DECEMBER 26, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
NORWICH CITY 4-6-5 · 15TH IN ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP
4-6-5 · 15TH IN ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP
Next Match vs West Brom (A) · Today 3:00PM
NOR +306 TOTAL 2.5
Kieran Tierney opens two-goal Arsenal cushion v. Norwich City ' Premier League
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • YOUTUBE
Bukayo Saka gets Arsenal off to flyer against Norwich City ' Premier League
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • YOUTUBE
Norwich vs Arsenal live score updates: Premier League match latest, team news, TV channel and start time Hello and welcome to The Athletic's coverage of today's Boxing Day clash between Norwich City and Arsenal in the Premier League. Bottom side...
Josh Sargent - Back in starting XI Sargent (COVID-19) is in the starting XI for Sunday's match against Arsenal.
Impact Sargent returns as expected Boxing Day after missing the last match with COVID-19. He's struggled to produce all season and this match may not be different after Norwich struggled to get opportunities in the first meeting with Arsenal earlier in the season.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tim Krul - Tests positive for COVID-19 Krul tested positive for COVID-19 and won't be available for the team's next two matches, and possibly three.
Impact Krul has played every match for Norwich this season, so they'll look elsewhere over the holiday period. It's an unfortunate absence on short notice, but Angus Gunn has Premier League experience, so that's at least a positive, assuming he starts in Krul's place.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Sargent - Could be back Boxing Day Sargent (COVID-19) is expected to be an option for Sunday's match against Arsenal, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact Sargent missed Norwich's last match Dec. 14, which means if fit, he should be an option Boxing Day. It's unclear how long he's been back in training, but when healthy, he was getting regular starts for Norwich, though he's yet to make the score-sheet in 15 appearances this season.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Christos Tzolis - Expected to be ready Sunday Tzolis (COVID-19) is expected to be ready for Sunday's match against Arsenal, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact Tzolis was one of the first Norwich players to have test positive for COVID-19, so the thought is that he's been training for at least a few days. He probably won't start Boxing Day, but he at least gives Norwich another option up front and if fit, he could start one of the following contests.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Andrew Omobamidele - Out another 10 days Omobamidele will miss at least 10 more days with a back stress injury, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact Omobamidele has been out since Dec. 5 and will likely be out until mid-January unless he can make a quicker than expected return. He's had trouble staying healthy, which has limited playing time, and he'll hope to recover fully in the next couple weeks.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lukas Rupp - Late test for Boxing Day Rupp (illness) is a late test for Sunday's match against Arsenal, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact It's unclear if Rupp had COVID-19, but he apparently also had an injury, so he's having to return from two things. He's started in two of the last three matches in which he was healthy and if he can get back in the squad Sunday, there's a decent chance he'll be starting in the team's following contest.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Pierre Lees-Melou - Training ahead of Boxing Day Lees-Melou (undisclosed) is back in training ahead of Sunday's match against Arsenal, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact Lees-Melou missed the team's last match about 10 days ago, but he's back in training and should be an option Boxing Day. He hasn't been a regular, but with Norwich dealing with a few COVID-19 cases, he should see a start or two in the coming week, assuming he's fit enough.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Grant Hanley - Remains out Hanley (shoulder) is set to miss the next set of matches and he won't be available for "the next couple of weeks," according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact Hanley was labeled out "indefinitely" about 10 days ago, so it's not surprising that he'll continue to miss out. He's been a regular when healthy, but with more absences ahead, it likely means more time for Ozan Kabak and Ben Gibson on the back line.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ozan Kabak - Fit for Boxing Day Kabak (calf) is fit to return for the Boxing Day match against Arsenal, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact Kabak went off injured in Norwich's last match, but that was Dec. 14 so he took the extra time to recover and be an option again. He had started the last two matches so the thought is that he'll remain in the XI when healthy, especially with Grant Hanley still out injured.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Mathias Normann - Suffers setback, needs surgery Normann suffered a setback with his pelvic injury and needs surgery, forcing him out for the foreseeable future, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact This is a tough blow for Normann, who dealt with some nagging injuries early in the season but had been one of the team's best players when on the pitch. This likely puts him out multiple months, which is unfortunate for Norwich's midfield depth. Prior to injury, Normann had started nine-straight matches, producing one goal and one assist from 16 shots and 21 crosses.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Milot Rashica - Out next two matches Rashica (groin) will remain out over the next two matches, according to manager Dean Smith.
Impact This isn't overly surprising for Rashica, as there have been no updates on him returning to training. He'll hope to return for the first January match with a better bet being a full return by Jan. 15, as long as his recovery goes well. More absences likely means more playing time for Przemyslaw Placheta, among others.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Teemu Pukki - Match versus West Ham postponed Pukki and Norwich will not be playing against West Ham on Saturday after the match was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
Impact Norwich has experienced a sharp rise in positive cases and the Premier League has suspended Saturday's game in hopes that the club can use the extra week to recover and be ready to return by their next scheduled game against Arsenal on Boxing Day.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tim Krul - Concedes two in loss Krul conceded two goals and made four saves during Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Impact Krul has been in net for all 34 Canaries goals conceded this season but he also leads the league in saves made. Both of these numbers have a good chance to increase at Krul's expense in Saturday's trip to West Ham, which have scored 28 goals in 17 games this season.
DECEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jakob Lungi Sorensen - Takes two shots in loss Sorensen took two shots (one on goal) and made seven clearances during Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Impact Sorensen was handed his first start of the season and made good on his chance with four tackles made (one won) and two interceptions completed as well. He'll again be put to the test in Saturday's trip to West Ham, though it's important to make sure he's first locked down his starting spot.
DECEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Billy Gilmour - Creates three chances in loss Gilmour created three chances from seven crosses (two accurate) and logged four tackles (one won) during Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Impact Gilmour has remained steady since becoming a full-time started with at least one chance created in the last six matches and at least three set pieces taken. Even heading into a tough matchup at West Ham, Gilmour has shown the ability to maintain his production against strong opposition already after already facing Tottenham and Manchester United before Tuesday's loss.
DECEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Przemyslaw Placheta - Creates one chance in loss Placheta created one chance from six crosses (two accurate) in 75 minutes of Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Impact Placheta has started each of the last two matches and logged similar stat lines with 12 crosses (four accurate) in these games. While he's still working his way towards playing for the full 90, his presence on set pieces is a good start in the right direction. Up next is a trip to West Ham, which have conceded the joint sixth-fewest crosses to forwards in the EPL.
DECEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Teemu Pukki - Shotless in loss Pukki failed to take a shot in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Impact Pukki scored three times in four matches during November but failed to take a shot for the first time in nine games during Tuesday's match. He won't have an easier matchup in his next game against West Ham, which have conceded the joint fourth-fewest goals to forwards in the EPL.
DECEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Norwich City v. Aston Villa ' PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS ' 12/14/2021
DECEMBER 14, 2021 • YOUTUBE
Ollie Watkins seals Aston Villa win over Norwich City ' Premier League
DECEMBER 14, 2021 • YOUTUBE
Jacob Ramsey breaks deadlock for Aston Villa v. Norwich City ' Premier League
DECEMBER 14, 2021 • YOUTUBE
Ozan Kabak - Comes off injured against Villa Kabak was subbed out of Tuesday's defeat against Aston Villa just before halftime after suffering an apparent injury. He made two blocks, two clearances and an interception in the...
Impact Norwich just can't catch a break as Kabak becomes the latest center back on the side to go down injured, just one game removed from a fever that made him miss the entirety of November. Sam Byram replaced him Tuesday for his first Premier League appearance of the season, but more information about Kabak's potential injury should be known in the coming days.
DECEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ben Gibson - Back in XI against Villa Gibson (quad) is in the starting XI for Tuesday's match against Aston Villa.
Impact Gibson starts Tuesday after missing the loss against Man United with a quad issue. He takes the place of the injured Grant Hanley at center-back, where he's now started 10 of the last 12 matches.
DECEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
