Arsenal rallies to beat Norwich 3-1 in EPL

Published Apr. 13, 2013 5:51 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arsenal scored three late goals to earn a comeback 3-1 win over Norwich on Saturday and climb into third place in the Premier League.

Michael Turner had given Norwich a surprising lead against an inefficient Arsenal when he was left wide open to head in a free kick in the 57th minute. But Arsenal equalized with a disputed penalty in the 85th after Kei Kamara was adjudged to have tugged on Olivier Giroud's shirt as they tussled for a ball in the area.

Mikel Arteta buried the spot kick in the top right corner and the Gunners then went ahead when ahead three minutes later when Sebastien Bassong turned a cross into his own net. Lukas Podolski put the game away in injury time, receiving the ball on the edge of the area and slotting a shot inside the near post.

Arsenal is now one point ahead of both Chelsea and Tottenham in the fight for Champions League places, although Chelsea has a game in hand. The Gunners host sixth-place Everton, which is a further three points back, on Tuesday.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere returned from an ankle injury while fellow England international Theo Walcott was on the bench after his own layoff. Captain Thomas Vermaelen, who has been benched by manager Arsene Wenger lately, returned to the defense in place of suspended Per Mertesacker.

Arsenal controlled possession for much of the first half but struggled to create any clear-cut chances, with Gervinho failing to make the most of two opportunities and Giroud hitting the crossbar with a glancing header.

Instead, Norwich went ahead after the break when Kieran Gibbs tripped Kamara on the right edge of the penalty area and Snodgrass floated the free kick towards the back post, where Turner rose unmarked to power a header into the bottom left corner.

Wenger responded by bringing on Walcott and Podolski, and the German nearly equalized when he drilled a volley from six yards but Mark Bunn got just enough on the ball to tip it up onto the crossbar.