Norwich 1-0 Arsenal

Arsenal were left 10 points behind
Premier League leaders Chelsea
after being stunned by Norwich, who
won their first top-flight game of the
season.
Grant Holt put the home side ahead
when he slotted in after keeper Vito
Mannone had parried Alexander
Tettey's shot.
Michael Turner headed wide for the
Canaries as the subdued Gunners
struggled to create chances.
Mikel Arteta had a late shot saved by
John Ruddy but Norwich held firm to
secure the victory.
Arsenal had seen Chelsea, Manchester
City and Manchester United win before
their game at Carrow Road but could
not match the results of their rivals as
they dropped further off the Premier
League pace.
Manager Arsene Wenger's desperation
to shake his side out of their stupor
even stretched to giving attacking
midfielder Serge Gnabry, 17, his league
debut, although the move proved in
vain as his side suffered their first away
defeat this season.
Wenger left Jack Wilshere on the bench
on his return from 14 months out with
ankle and knee injuries, and his side
were crying out for the midfielder's
guile to break down their stubborn
opponents.
Norwich winger Anthony Pilkington and
Gunners striker Lukas Podolski had both
gone close with early long range shots
before Holt, who Wenger had
highlighted as having caused his side
problems last season, opened the
scoring.
Canaries midfielder Tettey's 25-yard
shot was only parried by Mannone and
Holt was quickest to react as he beat
defender Per Mertesacker to the ball to
poke in his third goal in as many games.
The home side had conceded nine
goals in their last two matches but
manager Chris Hughton clearly
addressed his side's defensive
deficiencies during the international
break.
Norwich were more disciplined in their
shape and determined in the tackle as
they kept Arsenal at arm's length in a
manner that was comfortable for them
and worrying for Wenger.
Arsenal lacked urgency and ideas, with
Norwich's tactic of nullifying Santi
Cazorla limiting the Gunners' threat.
Turner might feel he should have
extended the home side's lead when he
met Pilkington's corner only to head
wide from six yards.
Arsenal's struggles were epitomised
when Norwich keeper Ruddy pushed
out a corner which fell to Olivier Giroud,
who mistimed his hooked shot.
In contrast, the home side's confidence
was growing as they built on their
organisation by producing some
promising passing play and threatening
on the counter-attack.
Wenger threw on winger Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain in the hope of energising
his side but he lasted just nine minutes
before going off injured following a
challenge by Sebastian Bassong.
Holt had a chance to put the hosts out
of reach when he raced clear after
capitalising on a slip by Thomas
Vermaelen but the striker's ambitious
chip fell straight into the grateful arms
of Mannone.
Apart from Arteta's late strike and
Gervinho seeing a chance disappear
following a lunging Bassong tackle,
Arsenal lacked any real threat as they
suffered a first league defeat at Carrow
Road since December 1984.
Norwich manager Chris Hughton:
"This has been a long time coming,
which our performances have
warranted. However, this league is
unforgiving.
"I am delighted for the team, because
the work-rate was outstanding and
there is no coincidence in the result.
"We could have caught them on the
counter more and made life easier for
ourselves towards the end, but overall
we restricted them and so it was a very
satisfactory performance.
"We have deserved this by our play this
season so far, so it is a very good
feeling to get the win here at Carrow
Road for the supporters."