Arsenal vs Norwich preview - Late test for Rosicky
Posted Saturday, April 13, 2013 by PA
Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky faces a fitness test on his hamstring and is rated as 50/50 for the Barclays Premier League game against Norwich.
England duo Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Theo Walcott (hip/thigh) are ready to return from their injury lay-offs.
Centre-back Per Mertesacker serves a one-match suspension after his red card at West Brom, so captain Thomas Vermaelen is set to return to the defence. Midfielder Abou Diaby (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Arsenal lost 1-0 at Norwich back in October, but the Norfolk club will probably still need another six points to secure their top-flight status for a third campaign.
"It is quite amazing what they (still) need because they took something like 22 points in that unbeaten run, but outside that period, they struggled," said Wenger.
"It is difficult to maintain that complete focus for 38 games and certainly when you are in full power and full confidence, things go a bit more for you than normal.
"In the Premier League the difference is made on very, very little and when you just drop a fraction you can lose the games that you won before."
Wenger added: "Norwich will fight not to go down and that means you expect a full commitment, complete focus on defending well and catching us on the break.
"We have to make sure we go into the game with the right focus and put them under pressure."
Norwich will assess the fitness of goalkeeper Mark Bunn (groin).
Lee Camp is ready to deputise, having come off the bench against Swansea last weekend, while winger Anthony Pilkington should be available again after his hamstring injury.
England goalkeeper John Ruddy will not yet be risked despite having continued his recovery from thigh surgery with 90 minutes in a development match on Monday.
Norwich's win in the reverse fixture was the start of a 10-match unbeaten run from Hughton's men.
However, only one win in 2013 has left the Canaries needing probably another six points to secure another crack at the top flight.
Johnson sees no reason why at least one of those could not come at the Emirates.
"We had a game plan at our place to get in their faces and upset them, and I think we can do it again on Saturday," he said.
Hughton masterminded a 1-0 victory at Arsenal when in charge of Newcastle in November 2010, secured via a goal from Andy Carroll.
He said: "We will need that type of performance.
"I don't see anybody going to the Emirates with the form Arsenal are in and getting anything without having to play well.
"We will, though, have to be a threat ourselves, because you cannot defend for 90 minutes there, they are too good for that."
Photos
More»
Meet the 'World's hottest swimmer'
Tuesday November 12 2024
Hot singer with flat above Premier League ground
Tuesday November 12 2024
Inside iconic abandoned stadium that hosted England matches
Tuesday November 12 2024
Your Say