Robin van Persie hit a brace as Arsenal came from
behind to beat Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road and record
a fifth straight Premier League win.
The in-form Dutchman made it 30 goals for 2011, the
second a sublime finish, after the Canaries had snatched
a shock early lead when Wales striker Steve Morison
capitalised on an horrendous blunder by German international
Per Mertesacker.
Fired by Van Persie's goals, Arsene Wenger's side are
now transformed from the shambles of the start of the
campaign as they closed to within striking distance
of the top four.
Wenger had named a strong starting XI, resisting the
temptation to rest some of his key men after the international
break.
The Gunners signalled their early intent as Theo Walcott,
who played twice for England at Wembley, got away down
the right and cut the ball back for Van Persie, but
for once he failed to connect properly and dragged the
shot wide.
After Norwich ventured forwards, the visitors were
soon back on the offensive, Van Persie driving a low
shot across the face of John Ruddy's goal after latching
onto Andre Santos' pass.
After 12 minutes, it took an acrobatic clearance by
Russell Martin to deflect Walcott's curling left-foot
effort wide just when the ball was destined for the
bottom corner following a quick counter-attack by Gervinho.
The Gunners continued to pour forwards as Norwich were
stretched down both flanks.
However, yet again Arsenal were undone by a mistake
at the back.
Mertesacker failed to shield what should have been
a routine ball through to the keeper, which allowed
Morison to outmuscle the 6ft 4in German before slipping
a shot past Wojciech Szczesny to give the Canaries the
lead on 16 minutes against the run of play.
After such a period of dominance, Arsenal were shell-shocked,
but soon went back on the offensive. Martin was again
in the right place to knock Van Persie's looping header
clear.
Norwich keeper Ruddy and the Scotland defender then
combined to hack away Gervinho's angled drive after
the Ivory Coast wideman had cut in from the left.
The equaliser eventually arrived on 26 minutes when
Walcott skipped past Marc Tierney to cut the ball back
through the six-yard box, where Gervinho failed to connect
with a reverse flick, which fortunately presented Van
Persie with a tap-in for his ninth goal in five Premier
League games.
To their credit, Norwich were not overrun, and continued
to make progress in the Arsenal final third, with Morison
battling well supported by Anthony Pilkington.
However, more often than not, the home side opted for
the wrong choice of pass with men over.
Walcott switched to the left and continued to torment
the Norwich backline, but Arsenal could not find a way
through ahead of the interval.
Norwich replaced David Fox with winger Elliott Bennett,
a £1million summer signing from Brighton, for
the second half.
The change almost paid dividend when Bennett's ball
from the right flew across the Arsenal area.
Thomas Vermaelen then scampered forwards and his cut-back
was glanced goalwards by Gervinho, but without any real
power to trouble Ruddy.
Walcott was sent clear away down the right, and his
near post cut-back was slotted into the sidenetting
by the on-rushing Aaron Ramsey.
Norwich were cut open again when a sweeping Arsenal
counter saw Van Persie slip Gervinho through the centre,
but Ruddy was out quickly to block before the loose
ball was then hacked away.
On the hour, the Dutchman showed him how it should
be done when referee Phil Dowd played a fine adVantage
after Ramsey had been tripped, which allowed Alex Song
to send Van Persie away in the right channel.
The Gunners skipper took one touch before clipping
a superb, angled finish over Ruddy.
To their credit, Norwich quickly tried to get themselves
back into the game, with Bennett's low cross only needing
a touch from Pilkington at the near post.
Paul Lambert's men have shown great deal of character
this season, earning a 1-1 draw at Liverpool, and refused
to accept defeat, with substitute Grant Holt giving
Mertesacker a real test.
However, the Norwich club captain was booked for taking
a tumble in the box as Arsenal kept possession well
during the closing stages to close out a fifth straight
Premier League win as their resurgence continued.
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