- Bukayo Saka (6', 67')
- Kieran Tierney (44')
- Alexandre Lacazette (84' Pen)
- Emile Smith Rowe (90'+1')
Bukayo Saka nets brace as Arsenal ease past Norwich in 5-0 win
Bukayo Saka netted a brace as Arsenal continued their bid for Champions League qualification in a comfortable 5-0 victory away at Norwich City on Sunday.
Saka opened the scoring early on before defender Kieran Tierney doubled Arsenal's lead just before half-time. Saka added a third just after the hour-mark, and Norwich's hopes were put to bed as striker Alexandre Lacazette scored a penalty in the final 10 minutes. Midfielder Emile Smith Rowe then helped turn the result into a thrashing as he scored Arsenal's fifth just before full-time.
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Sunday's result moves Arsenal to 35 points after 19 games as manager Mikel Arteta's side earned their four-consecutive league win, aiding their bid to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2017.
"It's a very satisfying result because in this festive period we have to keep performances to a high level," Arteta said. "We looked really sharp and committed.
"It's a big win for us. The amount of chances we create is pleasing. We go to every ground to try and impose our game. Today was a really good example."
Saka gave his side an early lead with a well-worked team goal. The 20-year-old collected the ball on the right-hand side following a nice move from the visitors before cutting inside and firing past Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
Tensions threatened to boil over just before half-time, with two separate clashes between the two sides -- the first came after Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was booked for a tackle on opposing striker Josh Sargent; the second came in the next phase of play after Arsenal defender Ben White made a tackle on Norwich's Brandon Williams.
Arsenal doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when midfielder Martin Odegaard found Tierney with a through ball, who slotted home.
Arteta's side continued to dominate in the second half, and Saka took advantage once again, adding a third on 67 minutes with a powerful strike from the edge of the 18-yard-box.
Lacazette won a penalty on 83 minutes when he was brought down by Norwich defender Ozan Kabak, which he powerfully tucked away. Smith Rowe capped a successful Sunday for Arsenal as he came off the bench and netted from close range.
Information from Reuters contributed to this report.
Game Information
English Premier League Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arsenal | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | +56 | 77 |
Manchester City | 33 | 23 | 7 | 3 | +48 | 76 |
Liverpool | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | +41 | 74 |
Aston Villa | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | +21 | 66 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | +16 | 60 |
Manchester United | 33 | 16 | 5 | 12 | +1 | 53 |
Newcastle United | 33 | 15 | 5 | 13 | +15 | 50 |
West Ham United | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | -9 | 48 |
Chelsea | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | +4 | 47 |
AFC Bournemouth | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | -11 | 45 |
Brighton & Hove Albion | 33 | 11 | 11 | 11 | -2 | 44 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 43 |
Fulham | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | -4 | 42 |
Crystal Palace | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | -12 | 39 |
Brentford | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | -7 | 35 |
Everton | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | -12 | 33 |
Nottingham Forest | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -18 | 26 |
Luton Town | 34 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -28 | 25 |
Burnley | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | -32 | 23 |
Sheffield United | 34 | 3 | 7 | 24 | -59 | 16 |