Norwich City

CLUB Captain Grant Holt couldn’t hide his delight after his first half goal secured Chris Hughton’s side a first Barclays Premier League win of the season against Champions League-chasing Arsenal.

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 Wenger’s team.

Holt was first to pounce after Arsenal ‘keeper Vito Mannone failed to hold Alex Tettey’s stinging 25-yard shot, finishing well to give City a 1-0 lead that the visitors never looked like clawing back.

“It was sweet today,” Holt told Canaries Player. “I thought the endeavour and work rate that the lads put into it meant we deserved the three points. 

“Everyone has been looking at the negatives from the Liverpool and Chelsea matches, but we’ve played well in games although we have given away a few cheap goals. 

“Today 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.

“It’s all about hard work, that’s what you’ve got to do against these teams. The last few weeks we’ve been putting the same effort and endeavour in and not getting the rewards.

“We’ll 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 that’s what we did.”

The skipper’s strike was his third in three games – 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: “I 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. 

“I 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 ‘keeper to dive, and put it in the other corner – it was a good little finish!

“It has taken a while to get it [the first win], but what was pleasing today was the manner in which we worked. 

“I think people can see that from one to 11, we worked and worked and worked. We’ve 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.

“I don’t 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 we’ll be okay again.”