In keeping with this season of the sublime and the ridiculous, Arsenal and Norwich served up a see-sawing draw that dripped with drama. When it was finally over, Arsenal's players were crestfallen. They have not won in their past four games, and this ill-timed dip in form takes Champions League qualification out of their hands. If Tottenham and Newcastle win their remaining matches, Arsenal will be pipped to the post.
In Norwich, they came up against the most gutsy of opponents, and even though Arsenal clawed their way back from a 2-1 deficit into a winning position, Steve Morison slammed in an equaliser, five minutes from the end, that potentially has uncomfortable consequences for Arsène Wenger's team.
Arsenal got off to a flying start thanks to a virtuoso goal from Yossi Benayoun. In the second minute, the Israeli gathered possession on the corner of the penalty area, befuddled Kyle Naughton with a little shimmy, and bent a beautiful shot past John Ruddy.
Norwich, though, responded with fantastic determination to ensure this was anything but a straightforward assignment for the club trying to cling on to third place against a team with little to play for. Norwich served notice of their intent when Simeon Jackson steered an inviting cross for Grant Holt, whose ferocious shot crashed off Kieran Gibbs. Shortly afterwards, they were level when Wes Hoolahan clipped in Naughton's cut-back. Wojciech Szczesny was left acutely embarrassed as he struggled to react. The ball bounced off him and dribbled into the goal.
If Paul Lambert, the Norwich manager, was after a performance to counter the three defeats that had preceded this, his players were intent on delivering. They snapped about Arsenal, making life awkward for them in all areas of the pitch.
Norwich duly took the lead. Thomas Vermaelen had surged forward, trying to give his team another body and something extra to aim at, and with Arsenal outnumbered at the back the Canaries set off on a careering break. They had a three-two advantage in terms of bodies. Hoolahan dinked a pass to Holt, whose effort took a sharp deflection off Gibbs's boot. Szczesny's thoughts, stranded as the ball changed course to sail into the goal, were not difficult to imagine. Likewise Wenger, who irritably tossed his water bottle to the ground. More bad news followed, as Bacary Sagna was take off on a stretcher.
Arsenal were struggling for fluency in their passing. They were clearly feeling the pressure, too. Benayoun, who was on the ground and getting an earful from Simon Lappin, kicked out. The Norwich fans bayed for a red card, but the referee just had a word. Contact was minimal, but it was a reckless act from an experienced international all the same.
Then came two penalty appeals for the visitors. Francis Coquelin, filling in for Sagna, made a last-ditch tackle on Hoolahan that had Lambert scurrying towards the fourth official. Then Laurent Koscielny had a handful of Russell Martin's shirt.
Norwich's direct play was a constant menace for Arsenal and they were not coping at all. The home team were grateful to see Koscielny bustle the ball away from Holt as the striker approached a sitter. Norwich ought to have taken a more emphatic lead in with them at half-time. Arsenal were jeered off.
It was more of the same after the break, as Norwich defended stoutly, broke dangerously, and Arsenal continued to look sloppy, anxious and careless. Aaron Ramsey was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card for a late challenge on Naughton.
Norwich kept knocking on the door. Jackson eased past Vermaelen and saw his shot saved. The lively Hoolahan volleyed narrowly wide.
When Arsenal carved out a chance, they fluffed it. Robin van Persie shot tamely at Ruddy and, from the rebound, Ramsey scuffed at his effort. With 25 minutes to go, Van Persie lashed wide. "Robin van Persie? We'd rather have Holt," teased the visiting fans.
Arsenal stepped it up. Vermaelen thumped in an effort. Marouane Chamakh came on and got involved. But it was the familiar sight of Alex Song chipping an assist for Van Persie that finally released the tension gripping the Emirates Stadium. Goal 36 for the season brought Arsenal level.
Goal 37 bought pandemonium. Arsenal had been pushing and probing — they appealed for a penalty when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross hit Lappin's hand — and when they passed the ball around the edge of the box they found the breakthrough. The move went from Gervinho to Tomas Rosicky, via Oxlade-Chamberlain, and suddenly Van Persie was in. He took aim with his right foot and although Ruddy got in the way, he could not keep out the shot.
Norwich, though, were not finished. When substitute Morison broke clear of the Arsenal rearguard, he finished with aplomb into the bottom corner.
The pendulum swung back. Van Persie seized on another chance, but Ruddy saved with an outstretched foot. Then Oxlade-Chamberlain broke free down the right and crossed for Van Persie, who was bundled over in the box by Naughton. No penalty, according to the referee, Anthony Taylor.
Arsenal's late siege threatened, but Ruddy and his colleagues withstood it all. Read More
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