Arsenal 4 Norwich 1: Gunners on fire as Wilshere, Ozil and Ramsey keep Wenger's men in top spot

By Jim Van Wijk, Press Association

PUBLISHED: 10:54 EST, 19 October 2013 | UPDATED: 12:55 EST, 19 October 2013

Arsenal moved clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a comfortable win over Norwich at the Emirates Stadium, where Jack Wilshere had scored a contender for goal of the season.

The Gunners capitalised on Liverpool's draw at Newcastle with what proved to be a hard-earned victory over a determined Norwich side, who could consider themselves unfortunate not to take something from the match despite the final scoreline.

In the end, though, it was Arsenal's class which told, as Wilshere opened the scoring with a sublime finish to a slick passing move which had cut Norwich open on 18 minutes.

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Opening up: Jack Wilshere celebrates scoring for Arsenal

Opening up: Jack Wilshere celebrates scoring for Arsenal

MATCH FACTS

PREM_BADGES

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini (Ramsey 37), Wilshere, Ozil, Cazorla (Rosicky 59), Giroud (Bendtner 78)

Subs not used: Vermaelen, Monreal, Fabianski, Jenkinson.

Goals: Wilshere 18, Ozil 58, Ramsey 83, Ozil 88.

PREM_BADGES

Norwich: Ruddy, Martin, Turner, Bassong, Olsson, Tettey (Hoolahan 79), Snodgrass,Howson, Fer, Pilkington (Redmond 70), Hooper.

Subs not used: Whittaker, Johnson,Bunn, Becchio, Ryan Bennett.

Goals: Howson 70

Attendance: 60,009

Referee: Lee Probert

After soaking up plenty of pressure, Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil headed in a second just before the hour, but Jonny Howson reduced the deficit.

Arsenal, though, made sure there would be no late drama when Aaron Ramsey, who has started on the bench, fired past John Ruddy from close range after jinking into the six-yard box.

Ozil stroked in a late fourth to ensure a somewhat flattering scoreline, but it was more evidence this Arsenal side look set for a long-overdue sustained title challenge in 2014.

As expected, Arsenal made a bright start, with a low shot from fit-again Santi Cazorla saved by goalkeeper Ruddy, one of several players hopeful of impressing watching England manager Roy Hodgson.

Norwich, who has lost four of their opening seven Premier League games to sit in the bottom three, were without club-record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who had been struggling with a toe injury.

Nevertheless, the Canaries looked to be in a positive mindset with Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass, who scored against Croatia and recently became a father, the main outlet down the right.

Finishing off: Wilshere scored after a good passing move

Finishing off: Wilshere scored after a good passing move

Easy does it: Wilshere guides the ball into the corner of net

Easy does it: Wilshere guides the ball into the corner of net

All smiles: Olivier Giroud celebrates with Wilshere

All smiles: Olivier Giroud celebrates with Wilshere

Goal to remember: Wilshere scored after a good passing move

Goal to remember: Wilshere scored after a good passing move

 

Arsenal, though, swept into the lead on 18 minutes with a goal of the highest order.

Norwich had plenty of men behind the ball as Cazorla pressed at the edge of the penalty area.

It did not matter, however, as a sublime series of one-touch passes simply cut through the yellow shirts like butter.

Fight for the ball: Sebastien Bassong holds off Giroud for Norwich

Fight for the ball: Sebastien Bassong holds off Giroud for Norwich

High jump: Giroud, rises highest to win the ball in the air

High jump: Giroud, rises highest to win the ball in the air

 

First Cazorla pulled the ball back out to Wilshere, who played a quick pass into Giroud. His return pass was then flicked straight back by the England man, and in turn touched forwards by the France striker into Wilshere's path as he carried onto to the six-yard box before clipping a low first-time shot past Ruddy.

There was a stoppage just after the half-hour following what looked a nasty clash of heads between Mathieu Flamini and Alex Tettey, but both men were soon back up on their feet.

Ruddy denied Giroud with a brilliant reflex save at his near post following a run and cross down the left by Kieran Gibbs.

Head first: Mesut Ozil gets a second goal for Arsenal

Head first: Mesut Ozil gets a second goal for Arsenal

Easy does it: Ozil celebrates his goal for Arsenal

Easy does it: Ozil celebrates his goal for Arsenal

Making the difference: Ozil celebrates doubling Arsenal's advantage

Making the difference: Ozil celebrates doubling Arsenal's advantage

On 38 minutes, Flamini was replaced by Ramsey, the French midfielder still feeling the after effects of his clash with Tettey.

A looping cross from Norwich defender Russell Martin's was palmed away by Wojciech Szczesny, who had been a spectator up to now.

The Poland goalkeeper, who played well at Wembley despite the 2-0 defeat by England, was tested again by a low 20-yard effort from Leroy Fer.

Pulling one back: Norwich's Jonny Howson scored a goal to make it 2-1

Pulling one back: Norwich's Jonny Howson scored a goal to make it 2-1

Norwich had another good chance at the start of the second half when a deep free-kick was headed back by Michael Turner to Martin. However, the Scotland defender sliced the ball horribly wide from 15 yards.

Arsenal, though, looked to have settled matters with another goal of high quality.

After soaking up plenty of Norwich pressure, the home side broke with devastating consequences on 58 minutes.

Cazorla sprinted into the opposition half before he fed Giroud on the right. The France international looked up and chipped a perfectly-weighted ball across the Norwich penalty area, where Ozil arrived on queue to get in between the defenders and glance a header into the far corner.

In it goes: Aaron Ramsey scores No 3 for Arsenal past John Ruddy

In it goes: Aaron Ramsey scores No 3 for Arsenal past John Ruddy

Nevertheless, the Canaries still refused to go away and their industry was rewarded with 20 minutes left when Howson drove the ball in at the far post after Martin Olsson's left-wing cross was only half cleared.

Arsenal clearly needed a third to finally kill off the game.

Ruddy saved a 20-yard thunderbolt from Ramsey before the England squad keeper then denied substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

Ramsey settled any late nerves when he cut into the six-yard box and fired past Ruddy, who was beaten again two minutes from time by Ozil's tap-in from a cutback by the Wales midfielder at the far post.

 

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Looking forward to match of the day comments from jug ears and the sweaty, they must be in pieces. Oh how we laughed!

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This sums up how great Wenger is: Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla and Özil cost £60m Fernando Torres cost £50m. - Jonathan Derby, Land of the Gooners, United Kingdom, 19/10/2013 18:12 Don't forget Flamini.

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A comfortable win in the end, but in my opinion, as soon as Flamini went off, for quite a while Norwich managed to get back in the game, hope he's gonna be fit for Dortmund, he organizes a lot in midfield and defence does Flamini, a masterstroke signing by Le Prof. That first goal and Ramsey's goal were pretty impressive, we've got our Arsenal back!

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This sums up how great Wenger is: Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla and Özil cost £60m Fernando Torres cost £50m.

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Got to laugh at all the glory-hunters that think that any sort of victory over Norwich is worth crowing about. My team may not be in the same league as Arsenal but at least I can take pride in being a real supporter of my local team - unlike many here. Why would someone from Wales and who lives in Derby choose to support a second-rate London side? Pathetic glory-hunting, that's what it is.

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and yet you keep reminding us about our trophy drought. Can't have it both ways.

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What do they smoke up there mate. Must be some real dangerous stuff. Stay away from it

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If you had more than one brain cell you could be dangerous.

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If we can get through our usual november/december slump, when it gets a bit nippy & the pitches are a little too sludgy for our passing game, then i am very confident for the 2014 run in. These players have much more grit & camaraderie than teams of the past few seasons. Still need another frontman though.

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Well done Arsenal, good win.. COYG

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apparently Arsenal play what is termed WENGERBALL

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iwe mAHOBHO

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Top of the league but let´s not get carried away just yet because the opening fixtures have beeen favorable. And I´d swop the free-flowing passing style for grinding one-nils over Man U and Chelsea any day of the week.

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And What's wrong with beating them our way, free flowing heart stopping swift passing moves we thrive on? Stop being pessimistic man. We are back

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