More fuel to the argument that Arsene Wenger requires a striker from a higher echelon of talent to truly challenge for league honours.
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If Cazorla has to drop out of contention then Wenger will switch Aaron Ramsey to central midfield, the Wales star’s preferred position while Koscielny’s injury opens the door for Gabriel, the Brazilian, to stake a claim for a permanent place.
The game had descended into a more scrappy affair and Arsenal were dealt a further blow when Sanchez was forced off with a hamstring injury after pulling up when running to close down Ryan Bennett in the penalty area.
Wenger was tetchy in the post-match press conference but is clearly unconvinced by Sanchez’s immediate claim that the damage might only be short-term. Norwich City were very unlucky last week against Chelsea, they went to Stamford Bridge and played really well creating some chances on the counter attack and giving Chelsea plenty to think about on the counter attack.
“I am proud of the lads”, said Klopp. Alexis Sanchez pounced on a poor clearance from Ruddy, quickly playing Özil through on goal. “He says it was a kick on the hamstring, but I fear that is not the reality”. When you have normal stretch and force there is no problem.
On came Gabriel in the 11th minute as Koscielny trudged slowly round the perimetre of the pitch clutching his right hip. It was a kick on the hip.
On Cazorla and Koscielny’s injury, the Emirates club’s manager said: “In the first half he got a kick on the knee and it got worse. Why would he? He must have declared himself fit, but he hobbled off and it did not look good”.
“We don’t know if it jaded his knee ligaments or was a kick on the nerve but the worrying thing is it got worse during the game”. Well, that might be overstating the case for Allardyce’s team, but two wins on the spin is progress at the Stadium of Light.
Neil also praised his side’s resolve for the way they reacted to going behind against a top side like Arsenal. “[Norwich] wanted it and they fought from the first to the final minute”. Petr Cech, springing to his left to save two-handed, was grateful for the workout in the Arsenal goal. Arsenal had been warned.
However, he was named in the starting XI, but was forced to leave the field in the second half holding the same hamstring he had injured earlier in the week.
We missed our chance to move up the table once again, with a disappointing draw against Norwich meaning we’re still stuck in fourth behind Manchester United, Leicester City, and Manchester City. Grabban was left out of the side following his falling out with boss Alex Neil but marked his comeback in a positive fashion.
The loss of Sanchez seemed to knock Arsenal’s confidence and Alex Neil’s side set about taking full advantage. In recent weeks we have been solid but without having possession to relieve pressure.
“How bad it is, I don’t know”.
“At the moment on the striker front we have not much choice because Theo Walcott is out and Danny Welbeck is out”, Wenger added. “Lewis hasn’t been involved”.
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“You have to give credit to the quality of the Norwich performance”.
