Grabban goal pegs back Gunners at Norwich as Arsenal lose ground

Norwich City 1-1 Arsenal

• Gunners lose Koscielny and Sanchez to injury
• Ruddy error gifts Ozil opener
• Grabban goal levels score before half-time

Gunners lose ground but title race still open

Lewis Grabban marked his first Premier League start for three months by pegging back Arsenal at Carrow Road, as Norwich City stopped their opponents moving level on points with joint Premier League leaders Manchester City and Leicester City.

Mesut Ozil scored on the half hour to give Arsene Wenger’s Gunners the lead, but the home team rallied in Norfolk to deny the Londoners victory. Arsenal are now 3/1 with Coral to end their dozen-year wait for a league title.

Alexis Sanchez’s early sighter on a slippery surface from long-range flew wide, but the Gunners then lost centre back Laurent Koscielny to what looked like a muscle strain. Gabriel Paulista came on into the heart of their defence on 10 minutes.

Hero John makes Ruddy mess of opener

John Ruddy found his palms stung by Sanchez, but then the Canaries keeper made a huge mistake on half an hour that Arsenal punished ruthlessly.

Sanchez seized upon a poor clearance from Ruddy after Martin Olsson put him under pressure, and that allowed the Chilean to slip in Ozil, who lifted over the advancing goalie into the corner.