Arsenal 1-0 Norwich City: Barclays Premier League - as it happened

Full-time: Arsenal 1-0 Norwich City

So, Arsenal seal three much-needed points amid a strange atmosphere at the Emirates, where sections of the fans have clearly turned against Arsene Wenger.

Anyway, Danny Welbeck's second-half strike proved to be the difference for the Gunners, who have moved a significant step closer to Champions League football next season.

We're into four minutes of added time. Can Arsenal hang on?

Norwich are making another change. It's a centre-back for another attack-minded player. Alex Neil is desperate for a goal.

Naismith is fouled and the Canaries are awarded a freekick in a decent position. Nervous moments for Arsenal fans...

It's straight into the wall from Redmond - that was a woeful attempt.

Elneny takes a powerful right-footed shot at goal, but it is well saved by the goalkeeper.

With less than ten minutes to go, Arsene Wenger has decided to withdraw Alexis Sanchez, who goes straight down the tunnel. The Chilean doesn't look hugely happy about being subbed.

Coquelin is introduced in his place.

Another protest is being staged now against Wenger and the club's owners. The fans are making their voices felt today, that's for sure.

Here comes the change. It's Norwich's big-money January signing coming on...

Alex Neil is weighing up another substitution. Norwich are desperate for an equaliser - it could be the difference between survival and relegation from the Premier League. Have they got a hero in their ranks?

There are less than 20 minutes left at the Emirates now. A goal for either side will make a huge difference at both ends of the Premier League table.

Mesut Ozil goes close to a second goal for the Gunners, hitting a powerful volley from distance that flies over the top.

Gabriel comes to Arsenal's rescue in style. The defender blocks a certain goal from Mbokani, who is only yards from the goal-line. He looked certain to score.

By the way, Arsenal scored with their first shot on target in this match. Meanwhile, no side has kept fewer clean sheets than Norwich in the Premier League this season.

It must be said, Norwich don't look as threatening at the moment as they did in the first-half, when Redmond spurned a number of decent openings.

Anyway, the away side are making a switch...

Alexis - who has been very quiet this afternoon - hits an effort from distance but cannot add to his tally of goals for the season. The balls sails wide of the post.

Meanwhile, it looks like Alex Neil may be preparing to make a change.

Time for Norwich to takes some risks now? There's less than half an hour left at the Emirates and the Canaries have nothing to lose at this stage.

GOAL: Arsenal 1-0 Norwich City (Welbeck)

Arsenal take the lead through Danny Welbeck. Hector Bellerin made a good break down the right side and chipped the ball into the box, where Giroud nodded it into Welbeck's path.

The England man placed his right-footed volley into the corner of the net. He was on the field for less than four minutes when that hit the net.

It's all very samey from Arsenal at the moment. There's not enough imagination or spark on show.

As I type that, the ever-popular Danny Welbeck is preparing to come on. Iwobi is the man coming off, much to the annoyance of the fans - who I think wanted Giroud to make way.

Per Mertesacker has gone down with an injury. It looks like a muscular problem and the big German cannot continue. Garbriel looks like the chosen replacement.

The first-half was the fourth time in last nine home Premier League games Arsenal haven't managed a single shot on target.

We're back under way at the Emirates. Let's hope the second-half features more goalmouth action than the first!

Both sides are unchanged, by the way.

Half-time: Arsenal 0-0 Norwich City

Arsenal have dominated the game in terms of possession, but Norwich have probably created the best chances. A strange atmosphere inside the stadium as the players trudge off.

A few boos and a few cheers. These are bizarre times to be a Gunners fan.

And now it's Nathan Redmond's turn, again. The winger hits a right-footed effort that just travels the wrong side of the post from a Norwich viewpoint. He has had three decent-ish chances in the opening 45 minutes.

We're into two minutes of added time, by the way.

Another opening for Norwich - and again, they have wasted it. On this occasion, Gary O'Neil plays a one-two on the edge of the box, but fluffs his lines at the crucial moment.

He lent back and skied his effort well over the bar. That's another warning for the Gunners, mind you.

A rare foray forward sees Nathan Redmond's volley saved by Petr Cech again. The Czech star punched the ball clear of his goal.

Less than five minutes until half-time now. Alex Neil will be pretty pleased with what he has seen from his side, even if they're not doing enough in the final third.

Arsenal fans are starting to get a little frustrated already.

Laurent Koscielny gets his head on a corner, but can't direct his effort inside the post. A decent-ish chance for the Frenchman, that.

Norwich, meanwhile, aren't really offering anything as an attacking threat at the moment.

Giroud has a free header from a left-footed corner from Ozil, but his header fails to trouble the keeper. Arsenal need to show a bit more incision if they are break down this dogged Norwich defence.

It's all a bit too predictable from the Gunners at the moment.

Elneny takes a shot from distance which takes a deflection off Bassong and drifts wide of the upright. The resulting corner comes to nothing and Norwich have survived the opening 30 minutes in north London.

Given Giroud's terrible record in recent months, I'd be interested to know what Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck think about being named on the bench. If they're not going to play upfront now, when are they?

The duo are both desperate to make the Euros with England, too, but their prospects won't be helped being sat on the bench, watching Giroud try to end his much-discussed goal drought.

Laurent Koscielny goes in hard on Norwich's Pinto, who is down on the ground. He is not very happy with that challenge, and some of his teammates are suggesting a card should be shown.

I thought it was a good, tough tackle, for what it's worth.

Arsenal are continuing to dominate, but without doing much of note. The likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez aren't seeing enough of the ball for their liking, I'm sure.

Alex Neil will be fairly pleased with what he has seen so far this afternoon. We've played a quarter of the game and Norwich's goal is still intact.

Jack Wilshere, who hasn't played at the Emirates this year, has been given a rousing reception by the Arsenal fans. The England midfielder made his long-awaited comeback at Sunderland last week and will be hoping for more playing time today.

Alexis Sanchez launches a good move down the left, but his goal-bound shot is blocked and no Arsenal player can get a touch on the rebound. A good move by the Chilean, though.

Alex Iwobi has been one of Arsenal's brighter sparks in the opening few minutes, showing why he's been selected in the side ahead of the likes of Danny Welbeck today.

Arsenal are starting to dominate more and more. Still no clear-cut chances to speak of, though.

The Emirates is a very strange place at the moment, with there being such a divide among Arsenal's fans. The game feels like something of a sideshow at the moment, which is strange given how important it is to these two clubs.

A protest is now being staged by a large section of Arsenal fans. There are hundreds or maybe thousands of fans holding signs that read: 'Time for Change'.

On the other hand, some fans are cheering pro-Wenger songs. It's a sorry situation at the Emirates, it must be said.

Another good effort from the Gunners, here. The goal-shy Olivier Giroud creates an opening but his shot is well blocked by a Norwich defender. The Frenchman is desperate for a Premier League goal.

A promising opening from a neutral perspective, this. On this occasion, Alex Iwobi leads an Arsenal attack before dragging his left-footed effort wide of the goal.

And now Bassong turns a header wide from Redmond's cross. It never threatened the goal, but Arsenal are looking a little nervous. This atmosphere cannot be good for their confidence.

Norwich are very happy to sit deep in these opening few minutes. It's 11 men behind the ball when the Gunners are in possession. Their game plan is pretty clear.

... and then out of nowhere, they almost steal the lead, launching an attack up the left side before Redmond's effort is well saved by Petr Cech. An early warning for the hosts.

There appear to be a few empty seats around the ground at kick-off, which is perhaps a sign of the times.

Arsenal start by looking to patiently pass the ball around, seeking gaps in the Norwich backline; the away side, on the other hand, are happy to look for openings on the counter-attack.

The Emirates is bathed in sunshine at kick off, as the game gets under way. Both sides are wearing their traditional colours.

Arsenal have won eight of their last 12 league home games against Norwich City - but will they this afternoon? We're about to find out, because kick-off is moments away...

Ahead of the game, Arsenal fans - some of them, at least - have been protesting against Arsene Wenger and Stan Kroenke. There's a lot of dissatisfaction surrounding the club at the moment.

It'll be interesting to monitor the attitude of the fans during the game, especially if they fall behind. Anyway, the players are in the tunnel at the moment.

Things are congested near the top of the Premier League, and Arsenal know they need three points today to keep their noses ahead of Manchester United in the race for third/fourth.

You'd think, anything below fourth would spell the end of Arsene Wenger's time in charge of the club, so there's a huge deal of pressure surrounding the squad.

Here's a look at the current state of the Premier League table after the 3pm kick-offs...

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged Arsene Wenger to break the bank in the summer transfer window to complete the signings of Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels.

"Harry Kane, maybe? That's who I'd go for. He's an Arsenal fan! Have you seen the pictures of his in 2004 with an Arsenal shirt on? He's one of our own!" Parlour told talkSPORT.

"I think we might need to spend £70million-£80million this summer to get the right players in to challenge next season. Look, I played with Ian Wright and Thierry Henry... we all know we need a top quality striker.

"Mesut Ozil has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this season, so that just shows you he's creating chances, but is there a man to finish them off?" Parlour added.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has insisted he has always had the complete backing of club owner Stan Kroenke in the transfer market.

"Honestly, I don't worry too much about that [fans having an agenda]," Wenger told a press conference on Friday.

"What is interesting for me in football is the quality of the game, the values that we want to present. We are a hugely respected club all over the world and the quality of our game is very important.

"To perform no matter what kind of circumstances we play. The club is in a very strong situation and we need new fans to get behind the team."

So, Santi Cazorla is in the Arsenal squad for the first time since November 29, 2015. He'll be looking to impress between now and the end of the season, hoping he can grab a spot in the Spain squad for the Euros.

Norwich City: Ruddy; Pinto, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Howson, O'Neil, Brady; Hoolahan; Jerome

Subs: Rudd, Whittaker, Naismith, Mbokani, Jarvis, Dorrans, Mulumbu

Breaking team news:

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Elneny, Ramsey, Iwobi, Alexis, Ozil, Giroud

Subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Coquelin, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Welbeck

The team news will filter through in the next few moments. Arsenal Wenger is bound to name his strongest line-up with the club's Champions League place still not assured.

Team Form

Arsenal

• Last five (all competitions): D W D D W
• Last result: Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal

Norwich City

• Last five (all competitions): L L W W D
• Last result: Norwich City 0-3 Sunderland

What the managers say

Alex Neil: "You can look at it in two ways. Is it a good time to play them because there is going to be a protest? Or are the players going to give the reaction that they expect?

"The bottom line is we have to go there with the intention of bringing something back, be it three points, which would be great, or a point. Whatever the case may be."

What the managers say

Arsene Wenger: "Everyone is training, so that's new for us. That's the first time this season. It's Oxlade-Chamberlain's first week in full training now, so I don't think I will select him this weekend.

"Santi (Carzola) might be in the squad this weekend, I don't know yet. He is available. Everyone is available, but maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain is not competitive yet."

Preview

Arsenal come into this fixture after their chances of winning the title mathematically came to an end following their goalless draw at the hands of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last weekend.

Arsene Wenger's side are fourth in the league table and any slip up in the remaining three matches of this season could jeopardise their chances of finishing the campaign in the top four.

Meanwhile, Norwich are fighting to stay in the Premier League and their chances of avoiding relegation suffered a massive blow after they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sunderland.

Good afternoon and welcome to IBTimes UK's coverage of the late kick-off in the Premier League between Arsenal and Norwich City.

The away side have a terrible record at the Emirates, but will look to confound history this afternoon and secure three all-important points in their battle against relegation.

We'll have plenty of pre-match build-up and the team news for you shortly, so sit tight.