The Christmas dinner was well digested on the Arsenal side. For this rather special boxing day, Sunday, December 26, with the postponements of matches, the chants of supporters in the stands of Carrow Road had the merit, for a while, of making people forget the Covid. And on the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s men did the job against the last Premier League. Bukayo Saka, twice, Kieran Tierney, Alexandre Lacazette from the penalty spot and Emile Smith-Rowe gave the Gunners a deserved success (0-3) which allows them to consolidate their 4th place in the standings.
The match: the Gunners power 5 against the helpless Canaries
Control, mastery, patience: these were the watchwords of the band at Alexandre Lacazette, renewed captain, this Sunday against Norwich. With one exception – Ben White repositioned in the right lane in the absence of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Rob Holding holder in the axis of the defense – Mikel Arteta has decided to renew an eleven which has been working very well in recent weeks (see below ). And despite the pouring rain in Norfolk, it didn’t take long for the Gunners to make the powder speak.
On a superb interception by Kieran Tierney in the left lane, the Scots quickly found his attacking partners. After a good combination between Gabriel Martinelli, Alexandre Lacazette and Martin Odegaard, the Norwegian shifts Bukayo Saka perfectly to the right side. The England international fixes his defender before adjusting Angus Gunn (0-1, 6th). The Londoners put their foot on the ball and took a second dive just before the break. Odegaard finds Tierney in the depth who does not miss the opportunity to conclude with a cross strike that hits the post before hitting the net (0-2, 44 ‘).
In the second period, Bukayo Saka will bury the hopes of the Canaries with a nice solo act at the entrance to the box and a quiet conclusion with the left foot (0-3, 67th). Alexandre Lacazette, from the penalty spot (0-4, 84th) and Emile Smith-Rowe (0-5, 90th + 1) will also take part in the party. Arsenal continues a fourth success in the Premier League and consolidates its 4th place as well as its status as contender for Europe. Stuck in last position, Norwich will have to whip to keep up.
The player: Bukayo Saka
In the midst of a workforce of “rookies”, that is to say promising young people, he is probably the one who shines the most. England international Bukayo Saka gave his supporters another recital on Sunday.
Author of a double, he became, at 20 years and 112 days, the third youngest player to score in two consecutive Boxing Days, after Michael Owen (19 years and 12 days) and Florent Sinama-Pongolle (20 years and 67 days). He is above all the second youngest player of the Gunners, after Nicolas Anelka (19 years and 225 days), to reach 10 goals in the Premier League. The definition of a crack.
10 – Bukayo Saka (20 years, 112 days) is the second-youngest Arsenal player to reach 10 Premier League goals for the club, after Nicolas Anelka (19 years, 225 days). Gooner. https://t.co/ADKd8m2pmP
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2021
