Football: Campbell's work is ruined by Ekoku: Arsenal and Norwich draw some comfort

Norwich City. . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Arsenal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

TWO TEAMS whose season has suddenly gone cold on them attempted to provide sufficient entertainment yesterday to warm the cockles of a frozen Carrow Road crowd. It was a losing battle and a predictable outcome for combatants who had each drawn their three previous Premiership fixtures and were to make it four.

Arsenal will be the happier if only because having been removed from the FA Cup by Bolton they had to return home with something. Yet they were also furious when what appeared to be a genuine appeal for a penalty following Rob Newman's 71st-minute trip on Ray Parlour was shrugged aside by the referee.

'It was so obvious a penalty,' George Graham complained, 'and the television replay has just endorsed what everybody in the ground knew to be the case.'

The Gunners who, of course, are still battling on the European front in the Cup-Winners' Cup, went ahead through Kevin Campbell's first goal in seven games. He would not describe it as a finish worthy of Ian Wright who was missing with a hamstring injury, but they all have to be knocked over the line and if it has the effect of removing the Highbury faithful from his back he will be all the more grateful.

It arrived when Paul Davis's corner in the 34th minute was played short to Lee Dixon who hoisted the ball high to the far post, inviting the swirling wind to play havoc with Gunn's judgement.

The keeper was flapping as Smith headed it across goal and, even allowing for the damage to his confidence after a series of misses against Bolton, Campbell was not going to miss from that range.

Norwich introduced Darren Eadie after the interval and he almost scored in the 55th minute after Gary Megson's incisive run, but there was only another three minutes to wait before the home supporters could warm their hands and their hearts with an equaliser.

Gunn's long punt was met by Chris Sutton ahead of Tony Adams and his touch was gathered by Efan Ekoku who wrong-footed Steve Bould to give himself room for the shot. His finish was of a quality that put to shame much of his earlier work.

Norwich City (4-4-2): Gunn; Culverhouse, Polston, Newman, Woodthorpe (Eadie, h/t); Goss, Crook, Megson (Power, 74), Bowen; Sutton, Ekoku. Substitute not used: Howie (gk).

Arsenal (4-4-2): Seaman; Dixon, Adams, Bould, Winterburn; Parlour, Merson, Jensen, Davis; Campbell, Smith. Substitutes not used: Miller (gk), Keown, Selley.

Referee: L Dilkes (Mossley).