball. 

But Norwich won the first time the two teams met earlier this season, holding onto a Grant Holt goal to secure a 1-0 victory.

That was during one of Arsenal's gloomiest periods. Now, the Gunners are bubbling with confidence and seem able to vanquish any opponent.

With that little preview in mind, let's look at four of the best and biggest battles to look for during and before the game.

Thomas Vermaelen vs. Grant Holt

This is a big one.

Vermaelen is only being recalled to the first team because Per Mertesacker's red card in Arsenal's last game against West Bromwich Albion rules him out of this match.

He had been dropped due to the stellar performance of Laurent Koscielny, with whom he will be partnering in the center of the Gunners defense. Neither are particularly physical players, preferring to defend on the ground and play out of the back.

Unfortunately for Vermaelen, he will likely be tasked with one of the most physical strikers in the Premier League: Grant Holt. The Englishman can, and has, manhandled defenders, and he will not relent against Vermaelen.

But the Belgian has something to prove to Arsene Wenger. This should be a very interesting one.

Theo Walcott vs. Gervinho

Normally, Theo Walcott would waltz straight back into the team after returning from injury. But he now has to contend with a man who is in a good run of form and has more than capably filled the regular's boots.

Amazingly, that individual is Gervinho. With two goals and two assists in his last two games, it would be unwise to bench a player who Arsene Wenger has admitted relies so much on fragile self-confidence.

Though Walcott was Arsenal's top goalscorer in the Premier League until recently, he has not netted since the Gunners' draw with Liverpool on January 30.

It's a worryingly disappointing dry spell for the club's highest-paid player, who does not deserve to automatically regain his place at the moment. But Walcott's blazing speed, and the thought that he can only get back into form when played, might save him.

Jack Wilshere vs. Santi Cazorla vs. Lukas Podolski

With Jack Wilshere returning to training after a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury, Arsene Wenger is loaded with options.

Specifically, he must choose who to start in central attacking midfield and on the left wing, and three players are in contention for those two slots.

First, there is Lukas Podolski, who has peculiarly not started a game since Arsenal played Bayern Munich on February 19 and was unused during the team's last game against West Brom. The Gunners have coped without his tireless energy and rocket shots, but he deserves to get a look.

Wilshere would start in midfield, of course, but might not be risked from the start after not playing for weeks. He would be an incredible weapon to have on the bench, but Wenger might not be able to resist starting the Englishman if fit.

And finally, there is Santi Cazorla, who must start somewhere based on his virtuoso performances recently. Unlike Podolski and Wilshere, the Spaniard can play in midfield or on the wing, so he provides tactical flexibility.

Each has his advantages, so it will be interesting to see which two ultimately win out.

Olivier Giroud vs. Seb Bassong and Michael Turner

As is so often the case with Arsenal, the effectiveness of their attack will depend largely on the performance of the only true striker at the club: Olivier Giroud.

When his movement is good and his passing in tight windows is crisp, he can keep attacking moves flowing and open space for his teammates.

The problem with the Frenchman is the fact that he's a streaky player. A glut of goals is followed by a dry, unproductive spell. But fans stomach it because he's the only option available.

Giroud's finish against Reading two weeks ago seemed to indicate that he was hitting one of those purple patches, but his subsequent display against West Brom was nothing to remark upon.

If he can overcome Seb Bassong and Michael Turner, the two center-backs he's likely to face, Giroud might just hit a rich vein of form and strike Arsenal to another vital three points.

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