Arsenal vs. Norwich

3-3, Premier League, Emirates, 2012-05-05
Benayoun 2,
van Persie 72, 80

Completely gutted.. Ahead of this game we had it all in our own hands and now... well let's just say that hope has fled and we are now most likely to play in the Europa League next season...

Our first half was one of the worst halves I've seen us play this season. We got the lead after just two minutes when birthday boy Yossi Benayoun produced an amazing strike that went straight for the top corner. However, after that goal we were abhorrent. Completely useless. It was disappointing yet to no surprise that we found ourselves 2-1 down after that first half.

In the second half we looked like a team changed. We were hungrier and fought like a team, unlike the first half. You have to give Norwich lots of credit form this game, they played really well and for most parts of the game (especially the first half) looked hungrier than us, which doesn't make sense since they've secured their contract and we've far from secured that third spot.

There could only be one person to bring us back into the game, Robin van Persie. Song delivered a beautiful assist to the Dutchman who produced the magic that we needed. And just mere minutes later we found ourselves in that lead that we had sought for. And yes, it was that man again. Robin van Persie slammed the ball in using his cat-like reflexes and the atmosphere got crazy!

However, we never managed to hold on to any lead that we picked up in this game and in the dying minutes our defence were completely lost and a Norwich player could seal the draw. Just after this goal we had a clear shout for penalty that the ref chose to ignore. Robin was just about to put the goal into the back of the net following a cross from Oxlade-Chamberlain, and then came a defender and mauled him down. As clear a penalty as there ever will be and it is unacceptable that all the refs should miss it. We need video technology in football, NOW!

We had tons of chances in the second half, and wasted all but two of them. Unbelievable. We have to be more efficient if we are to ever secure a title.

On a happier note, Lukas Podolski joined the club earlier this week. His contract at FC Cologne expired this year and he chose to sign for us. Let us hope he won't have to regret it...

Injury Update;
-Sagna got stretchered off in the first half, which is alarming and I should not think that we will see him again this season.