For Arsenal, a win against Norwich City was vital. That was all they needed, any kind of victory that would allow the team to breathe a sigh of relief and move forward. Three games had brought three defeats, without a single goal scored. Head coach Mikel Arteta just needed to catch a break.
After huffing and puffing for 90 minutes at the Emirates Stadium in a far-from-convincing performance, Arsenal got the win they were seeking, three vital points which move them away from the bottom of the table. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second-half goal was the difference in the end, and whilst it wasn’t a classic, it was enough to win 1-0 and bring some much-needed joy to the home crowd.
If Arsenal had failed to take anything but a win from the game, pressure would have really built on Arteta. There are already sections of the club’s fanbase that have lost faith in the Spaniard’s methods, and who feel like the new signings brought in over the summer are not of the standard required to help Arsenal get back to where a club of their stature should be.
However, the performance of defender Takehiro Tomiyasu may have surprised a few. The centre-back was brought in hastily from Bologna towards the end of the transfer window, and not many Arsenal fans were feeling particularly enthused by the arrival of the Japan international. But he was excellent against the Canaries, and brought a real sense of composure to the backline. Tomiyasu was brought off shortly after the hour mark with a knock, but it’s not thought to be serious, and Arsenal supporters will be looking forward to seeing him in action again.
Notching the winner will have come as a confidence boost for Aubameyang. The Gunners captain did not have a great season last term, failing to hit the scoring heights of prior campaigns. There have been persistent rumors linking Aubameyang with a move away from the Emirates, but now you feel he’s focused on his football and doing his utmost to get Arsenal in contention for European qualification in the Betdaq odds.
His goal was as easy as they come. After Nicloas Pépé hit the post twice in quick succession, the ball ricocheted off him and fell into Aubameyang’s path, who had the simple task of lashing it into the net from a yard out. It was the kind of goal that was needed for Arsenal to get the win — a lucky break.
Where they go from here is anyone’s guess. They head to Burnley next for a difficult test at Turf Moor, before the all-important North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates the following weekend. Although there were some positive signs against Norwich, it was not enough to suggest that this Arsenal team is ready to take the league by storm and work their way back into the top half.
Perhaps the relief of simply getting those first three points on the board will be enough to give them a boost heading to Burnley. With new signings still adapting to life in North London, there is reason to believe that Arsenal will improve further as the season goes on.
