We are staying up!
Arsenal fans’ ironic chant shows extent of Arteta’s task as they finally win
MORE satisfactory than convincing, but finally Arsenal are off the mark. This wasn’t vintage, far from it. But that won’t matter much to Mikel Arteta after what has been a torrid start to the campaign.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the hero, with one of the easiest finishes of his career to score Arsenal’s first Premier League goal of the season and secure their first points. Everyone with Arsenal connections can finally breathe a huge sigh of relief.
‘We are staying up,’ chanted the fans ironically. Arteta responded: ‘I didn’t hear that but if they are saying that in a funny way then we accept it.’ Bigger tests are ahead,
of course. Norwich more than held their own but appear destined for another relegation scrap. They are the only side in the top flight without a point after four games.
A trip to Burnley next Saturday will provide a sterner test for the Gunners before the north London derby on September 26. Two more wins and, perhaps, we can say Arsenal have turned a corner. But at least this was a start, albeit a rather anxious one by the end.
‘Emotionally it was a very tough game to play, after three defeats,’ added Arteta. ‘But we are out of the blocks straight away and then we took control in second half.
‘The best thing about the last 10-15 days is the relationships we have and the level of trust we all have. We have all been trying to improve and be positive. We have been ready to suffer.’
Arsenal started positively. Nicolas Pepe kept Brandon Williams occupied down the Norwich left in one of the most notable battles of the afternoon. Norwich were neither overrun nor overawed. Few are here these days. Aubameyang failed to finish when goalkeeper Tim Krul was caught in no man’s land in the 11th minute and squandered an even better opportunity after he was found beautifully by Martin Odegaard.
That was as good as it got for Arsenal during the opening 45 minutes. While they didn’t test Aaron Ramsdale on his Premier League debut for Arsenal, Norwich weren’t without their chances. Kenny McLean wasted a decent aerial opportunity and Teemu Pukki saw a dangerous effort blocked by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
There was enough to like about this Arsenal performance for the Emirates faithful not to boo them off at half-time, unlike the last time they played here against Chelsea.
Aubameyang was threatening, Odegaard looked capable of unpicking the Norwich defence and Takehiro Tomiyasu was showing plenty of promise following his deadlineday arrival from Bologna.
Had Williams, who was having a fine game, not produced a brilliant goal-saving block to deny Pepe at the back post in the 57th minute then the rest of the afternoon would have been far more relaxed for Arsenal.
The natives were becoming increasingly restless so Arteta sent for the cavalry: Thomas Partey introduced for his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury while Emile Smith Rowe was also sent on in the 62nd minute.
And within four minutes Arsenal were ahead. The move started with Partey, who fired a sharp pass forward into Bukayo Saka, who fed Pepe cutting in from the right.
The Ivorian’s initial shot was saved on to the post by Krul before Pepe’s bundled effort from the rebound also hit the upright. Eventually, though the ball broke to Aubameyang, who scored from a yard and the Emirates erupted.
But Arsenal were made to sweat through a VAR check, Norwich adamant Aubameyang was in an offside position. Norwich boss Daniel Farke didn’t want to be drawn on the incident after the game.
He was right not to, too. It wouldn’t change anything, the goal stood and the Gunners’ season — finally — had lift-off.