Arsenal went into Saturday's Premier League encounter at home to Norwich City knowing that a win would move them back into the Champions League places above Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
It looked to be going wrong for them when Michael Turner headed the visitors into a 56th-minute lead, but a controversial penalty from Mikel Arteta got the Gunners level with five minutes to play.
Goals in the final five minutes from Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski then capped a dramatic turnaround for the home side.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded at the Emirates Stadium.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of today's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium.
It is a huge game for the Gunners today as a victory would see them move above local rivals Tottenham Hotspur and into the final Champions League place.
Meanwhile, today's visitors Norwich come into the match just five points above the drop zone. It's going to be a tense battle at the bottom between now and the end of the season and a defeat for the Canaries would increase their woes.
NORWICH: Bunn; R Martin, Bassong, Turner, Whittaker; Johnson, Howson, Tettey, Snodgrass, Kamara; Holt
ARSENAL: Fabianski; Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla; Gervinho, Giroud
The good news for Arsenal is that Jack Wilshere returns to the starting lineup following a six-week absence through injury. The midfielder is one of three changes as Thomas Vermaelen and Kieran Gibbs also come into the side. Tomas Rosicky, Nacho Monreal and Per Mertesacker are those who make way.
Norwich have made three changes in total as Alexander Tettey, Steven Whittaker and Grant Holt all return. Mark Bunn is selected in goal for the visitors, but there are some injury concerns over the shotstopper.
ARSENAL SUBS: Mannone, Jenkinson, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Podolski
NORWICH SUBS: Camp, Jackson, Fox, E Bennett, Garrido, Becchio, R Bennett
Right, now that we've looked at the teams, let's pore over their recent form. Arsenal have the momentum firmly on their side as the season draws to a close with six wins in seven matches. That includes making it three on the bounce with last weekend's 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion.
In contrast, Norwich have failed to win any of their last five matches. During that time they've suffered two defeats and have been held to three draws - most recently an entertaining 2-2 at home to Swansea City.
While they can give their Champions League hopes a boost with a win today, Arsenal will also be keen to avenge their 1-0 defeat at Carrow Road in October. Grant Holt scored the winner for Norwich that day as they stunned the Gunners.
This fixture last season gave us an enthralling six-goal thriller as Steve Morison scored a late equaliser for Norwich in a 3-3 draw.
That's one thing that hasn't been lacking in this fixture in recent years - goals. There hasn't been a 0-0 between the sides since September 1995, with 26 goals hitting the back of the net in six games since then.
Around 15 minutes to go until kickoff - who do you see coming out in top in this one? Arsenal certainly have a tantalising carrot in front of them knowing that a win would move them up to fourth spot, but Norwich are in need of the points as they battle for survival. However, it would be difficult to look past the Gunners this afternoon due to their recent run of form.
Right then, the players are gradually emerging from the changing rooms and lining up in the tunnel. There's an expectant crowd at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon and we're nearly ready to go.
Here come the players out of the tunnel and they are greeted with a rousing reception from the crowd.
Here we go then, it'll be Norwich to start this one off for us...
Arsenal win an early corner as the look to attack quickly, but it's eventually cleared by the visiting defence.
Norwich drift forward for the first time with a neat passing move that ends with Whittaker's cross being snuffed out from the left.
One player who certainly looks up for it today is Gervinho. The Ivorian has led a couple of quick counter-attacks and is eager to burst forward whenever he is on the ball.
Plenty of pretty passing from the hosts as the ball is worked out wide to Gibbs. The full-back chips in an inviting cross, but it's a Norwich head that gets to the ball first.
Arsenal earn a free kick deep in Norwich territory that Cazorla tries to whip into the area. However, it's an unusually poor delivery from the Spaniard as the away side deals with the danger.
The home fans are on their feet momentarily as Wilshere is fed the ball inside the penalty area, but the flag goes up for offside. Arsenal are doing all of the probing here, while Norwich look half asleep.
CHANCE! First proper opening of the match falls the way of Arsenal. Wilshire flicks the ball through to Ramsey, but the midfielder just misses out on reaching the ball as Bunn comes off his line to collects.
Howls of frustration from the Arsenal supporters as some quick feet from Gervinho around the penalty area results in the forward playing a ball through to no one. Oh, Gervinho.
OFF THE BAR! Unlucky for Giroud! The striker gets in front of his marker to flick Sagna's cross towards goal, but the ball skims the crossbar before going out of play.
The possession statistics for the last five minutes says it all: Arsenal have had 75% of the ball while Norwich have had to settle for 25%.
Yet more groans around the Emirates as Gervinho once again fluffs his lines. The Ivorian made a good run into the box, only to get himself in a muddle before Norwich clear.
MISS! Gervinho again! This time he breaks the offside trap before taking the ball around the onrushing Bunn. However, his touch is a heavy one and he is forced well wide of goal. Giroud is making a run into the area, but Gervinho instead shoots from the tighest of angles and the ball drifts out for a throw on the other side of the pitch.
SAVE! Sagna bursts down the right side and slides a low cross into Giroud, who is grappling with Turner. The striker manages to flick the ball towards the goal, but Bunn is there to bundle the ball away.
YELLOW CARD! Sagna is the first player to go into the book following his block on Snodgrass.
Norwich have enjoyed a spell of possession in the last few minutes with Kamara's cross being cleared before Holt gets hustled off the ball down the right side. The Canaries are suddenly looking like the have some danger in them.
Bunn is forced into a save but it's a simple one for the Norwich goalkeeper as Cazorla's fierce drive from long range is straight down his throat.
A few hearts in mouths there for the Arsenal fans as Whittaker whips in a devilish cross out from the left side. There are a number of Norwich bodies in the area, only for the whistle to eventually go for offside.
We will have two minutes of added time at the end of this first half...
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 NORWICH
The half-time whistle goes to end what has been a somewhat frustrating half for Arsenal as they remain goalless with Norwich City. The Gunners were by far the dominant side during that opening 45 minutes, but some poor decision making and finishing means that it is still 0-0.
The best chance of the first half fell to Gervinho, but the striker opted to shoot from an almost impossible angle when he had Giroud waiting in the middle.
UPDATE: There has been a whopping one goal scored in the other four Premier League games currently taking place across England. Here are the half-time scores in full...
PREMIER LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:
Arsenal 0-0 Norwich;
Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham;
Everton 1-0 QPR;
Reading 0-0 Liverpool;
Southampton 0-0 West Ham
Arsenal 0-0 Norwich;
Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham;
Everton 1-0 QPR;
Reading 0-0 Liverpool;
Southampton 0-0 West Ham
So, what do Arsenal need to do in order to break the deadlock? Well, they have a wealth of attacking options on the bench including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski. It's surely only a matter of time before Arsene Wenger makes some changes.
Meanwhile, Norwich will be fairly pleased with how that first half went. They rode their luck at times, but they also showed the occasional flash of menace up front. Defend doggedly for the next 45 minutes and they will have earned a very satisfying point.
The hosts get the second half underway and there have been no changes for either side.
Arsenal continue where they left off in the first half as they look to get forward at the first available opportunity. Theo Walcott is out warming up down on the touchline along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski.
CHANCE! Norwich nearly net the opening goal! Bassong gets his head to a corner, pushing the ball on to Holt who is about six yards out. The striker can't quite angle his body in time to make a clean connection with the ball as Arsenal clear the danger.
HANDBALL SHOUT! An almighty scramble in the Norwich area sees Wilshere's shot blocked by a visiting defender. A huge appeal for handball rings out around the Emirates, but the referee is having none of it.
HANDBALL SHOUT! An almighty scramble in the Norwich area sees Wilshere's shot blocked by a visiting defender. A huge appeal for handball rings out around the Emirates, but the referee is having none of it.
GOAL! ARSENAL 0-1 NORWICH (TURNER)
Oh my word! Norwich City lead and it's Michael Turner who gets the goal with a header. The defender was unmarked in the area and got on the end of Snodgrass' inswinging free kick to nod the ball past Fabianski. Incredible.
SUBSTITUTIONS: That goal has forced Arsene Wenger into a double change as Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski come on for Jack Wilshere and Gervinho.
SUBSTITUTION: Norwich in turn make a change as Bradley Johnson comes off for David Fox.
Walcott looks to have already made a difference for the hosts. He's led a couple of attacks with his pace and seems to have got the crowd more involved.
PENALTY SHOUT! Arsenal are wanting a penalty again as Walcott tumbled under the challenge of Whittaker in the area. There was little contact between the two players but Walcott may well have had his heels clipped.
CHANCE! Norwich live to fight another day as Sagna's cross finds Podolski at the back post, but the German can't control the ball and it goes out of play. Arsenal have 20 minutes to get something out of this game.
SAVE! Arsenal commit men forward in search of an equaliser, leaving Norwich to break quickly. The ball is eventually played out to Martin on the right, but his shot goes straight at Fabianski.
The home side are getting very frsutrated now, giving away a number of needless free kicks that are allowing Norwich to run the clock down.
OFF THE BAR! So close for Arsenal as Podolski's fizzing volley rattles the woodwork. Bunn may have even got the faintest of touches to that, they way he is celebrating. Podolski was lurking in the area and hit Giroud's chest down first time, only to be denied by the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: Arsenal make their final change of the afternoon as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Bacary Sagna.
PENALTY TO ARSENAL!
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 NORWICH (ARTETA)
Norwich are fuming as the linesman awards a penalty for Kemara's foul on Koscielny. The two players are tussling in the area, much in the same way that happens every week in the Premier League. The referee doesn't spot it, but the linesman does from quite a distance away. Norwich goalkeeper Bunn gets a yellow card for his protests before Arteta steps up to slot the penalty away.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-1 NORWICH (GIROUD)
Amazing! Arsenal have turned it around and it's Olivier Giroud who has scored what could be a vital goal in the race for the Champions League. Oxlade-Chamberlain plays a one-two with Podolski before powering into the penalty area. He slides a ball across the face of the goal and Giroud is there to convert from close range.
SUBSTITUTION: Norwich make the change as Simeon Jackson comes on for Alexander Tettey.
There will be a hearty six minutes of injury time here...
GOAL! ARSENAL 3-1 NORWICH (PODOLSKI)
And that should be that. Walcott picks the ball up and drives towards goal before finding Podolski on the edge of the box. The German takes one touch before powering the ball past Bunn.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 3-1 NORWICH
The full-time whistle goes and Arsenal have come from behind to beat Norwich City 3-1 to move up to third place in the table. Meanwhile, Norwich remain four points clear of the relegation zone with five games left to play.
Anyway, that's all from me for this afternoon. Remember that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from today's Premier League games here on Sports Mole. Thanks again for joining us and we hope to see you soon. Goodbye!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
