Match-winner Grant Holt delighted to secure first win
The star-studded Gunners found it impossible to break down City, who put in strong and committed performances all over the pitch to earn a well-deserved 1-0 win over Arsene Wengerâs team.
Holt was first to pounce after Arsenal âkeeper Vito Mannone failed to hold Alex Tetteyâs stinging 25-yard shot, finishing well to give City a 1-0 lead that the visitors never looked like clawing back.
âIt was sweet today,â Holt told Canaries Player. âI thought the endeavour and work rate that the lads put into it meant we deserved the three points.Â
âEveryone has been looking at the negatives from the Liverpool and Chelsea matches, but weâve played well in games although we have given away a few cheap goals.Â
âToday I thought we were fantastic all over the park. I thought Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington were fantastic going forward, and the back lads and midfielders worked their socks off.
âItâs all about hard work, thatâs what youâve got to do against these teams. The last few weeks weâve been putting the same effort and endeavour in and not getting the rewards.
âWeâll take a lot from today, and we realise that when you go in with a game plan then you need to be tight, you need to be solid, and hit them on the counterattack, and thatâs what we did.â
The skipperâs strike was his third in three games â against Liverpool, Chelsea, and now Arsenal, and the win over the Gunners moves the Canaries up out of the relegation zone into 15th position.
On his goal, Holt recounted: âI know Alex Tettey has got a good shot on him, and I was just trying to stay onside really, because you know usually he will hit the target.Â
âI was just waiting, trying to be onside, he hit it, and it was good to be able to get in there and get those goals. I waited for the âkeeper to dive, and put it in the other corner â it was a good little finish!
âIt has taken a while to get it [the first win], but what was pleasing today was the manner in which we worked.Â
âI think people can see that from one to 11, we worked and worked and worked. Weâve got some tired bodies in there, but when you work hard you get your rewards. The only way you get results in this division is by working your socks off.
âI donât think many would have given us a chance of winning today because everyone writes you off too easily. As I said to the lads afterwards, remember this, remember what got us the win, and keep doing it every week. If we keep doing that weâll be okay again.â