Premier League: Norwich v Arsenal match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Carrow Road

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud on a frustrating opening match (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal travel to Norwich in Saturday’s tea-time kick-off with Norwich yet to win a match in the league. But what will worry manager Chris Hughton more is the manner of their defeats; conceding nine goals in their last two outings.

Norwich fans may point to the fact that those two games were against Liverpool and Chelsea but their defensive frailties could prove fatal in what already looks like a battle for survival in East Anglia.

If they are to turn their fortunes around, they will need star man Grant Holt to continue in the form that saw the 31-year-old found the net against both Liverpool and Chelsea and is slowly regaining his form that saw him score 15 goals in the league last season. He could be especially useful from set-pieces as Arsenal have looked susceptible to balls into the box, as four of the last five goals conceded by the Gunners were in this manner.

With Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud grabbing a late equaliser for France in their World Cup qualifier against Spain, the former Montpellier man will want to silence his critics this side of the channel by finding his goal-scoring form of last season which earned him the Golden Boot in Ligue 1.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans will be excited by that Jack Wilshere could feature in the match.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 5.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Arsenal 3 (Benayoun, van Persie 2) Norwich 3 (Hoolahan, Holt, Morison) Premier League, May 2012

Norwich 1 (Morison) Arsenal 2 (van Persie 2), Premier League, November 2011

Arsenal 4 (Henry 3, Ljungberg) Norwich 1 (Huckerby), Premier League, April 2005

STATS...

Norwich have allowed their opponents the joint-most shots on target against them of Premier League teams this season (41).

The Canaries’ -12 goal difference is the worst in the Premier League.

The Gunners have an excellent record at the home of the Canaries - they're unbeaten in their last 12 trips to Carrow Road.

ODDS...

Norwich to win: 6.0

Arsenal to win: 1.53

Draw: 4.20

TV: Live on ESPN at 5.30pm and highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm