Goals come in many different forms. On the day, we scored three more that would each be praised on their own merit but put next to the fantastic team effort that led to Jack Wilshere opening the scoring, they simply cannot compare. Starting on the edge of our own 18 yard box, Flamini set the ball rolling as he played the ball the Wilshere. The move then gradually progressed down the left hand side through Gibbs and Cazorla as Jack kept pace

I have a lot of time for Norwich so I would never be as disrespectful as to describe this match as an ‘easy’ game but given their struggles so far this season, I don’t think we could have hand-picked a better fixture to get us back into the swing of things following the international break. For the most part they gave a decent account of themselves and at both 1-0 and 2-1 were still very much in the game. It wouldn’t even be unfair to say that the final 4-1 scoreline was a little harsh on them overall. However, there was very little they could to combat an Arsenal side in somewhat irresistible form.

Worth its weight in Goal

An otherwise routine home win was illuminated by one of the single best individual goals in the club’s long and great history. In years to come, Arsenal fans will talk about ‘the Norwich goal’ in such high regard that the context of when it was scored might actually be forgotten – the same way people revere Bergkamp’s Leicester hat trick but forget it came in deeply a frustrating game. The manager himself has described it as one the best of his stewardship and it is really difficult to argue with that. It often seems churlish to ever try to compare an act of sporting brilliance to a work of art but this goal wouldn’t actually look out of place next to a wonderful musical composition or behind a red rope at the Louvre.

Goals come in many different forms. On the day, we scored three more that would each be praised on their own merit but put next to the fantastic team effort that led to Jack Wilshere opening the scoring, they simply cannot compare. Starting on the edge of our own 18 yard box, Flamini set the ball rolling as he played the ball the Wilshere. The move then gradually progressed down the left hand side through Gibbs and Cazorla as Jack kept pace, running parallel to the play until he received the ball back just outside the opposition penalty area. Sticking with the musical comparison, things reached a dramatic  crescendo as Jack and Giroud weaved their way through the Canaries’ defence playing the ball like hacky sack before the fortepiano of Wilshere’s calm, slotted finish. A goal of incredible beauty that words simply struggle to do justice. You will have to go a long way to find a team effort anywhere in football, ever.

Battle of Wils

I’ve made no secret of my concerns about seeing Wilshere being shunted into wide positions. Despite supposedly starting on the right hand side, once again all his good work came when drifting into the middle of the park. This was exemplified by his refusal to deviate from a very defined path down the middle of the pitch to start and finish the move for the goal.

Santi Cazorla

Good to have you back, sir.

Eternal Flam

One of the key things learned from the game came after Flamini went off injured in the first half. It was this point when Norwich started to seize the initiative and looked like they would cause a few problems – possibly exploiting that area in front of the back four in much the same way Villa did just before Flamini signed. You truly see how important his guardianship of that space in front of the back four is when he is absent and it’s a testament to what a brilliant acquisition he has been. Get well soon, Flamster.

GirÖz

Our second goal as a result of a brilliant counter attack just when Norwich were getting a foothold on the game. A trademark drive through the middle by the returning Santi Cazorla (dare I say, despite our good form, the kind of run we’ve missed in his absence?) put the visitors on the back foot and allowed Olivier Giroud, whose seemingly increasing football intelligence might actually be his most deadly attribute, to peel to the right hand side of the penalty area, receive the ball and put in an inch perfect cross for Özil to score his first Premier League goal in Arsenal colours. With a header! Yes, things are going THAT well at the moment, we can allow Giroud and the German to get involved in a bit of role reversal. What next? Mertesacker bombing down the left flank while Gibbs wins defensive headers at centre back?

Ramarkable

As intimated above, in any other situation, Ramsey’s excellent solo effort to make it 3-1 would have been placed on a pedestal and worshiped. Unfortunately (?), it will now always be overshadowed by the earlier team effort. That said, nothing can be taken away from some wonderful individual skill that left confused yellow shirts falling over themselves in vain before sticking the ball in the back of the net.

Despite his imperious form this campaign, the Ramsey debates still rage on. Those who always ‘believed’ and the new converts still like to fuss and feud despite it serving no real purpose. Despite the fact his ability and talent was being questioned last season, he never lacked the makings of a decent player and it was always eventually going to happen for him – be it at Arsenal or elsewhere. However, I kind of prefer the narrative of redemption. Even though I don’t necessary think it was the case, it makes for a far better story that a player who was once shit is now arguably playing better than anyone else in the league and scoring the kind of goals that are being compared to those scored greats such as Messi and Zidane*.

In for the kill

The most satisfying aspect of the win and scoreline was the fact that the team actively went out and turned the screw in response to Norwich forcing their way back into the game. Arsenal’s best spell came in the final 15 minutes of the game and the final two goals were just reward having gone for the jugular rather than simply hang on for 2-1. If we believe that the side is evolving, developing this killer instinct is crucial. Winning games is obviously the priority but winning well and seeing the game out rather than the nervy finishes we’ve experienced once or twice already this season would be very much welcomed. The manager often talks about the team playing with the ‘handbrake’ on/off but it’s another car analogy that might be more fitting. Top sides and teams that challenge for honours know how go through the gears over the course of the season. As we approach the first quarter of this campaign, hopefully we can move up one as we head into the winter months. UTA!

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*I’m not sure this need clarifying but I’ve seen enough arguments in the last 24 hours to suggest I should put in a disclaimer. Comparing a Ramsey GOAL to those of Messi/Zidane does not mean I am comparing Ramsey as a player to Messi/Zidane.