Norwich have yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, and are unlikely to relish the visit of an Arsenal side that score freely away from home. The Canaries have not been helped by the continued absence of the central defender, Elliott Ward – whom manager Paul Lambert revealed on Friday could be require an operation on an ongoing knee injury – a situation that has seen Russell Martin playing out of position for most of the season. Arsenal's long-running unbeaten record at Carrow Road does not bode well either. Rich Flower
Venue Carrow Road, Saturday 12.45pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season n/a
Referee Phil Dowd
This season's matches 8 Y37, R1, 4.75 cards per game
Odds Norwich 9-2 Arsenal 7-10 Draw 3-1
Norwich
Subs from Rudd, De Laet, Jackson, Holt, Surman, C Martin, Drury, Crofts, Smith, Lappin, Wilbrahim, Francomb, Ball, Ayala
Doubtful Ayala (knee), Smith (ankle)
Injured Vaughan (knee, Jan), Whitbread (hamstring, 3 Dec), Ward (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide LDDWLW
Disciplinary record Y16 R2
Leading scorer Pilkington 4
Arsenal
Subs from Fabianski, Mannone, Squillaci, Mertesacker, Rosicky, Park, Chamakh, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Frimpong, Benayoun
Doubtful Chamakh (knee), Park (match fitness)
Injured Miyaichi (ankle, 18 Dec), Gibbs (hernia, 26 Dec), Sagna (broken leg, 31 Dec), Jenkinson (back, Jan), Wilshere (ankle, Jan), Diaby (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide WWWWLW
Disciplinary record Y21 R3
Leading scorer Van Persie 11
Match pointers
• Norwich have not beaten Arsenal in 11 meetings at Carrow Road since Boxing Day 1984 – John Deehan scored the only goal that day in a 1-0 win for the hosts
• Arsenal have conceded more goals away from home (17) than any other side in the division, but only Man City (23) have scored more on the road that the Gunners (11)
• Bradley Johnson has committed more fouls (12) without being booked than any other player
• Arsenal's 3-0 defeat of West Brom in their last match was their 400th victory of all time in the Premier League (from a total of 745 games)
• Norwich lost 4-1 in both games with Arsenal the last time they were in the Premier League (2004-05)
