Arsenal vs. Norwich: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
Two teams reeling from poor results against Sunderland meet in a match that could have significant implications at both ends of the Premier League.
After their 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light, Arsenal's place in the top four is in some jeopardy. They urgently need points to see off the challenge of Manchester United for their Champions League place.
Norwich, meanwhile, are still firmly embroiled in the relegation mire. They lost their last match 3-0 to Sam Allardyce's men and need to make an instant recovery if they are to save their Premier League status.
Date: Saturday, April 30
Time: 5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Emirates Stadium, London
Television coverage: Sky Sports 1/Sky Sports 1 HD (U.K. only), NBC and NBC Universo (U.S. only)
Streaming: Sky Go (U.K. only), NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games, visit the official site or go to the ticket page on the home club's official website. Secondary ticket information for Arsenal can be found here.
Form
Arsenal
W (4-0) vs. Watford
D (3-3) vs. West Ham
D (1-1) vs. Crystal Palace
W (2-0) vs. West Brom
D (0-0) vs. Sunderland
Norwich
D (0-0) vs. Manchester City
W (0-1) vs. West Brom
W (3-2) vs. Newcastle
L (1-0) vs. Crystal Palace
L (0-3) vs. Sunderland
Although Arsenal will go into the game as heavy favourites, they have actually won only eight of their last 12 Premier League home matches against Norwich.
That said, there have not been many wins for Norwich to savour in this fixture. Of the last 14 league matches between the two sides, the Canaries have won just one. However, they have managed to salvage six draws.
The Managers
This match will be Arsene Wenger's 750th Premier League game in charge of the Gunners. Only Sir Alex Ferguson has recorded a higher tally. However, if Arsenal fail to beat Norwich, this milestone will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Speaking to Arsenal.com and other media outlets in the wake of the Sunderland match, Wenger admitted that it's particularly difficult facing teams battling relegation:
"We care about that and we worry about it as well because it is a fight and there are two [different kinds of] teams at the moment in the league. There are teams that are taking it a little bit easier that you see some games and you think you would like to play them now - the teams that are safe and do not go for Europe. Then you have the teams that go for something at the front and the teams that fight not go down and they are different games.
"
If it's a tricky fixture for Arsenal to face, it's a huge one for Norwich and Alex Neil. However, those who know him best believe the Scottish manager is up to the challenge. Hamilton director Ronnie MacDonald, who played a significant role in Neil's move south of the border, had this message for the Norwich fans in the Eastern Daily Press:
"You have the right boy to do it. I actually saw him on Saturday. He was up here at the stadium and he is not remotely daunted. All you can do is your best in your life and if it is not good enough you can live with that. The one thing I will say is you won’t see him buckle. The great thing about wee Alex is that he really cares about his club.
They are certainly playing for him. You can see that. I was down at the Chelsea game and I watch as many of the games as I can. They have had some terrible luck, some of the goals they have let in you couldn’t believe it.
"
Neil will know his luck needs to improve if Norwich are to get anything at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Team News
Arsenal
For the first time in months, Arsenal have something resembling a fully fit squad to choose from. In an interview with Arsenal.com, Wenger confirmed that Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have now returned to full training:
"Cazorla might be in the squad this weekend, I don't know yet. He is available. Everyone is available, but maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain is not competitive yet.
"
Neither man is likely to start, so Wenger will most probably continue with a similar XI to the one that struggled against Sunderland. The one change the fans will be hoping to see is the introduction of Danny Welbeck at the expense of Olivier Giroud. Giroud has failed to score in 19 out of his last 20 games and is woefully short of form.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Aaron Ramsey, Mohamed Elneny; Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey; Danny Welbeck
Norwich
Neil's main decision will be whether or not to give the players who lost heavily to Sunderland the opportunity to redeem themselves at the Emirates Stadium.
They've had a significant lay-off since then, with a full fortnight since that game. Neil will hope that's been sufficient time to replenish both their energy and their confidence.
Predicted Norwich XI (4-2-3-1): John Ruddy; Andre Wisdom, Ryan Bennett, Sebastien Bassong, Martin Olsson; Gary O'Neil, Jonathan Howson; Matthew Jarvis, Steven Naismith, Robbie Brady; Dieumerci Mbokani
Players to watch
Arsenal: Hector Bellerin
Against what's likely to be a compact Norwich defence, it will be essential for Arsenal to play with width. No one enables them to do that better than Bellerin, whose regular bursts to the byline have been one of the highlights of the Gunners' campaign.
In a difficult season for the club, his individual performances have been good enough to see him named in the PFA Team of the Year. With Bellerin at just 21 years of age, it's a fantastic achievement. Now the Spaniard will be determined to finish the season on a high.
Norwich: John Ruddy
Whenever Ruddy comes up against Arsenal, he tends to produce an outstanding performance. The agile goalkeeper may have to be at his best again if Norwich are to come away from the Emirates Stadium with a positive result.
After conceding three against Sunderland, Ruddy would love to bounce back with a strong showing against Wenger's men.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.
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