Arsenal battles hard for third place
Dilanka MANNAKKARA
The battle for third place in the English Premier League intensifies
on Saturday when Arsenal welcome Norwich to the Emirates Stadium.Arsenal
are in third position, 17 points behind the Manchester clubs who are
locked in their own battle for the title.
The Gunners would not have been happy with the midweek results that
saw victories for both Tottenham and Newcastle, who moved one point
behind them in the fight for third place and the resulting Champions
League berth.
But Arsene Wenger's men remain in the box seat, knowing that wins in
their final two outings against Norwich and away to West Bromwich Albion
will be enough. Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Stoke City last
weekend, with Robin van Persie cancelling out Peter Crouch's opening
goal at the Britannia Stadium.
The Gunners have conceded just three goals in their last six
appearances at home in all competitions and are favourites to say
goodbye to the Emirates faithful for another season with three points.
Despite successive defeats by Liverpool, Blackburn and Manchester
City, Norwich have already secured their Premier League status for
another season and travel to Arsenal in search of their sixth away win
of the campaign.
Norwich have produced mixed results in London this season, having
defeated Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers while falling to Fulham and
Chelsea.Paul Lambert refused to blame fatigue after his side's 3-0
drubbing at the hands of the Luis Suarez-inspired Liverpool last week
and remains hopeful of a top half finish on the Premier League table
come season's end. Attacking midfielder Elliott Bennett is determined to
put in a good performance against Arsenal.
"It's massively important to end on a bit of a high, because it would
be a shame to waste all the hard work and some of the great things we've
achieved this season and haven't achieved in the last few games,"
Bennett told the press.
"We have still got two football matches left that we really want to
win.
"Hopefully at Arsenal we can put the Liverpool performance behind us
and then against Aston Villa we can do the same."
Grant Holt has failed to score in his last four appearances for
Norwich but will be looking to add to his tally of 15 for the season and
is likely to start up front at the Emirates.
Arsenal captain van Persie netted either side of half time as his
team came from a goal down to defeat Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road last
time the sides met in November. |