MATCH STATS

NORWICH CITY Green, Edworthy, Charlton, Fleming, Drury, Jonson, Francis, Holt, McVeigh, Doherty, Huckerby. Subs: Ward, McKenzie (for McVeigh, 63), Safri (for Jonson, 45), Helveg, Svensson (for Doherty, 81).

ARSENAL Lehmann, Lauren, Hoyte, Toure, Cole, Pires, Fabregas Soler, Silva, Ljungberg, Henry, Reyes. Subs: Almunia, Bergkamp (for Reyes, 72), Edu (for Fabregas, 72), Clichy (for Pires, 84).

SCORERS: Norwich: Huckerby (50, pen) Arsenal: Reyes (22), Henry (36), Pires (40), Bergkamp (90)

TOP CANARY: Darren Huckerby

ATTENDANCE: 23,944

REFEREE: Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)

YELLOW CARDS: Norwich: Safri (83) Arsenal: Lauren (29)

RED CARDS: None

SHOTS ON TARGET: Norwich 5, Arsenal 8

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Norwich 0, Arsenal 4

CORNERS: Norwich 4, Arsenal 8

FOULS:  Norwich 15, Arsenal 7

OFFSIDE:  Norwich 2, Arsenal 1

Saturday August 28, 2004
MATTHEW CHAMBERS

They win some, they draw some, simple as that. Arsene Wenger's invincibles extended their record-breaking unbeaten run to 44 matches with a 4-1 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Awesome Arsenal, were inspired by their talismanic striker, Thierry Henry.

The Frenchman was just too hot to handle for the Canaries, scoring once, and playing a vital role in three of the other Gunners' goals.

It was a case of when rather than if Arsenal would score in the first half as the visitors mounted wave upon wave of attacks on Robert Green's goal.

Three first half goals within the space of 20 minutes through Jose Reyes, Henry and Pires ended any hopes City might have had of ending Arsenal's run.

The situation could have been much different however, if Lauren had received his marching orders having clearly tugged back Huckerby who was clear through on Lehmann in the Arsenal goal. Instead Graham Poll simply awarded the Cameroonian a yellow card. Although a Darren Huckerby penalty did give the home faithful some hope.

City played with much pride in the second half and really limited the Gunners to very few clear cut chances and Bergkamp's 90th minute strike was very harsh on the home side who had toiled magnificently without any reward.

City's second half performance was full of positives and means they can hold their heads high going into their next match against Tottenham in two weeks time.

Nigel Worthington faced some tough decisions ahead of the mouth-watering clash with Arsenal at Carrow Road.

Robert Green, who was later called up to the Engand squad, denies Thierry Henry.

The Norwich City manager left all three members of his Scandinavian contingent Mattias Jonson, Mathias Svensson and Thomas Helveg out of the side for Wednesday's match at Newcastle, and the men who came in all did an excellent job as the Canaries fought back from 2-0 down to grab a well deserved draw.

The big question was whether Paul McVeigh, Gary Doherty and Mark Edworthy would get another chance to impress - and that they did.

However, because a new Premiership rule prevents David Bentley for turning out against his own side, there was a free place on the left-hand side of midfield which was filled by Jonson - an impressive substitute at St James Park and McVeigh continued his role on the right hand side of the field. Doherty kept his place ahead of Svensson following his goal scoring full debut on Tyneside, while Edworthy retained his place ahead of Danish international captain Helveg.

Leon McKenzie, another impressive substitute at St James' remained on the bench with Svensson, keeper Darren Ward and Helveg, while there was a new face in Moroccan international Youssef Safri making his first appearance on the sidelines.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger decided to rotate his squad, dropping Dennis Bergkamp for Jose Reyes. He also included Freddie Ljungberg ahead of Jermaine Pennant. The Frenchman was also forced into making a further late change to his line up after Pascal Cygan suffered a calf injury in the warm up prior to the game and was replaced by Justin Hoyte making his full Arsenal debut.

Wenger was still without Sol Campbell (Achilles), while Patrick Vieira just missed out on a place on the bench as he recovers from a thigh problem.

Norwich City kicked off at a sun-kissed Carrow Road in a fever-pitch atmosphere and instantly went about making in roads into their esteemed visitors' defence.

However, it was not long before Arsenal took a grip of the game and forced the home side on to the back foot with excellent ball retention and slick passing.

City won an early corner after three minutes following some good work down the right flanks by McVeigh, but the Premiership champions cleared the danger with consummate ease.

After nine minutes Reyes had the first shot on target of the game from 25-yards out, which Green managed to collect without too much difficulty.

The Gunners were looking supremely confident on the ball switching the play from one side of the pitch to the other as the City team worked feverously in defence.

City were struggling to get out of their own half as the Gunners pinned them back and every little mistake was quickly seized upon and turned to the visitors advantage.

On 15 minutes the match came to life as right midfielder Lauren played a massive looped ball from inside his own half into the path of Reyes who then crossed to the far post, but fortunately Charlton was in the right place at the right time to clear the danger as Ljungberg raced down on him.

On 17 minutes it was that man Lauren again supplying a wicked through ball which dissected Charlton and Drury and found Henry.

However, the French international was running out of room quickly and all he could do was send the ball out for a goal-kick. On 20 minutes it was Ljungberg's turn to set up Henry with another through ball which again forced the French striker wide as Green did well to come out and narrow the angle, while reinforcements arrived in the shape of Charlton who cleared the danger.

Arsenal's pressure on the City defence was clearly taking its toll on the City players and it was no surprise therefore when the Gunners took the lead on 22 minutes.

Thierry Henry picked up the ball on the left hand side of the City area and managed to outstrip first Charlton and then Fleming as he made his way into the City penalty area, before supplying his cross which Drury missed and Reyes was on hand to side foot into an empty net.

City continued to soak up the pressure but Arsenal were equally comfortable to attack from distance as they were up close and on 28 minutes Reyes launched an rocket which was well blocked by midfielder Gary Holt.

Lauren clearly tugs back Darren Huckerby who was clear through on Lehmann in the Arsenal goal.

A minute later and City managed to break free from their defensive shackles and courtesy of a long ball, Huckerby managed to get goal side of the last defender, Lauren.

Huckerby had a yard on his marker but the Frenchman had hold of Huckerby's shoulder and was clearly putting pressure on the City frontman, which ultimately brought him crashing to the floor.

Immediately the City players appealed, along with 23,000 City fans for the Arsenal player to be sent off but referee Graham Poll after consulting with his linesman simply awarded a yellow card.

From the resulting free-kick Doherty did well to rise above the Arsenal defence and flick the ball into the six-yard box but the Arsenal defence cleared.

City were instantly put back on the defensive after the free-kick and on 36 minutes the Gunners doubled the advantage through Thierry Henry. Some neat interplay between Fabregas and Ljungberg freed up the Swede to cross into the City area and Henry was in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to leap ahead of Edworthy and Fleming for him to nod past a stranded Green.

Straight from the restart Arsenal won the ball in midfield after Holt was caught out tripping over the ball.

A cross-field pass was played into Reyes totally unmarked on the right hand side but the Spanish international squandered the gilt-edged chance as he tried to pass the ball past Green, but the England hopeful did well, diving down to his right to save the ball.

It took only two minutes for Arsenal to extend their lead to three goals on 40 minutes. Henry was given time to play a cross into the City box from the left and as it looked like Drury was about the clear he was robbed from behind by Ljungberg who steered the ball into the path of Pires, who made no mistake with his finish.

On 41 minutes City managed another attack as Huckerby stole past Lauren to the by-line and managed to get a cross in but the ball was cleared by Hoyte, who chested out for a corner.

City failed to get anything on the ball from the resulting corner and were once again put on the back foot by the Gunners.

The whistle for the end of first could not come soon enough for Nigel Worthington's men as it gave them a chance to catch their breath and regroup ready for the expected onslaught of the second half.

Half-time: Norwich City 0, Arsenal 3

City manager Worthington made one change at half-time bringing on Youssef Safri for his first City appearance, replacing Jonson. It meant that City played with a far more compact midfield trio of Holt, Francis with McVeigh dropping back in front of the back four.

As Arsenal kicked off the City fans started the second half optimistically chanting "We're going to win 4-3, we're going to win 4-3".

City looked to be playing with a bit more freedom and on 50 minutes City striker Darren Huckerby won the Canaries a penalty.

Darren Huckerby celebrates scoring a penalty in the 50th minute after he was brought down by Hoyte in the area.

The jet-heeled striker firstly beat Lauren on the outside and then with Hoyte facing him, he side-stepped the teenage defender who could only stick out a leg and bring his man down.

Huckerby in turn stepped up to take the penalty which he had won and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal on 50 minutes, which sent Lehmann diving to totally the wrong side.

On 51 minutes Huckerby almost doubled City's tally with a half volley which was wonderfully saved by Lehmann from a sublime cross-field ball from McVeigh.

From the resulting corner the ball ultimately spilled out to Holt on the edge of the area and the Scottish international tried a first time shot but unfortunately Lehmann was on hand to save, as the ball looked destined for the right hand corner of the net.

City were certainly looking far more composed on the ball in the second half but it was Arsenal who were still having the lion's share of the possession. Ljungberg was having a lot of success on the right hand side, backed up by Lauren as Drury was finding out what life is really like in the Premiership.

On 63 minutes Worthington decided to shake things up yet again bringing on Leon McKenzie for Paul McVeigh. Almost immediately McKenzie proved what a dangerous striker he can be.

Edworthy curled a cross into the Arsenal box which the former Posh striker did well to meet but the ball was always behind him and he could not get enough power on his header to trouble Lehmann.

For the opening 20 minutes of the second half, City had managed to prevent Arsenal having a shot on target but the pressure on the City back line was growing in intensity with every second.

On 65 minutes Fabregas played a neat one-two with Pires on the edge of the City box and the Spanish international got a shot on target which Green did well to save as his sight of the ball must have been impeded by the number of bodies in front of him.

On 68 minutes City sprang to life as Huckerby weaved his way from inside his own half past three Arsenal defenders to the edge of the visitors' box before passing to an unmarked McKenzie on the right hand side, unfortunately the City man opted to control the ball and cross instead of hitting what seemed to be a more obvious first time shot.

On 70 minutes the ever dangerous Reyes outstripped Holt down the right flank but fortunately Fleming, the last man in defence, was alive to the danger and as Reyes exploded his shot goalward, Fleming stuck out a boot to block on the edge of the box.

On 72 minutes Wenger made a double substitution which only highlighted the strength of the Gunners' squad when he brought on Dennis Bergkamp for Reyes and Edu for Fabregas.

On 76 minutes Doherty leaped above his marker to flick the ball on into the path of McKenzie but Kolo Toure whacked the ball clear as Lehmann also looked to smother the danger.

The ever-professional Gunners were keen to take the sting out of the game and really limited Norwich to any meaningful attack with their equally effective defensive play to match their attacking prowess.

The visitors were clearly playing down the clock as they put 10 men behind the ball, but Worthington never said die and brought on Svensson for Doherty in the 81nd minute in a bid to shake things up in a final push. Likewise Wenger made a change, bringing on the more defensive Gael Clichy for Pires.

On 85 minutes Huckerby worked the ball into the Arsenal box and played the ball to Francis in space but the City midfielder could only slam his shot against an Arsenal defender to sum up City's afternoon.

Dennis Bergkamp drills Arsenal's last-minute fourth goal to cap a brilliant performance from the champions.

City never let their heads drop and continued to pile on some pressure of their own to the final whistle. This was exemplified in the 88th minute when Edworthy played a long ball towards the Arsenal goal and Svensson and McKenzie double teamed up on Lehmann but were adjudged to have fouled the Gunners' keeper as Svensson shaped to shoot into an empty net.

On 90 minutes Arsenal rubbed salt into the wound as Bergkamp put the icing on the cake to score the Gunners' fourth goal.

Thierry Henry played a cross-field ball to the Dutchman who stopped the ball dead before unleashing a wicked shot past a stranded Green with Charlton looking on in desperation.

Result: Norwich City 1, Arsenal 4