Match Preview: Norwich vs. Arsenal – Premier League 11.05.2014

At a time like this, it’s hard to summon up the requisite excitement, confidence, or doubt. After all, fourth is ours. Norwich is all but relegated. There’s little left in it, to be honest. About the only drama that we can drum up centers around a couple of individual accomplishments—will Szczesny claim the Golden Glove? Is this the day that Sanogo opens his account? Can Wilshere replicate his wonder-goal from October? Much as these may matter to the result, the results feels a bit secondary, not that we should to treat it as such.

With table positions penciled in for both clubs, it’s anyone’s guess as to what we’ll see from Norwich. Will they be the stubborn stalwarts that stymied Chelsea or will they fold as fast as they did when facing Man U? From our end, it’s likely that we’ll see a fair amount of rotation as we look ahead to the FA Cup final next weekend, hoping to strike a balance between rest for the weary and tune-ups for the rusty.  That rotation should mean more time on the pitch for Sanogo, among others, who may finally bag his first-ever goal for Arsenal.

More strirring, perhaps, is the possibility that Szczesny could earn the Golden Glove if he keeps a clean sheet. He’s currently level with Petr Cech, but Cech has played three fewer matches and would win it in the event of a tie. Without looking past Norwich, then, it would be exciting to see Szczesny claim it—for one, it would suggest that we’ll do no worse than drawing with Norwich. Beyond that, it would suggest a coronation of sorts as Szczesny, for as young as he is, has delivered a season fine enough to better one of the Prem’s best. For those feeling churlish enough to mutter or exclaim “6-0”, I toss back “0-0”, as in Chelsea’s scoreline against Norwich. No disrespect to Cech or Norwich, but when you set up to defend as mulishly as Mourinho does, you’re not going to concede as often. Fine. That’s the strategy of an overmatched, outspent squad, which Chelsea most definitely is not.

I digress. Norwich is that kind of squad, and while they’ve struggled in recent weeks, they have managed to make life difficult for us, such as the last time we visited Carrow Road, which saw the Canaries claim a 1-0 victory.  For as much as we might support Szczesny’s pursuit of individual accolades, and for as much as we might want to rest and rotate ahead of the FA Cup final, there’s nothing wrong with trying to sustain a bit of momentum by starting strong and putting Norwich on the back foot early, if not often.

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