Arsene Wenger accused his players of lacking what is required to make a top team as struggling Norwich outfought and outsmarted Arsenal to climb out of the bottom three.
Grant Holt’s 19th-minute goal was enough to clinch the Canaries’ first win of the season and a first victory in 13 matches against the Gunners.
Holt from the blue: The Norwich skipper (right) celebrates his early goal
MATCH FACTS
Norwich: Ruddy; R Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido; E Bennett (Snodgrass 79), Tettey, Johnson, Pilkington; Hoolahan; Holt (Morison 90).
Subs not used: Rudd, R Bennett, Howson, Surman, Jackson.
Booked: Turner, Johnson, Hoolahan, Holt.
Goal: Holt 19.
Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos; Ramsey (Gnabry 83), Arteta; Gervinho, Cazorla, Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain 65); Giroud.
Subs not used: Martinez, Djourou, Wilshere, Coquelin, Arshavin.
Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 26,825.
Subs not used: Rudd, R Bennett, Howson, Surman, Jackson.
Booked: Turner, Johnson, Hoolahan, Holt.
Goal: Holt 19.
Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos; Ramsey (Gnabry 83), Arteta; Gervinho, Cazorla, Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain 65); Giroud.
Subs not used: Martinez, Djourou, Wilshere, Coquelin, Arshavin.
Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 26,825.
The Frenchman candidly admitted that his players, who could have gone fourth in the table had they won, may have taken their opponents too lightly.
‘Maybe we underestimated the difficulty we faced today,’ said the Arsenal manager. ‘If you are not ready for a fight in the Premier League you will have all these bad surprises.
‘We lacked what a team at the top level needs. It was a disappointing performance and it missed the necessary focus and sharpness.
‘It was a shock for the team and I hope it will have a positive impact. We had players away on international duty and some, including Santi Cazorla, were not at their best physically. But it’s not an excuse. When you are better players you have to be able to cope.’
Arsenal started listlessly and were second best to Norwich’s spirited determination, but the goal that settled the match will go down as a goalkeeping error by Vito Mannone.
Old acquaintances: Norwich boss Chris Hughton (left) and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (right)
Wenger refused to criticise his goalkeeper. ‘We don’t blame Mannone because other players made mistakes, too,’ said the Frenchman. ‘We had to put it behind us and come up with a better performance.’
Midfield battle: Aaron Ramsey (right) and Wes Hoolahan fight for possession
Arsenal felt no need to panic but were never able to find the fluency to
break down a Norwich defence which had conceded nine goals in its
previous two Premier League matches.
Hughton had clearly worked hard on improving his defence and the team responded with a hard-working, disciplined display to deny Arsenal space and limited their celebrated visitors to a handful of chances.
Hughton had clearly worked hard on improving his defence and the team responded with a hard-working, disciplined display to deny Arsenal space and limited their celebrated visitors to a handful of chances.
Assist: Norwegian midfielder Tettey created Norwich's goal
John Ruddy, in fact, had a quiet night, pulling off an important save
near the end when, unlike Mannone, he safely gathered in Mikel Arteta’s
fierce low drive. When Gervinho finally found space in the penalty area,
Sebastien Bassong flung himself to make a crucial blocking tackle.
Nothing would go right for Arsenal, for whom Lucas Podolski and Olivier Giroud looked sluggish, and their miserable night was compounded when England forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain limped off with a bruised hip nine minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Nothing would go right for Arsenal, for whom Lucas Podolski and Olivier Giroud looked sluggish, and their miserable night was compounded when England forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain limped off with a bruised hip nine minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Back on the bench: Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (centre) made a matchday squad for the first time in over a year
Hughton said: ‘This result will mean a lot to the players and the fans and more so because we deserved it. That’s what’s most pleasing. Every game is going to be tough for us in this division but if we do it right, we have enough quality to do well.’
As for Arsenal, a big improvement is needed in their Champions League match against Schalke on Wednesday.
Welcome to Norwich: Michael Turner fouls Olivier Giroud
Ruddy good show: The Norwich goalkeeper celebrates at the final whistle
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