5 talking points as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal secure 1-0 Premier League win over Norwich thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second half goal. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
And breathe. Having waited so long for Arsenal to not only record their first points of the 2021/22 season but also grab their first goal, supporters were then treated to the customary nerve-wracking finale.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang settled the tie with the only goal of the game after the ball fell kindly to him following a crazy passage of play in which Nicolas Pepe somehow struck both posts.
It was an immensely welcome relief in the 66th minute after a positive opening 20 minutes for Arsenal fizzled out en route to a goalless first half. A raucous Emirates Stadium crowd tried to push the hosts on but it took until the final minute of half-time for the best chance to fall to Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Pre-game, going in at half-time level and without scoring was concerning. Knowing how fragile confidence is at this moment in time, as soon as the doubt would creep in there would be few nails left to bite.
5 talking points as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal secure 1-0 Premier League win over Norwich thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second half goal
However, Arsenal kept their composure and while there was some wayward finishing, the shots were flying in from all angles.
Aubameyang’s goal came at a crucial point as the frustration and tension could be felt in and around the stadium, with what followed being a series of missed opportunities where Arsenal somehow spurned netting a second goal.
A vital block from Gabriel kept Arsenal in front and were it not for expert time-waster Tim Krul then the game could have been ended as a contest sooner.
In the end, it’s a win. Craving a commanding and dominant performance with goals aplenty, the solitary strike had to make do. Most importantly of all, it’s three precious, precious points.
Here are the talking points.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal celebrates their side’s victory after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on September 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
1. Aaron Ramsdale Gets His Clean Sheet
When the team sheets were announced and Aaron Ramsdale was selected in goal it was the surprise inclusion of the lineup.
It wasn’t totally out of the realms of possibility that he would get the nod over Bernd Leno, who had been away with Germany, so being chosen here doesn’t confirm that it’s a change that will remain all season.
But for this performance, grabbing another clean sheet and his first in the Premier League for Arsenal is a heart warmer. For a goalkeeper arriving on such a fee in an environment that isn’t especially ideal, it’s the perfect outcome.
He wasn’t tested with shots aplenty but everything he had to deal with he did so comfortably. Therefore, it was his distribution that would be most discussed and barring a few heavy passes in the first half, he looked very solid in that department.
After the break was where his passing looked at its best and getting through his Emirates debut without having to pick the ball out of his net will do him, and Arsenal, the world of good. He couldn’t do much more.
#ARSNOR</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://t.co/j8C9xZVuYM">pic.twitter.com/j8C9xZVuYM
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1436741959071195141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 11, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>5 talking points as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal secure 1-0 Premier League win over Norwich thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second half goal</h2>
<p>However, Arsenal kept their composure and while there was some wayward finishing, the shots were flying in from all angles.</p>
<p>Aubameyang’s goal came at a crucial point as the frustration and tension could be felt in and around the stadium, with what followed being a series of missed opportunities where Arsenal somehow spurned netting a second goal.</p>
<p>A vital block from Gabriel kept Arsenal in front and were it not for expert time-waster Tim Krul then the game could have been ended as a contest sooner.</p>
<p>In the end, it’s a win. Craving a commanding and dominant performance with goals aplenty, the solitary strike had to make do. Most importantly of all, it’s three precious, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/10/arsenal-norwich-return-key-players/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">precious points</a>.</p>
<p>Here are the talking points.</p>
<div id="attachment_119091" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-119091" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1339675086-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Aaron Ramsdale" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal celebrates their side’s victory after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on September 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>1. Aaron Ramsdale Gets His Clean Sheet</h2>
<p>When the team sheets were announced and Aaron Ramsdale was selected in goal it was the surprise inclusion of the lineup.</p>
<p>It wasn’t <em>totally</em> out of the realms of possibility that he would get the nod over Bernd Leno, who had been away with Germany, so being chosen here doesn’t confirm that it’s a change that will remain all season.</p>
<p>But for this performance, grabbing another clean sheet and his first in the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> for Arsenal is a heart warmer. For a goalkeeper arriving on such a fee in an environment that isn’t especially ideal, it’s the perfect outcome.</p>
<p>He wasn’t tested with shots aplenty but everything he had to deal with he did so comfortably. Therefore, it was his distribution that would be most discussed and barring a few heavy passes in the first half, he looked very solid in that department.</p>
<p>After the break was where <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/08/21/arsenal-3-positives-ramsdale-transfer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his passing looked at its best</a> and getting through his Emirates debut without having to pick the ball out of his net will do him, and Arsenal, the world of good. He couldn’t do much more.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Return of the man </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-119086" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1331852031-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Thomas Partey" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Thomas Partey of Arsenal during the Pre Season Friendly match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on August 01, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Thomas Partey Risk Pays Off</h2>
<p>A first half in which Ainsley Maitland-Niles struggled to match the qualities needed in positioning and progression to add to the Arsenal midfield, the presence of a certain Ghanaian on the bench was unavoidable.</p>
<p>Starting Thomas Partey would have brought a different level of vision to the midfield but Arteta knows better than any that he can ill afford another injury setback for the 28-year-old. He’s sorely missed whenever he’s out and in order to protect his ankle, being on the bench was the correct call.</p>
<p>When he did come on <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/07/arsenal-3-key-tasks-thomas-partey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it was his intervention</a> that changed the game. He sought to feed the ball through the lines unlike others who could only attempt avenues over the top or out wide, with his pass into Saka’s feet in the build up to the goal being exactly the type of ball the display needed.</p>
<p>Now, with those minutes in his legs and another week of recuperation ahead of Burnley at Turf Moor, he can be ready to start and possibly even finish the game.</p>
<p>Many managers might have struggled to resist the pressure of not fielding their best midfielder even if he wasn’t 100% fit, and instead withdrawing him later on.</p>
<p>This worked out.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-119092" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1339681222-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Martin Odegaard" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal gives instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on September 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. Martin Odegaard Never Stops Running</h2>
<p>Throughout his first loan spell at the club it was interesting to see Arteta <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/08/20/arsenal-5-tactical-demands-odegaard/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regularly laud Martin Odegaard</a> in ways almost exclusively not related to ability.</p>
<p>Beyond heralding his actual quality, it was all the other aspects of his game that were more commonly singled out for praise: leadership, desire, professionalism and <em>work rate</em>.</p>
<p>Odegaard didn’t just press high, he <em>was </em>the high press. Seeing him at the Emirates with the No. 8 on his back, you’d be forgiven for mistaking him for Aaron Ramsey in the way he ran himself into the ground at every single opportunity.</p>
<p>Harassing those on the ball, tracking deep runners and charging back towards his own box to clean up counter attacks, that level of endeavour is infectious.</p>
<p>Nicolas Pepe, who is arguably the worst in the side at pressing, looks much more organised and diligent in his off the ball work with the Norwegian alongside him. Energy like Odegaard’s is vital to a functioning side.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. 5/6 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-119084" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1235183123-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Tomi" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu takes a shot during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>4. Five of Arsenal’s Six Summer Signings Start – Arteta’s Message</h2>
<p>The spending spree laid out before our very eyes. The only exception on the day was Nuno Tavares who stayed on the bench, but elsewhere <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/08/31/arsenal-break-transfer-record-sixth-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">five of the six summer signings</a> not only played, they started.</p>
<p>Arteta has not been happy with the squad. Nobody would be after the season just passed, even if many of the failings fell on his lap.</p>
<p>But going out and splashing £150m on six new faces to then go and start five of them in a game where nothing short of three points would suffice sends out a strong message that what has been on show up until this point has not been of the standard required.</p>
<p>While Sambi may not start in normal circumstances once Granit Xhaka returns and Aaron Ramsdale may not <em>quite</em> have assumed the number one jersey just yet, seeing a vastly different looking side take to the pitch was the morale boost supporters, and the players, needed.</p>
<p>Calum Chambers and Cedric needn’t be told again that they’re below par when Tomiyasu comes in after just one day of training, while Bernd Leno may learn a thing or two about communication with Ramsdale an ever-vocal presence in between the sticks.</p>
<p>Far from perfect, the team that was out there on Saturday is one fans can all find much easier to rally behind.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-119095" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1235185296-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Mikel Arteta" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the side-lines during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>5. Mikel Arteta Marches On, Slowly</h2>
<p>The importance of victory could not be understated.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Three points against Norwich lifts the Gunners up to the <strong>lofty</strong> reaches of 15th place ahead of Leeds and Burnley playing their matchweek four fixtures. The table still makes you cringe.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/10/arsenal-arteta-cant-win-norwich/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arteta can now begin looking upwards</a>.</p>
<p>Had Arsenal have failed to net that crucial goal then even if there were positive aspects of the performance, the failure to earn a result would have plunged the manager into the depths of despair. You’d have got good odds on who would be sacked next, put it that way.</p>
<p>But key to note is that those odds won’t have changed even after Saturday.</p>
<p>It’s pleasant watching the manager smiling in his post-match interviews and discussing positive points. That has to continue.</p>
<p>While Arsenal may have peppered the Norwich goal with 30 shots, the scoreline still reads 1-0 against a winless Canaries. Nobody is under any illusions that this solves anything. It prevents certain narratives. It doesn’t shift the needle.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Player ratings vs Norwich" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/10/arsenal-arteta-cant-win-norwich/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/11/arsenal-5-talking-points-win-norwich/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/09/10/arsenal-arteta-cant-win-norwich/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Player ratings vs Norwich </a> </div>
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<p>Arteta lives to fight another day.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
