Premier League: Arsenal 3 Norwich 3

Steve Morison earned Norwich City a deserved point in an entertaining 3-3 stalemate with Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Gunners went ahead after just over a minute through Yossi Benayoun, before Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt gave the away side the lead before half-time.

After a number of near-misses by Norwich at the start of the second half, Robin van Persie was on hand to level matters and then put his side ahead eight minutes later, grabbing his 30th goal of the season in the process.

But Norwich were to have the last laugh when Morison hit a superb equaliser from a tight angle to earn his side a point and at the same time dent Arsenal’s hopes of finishing third on the Premier League table.

The Gunners made the perfect start as Benayoun, celebrating his 32nd birthday, scored after just 70 seconds with a fine curling effort from the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Kieran Gibbs’ run down the flank dragged the Norwich defence away from the Israel international, giving him time to pick a shot and find the far corner with a plush finish.

The Canaries responded brilliantly and could have equalised five minutes later when Holt’s first-time effort from 15 yards out was brilliantly blocked by Kieran Gibbs before Wojciech Szczesny could be tested.

However, just moments after an unconvincing punch from a corner, Szczesny was found wanting again when Kyle Naughton, on loan from Tottenham, took advantage of space on the left to find Hoolahan 12 yards out. The shot was tame, but Szczesny’s attempt to collect was even weaker as the ball bounced off the Poland international’s gloves and trickled over the line.

Arsenal appeared lethargic by even their own standards, showing no impetus to regain the lead. And they paid for it.

Holt found Hoolahan near the halfway line and stormed forward looking for the return. The midfielder obliged and the resulting shot from the edge of the box took a big deflection off the backtracking Gibbs and looped up and over Szczesny to send the Canaries 2-1 up with the striker’s 14th league goal of the season.

Arsenal came racing out the traps from the restart and Van Persie came within inches to levelling matters when sliding in to reach Bacary Sagna’s low cross.

That was, however, to be Sagna’s last action of the match as, moment later, when stretching to stop a Norwich clearance from going into touch, the right-back appeared to land awkwardly on his ankle and was subsequently stretchered off.

Just before the hour mark, Benayoun missed a glorious opportunity to equalise when he was afforded a free header from Mikel Arteta’s free kick, but from six yards out he arrowed it straight at John Ruddy.

That was the start of a frantic five minutes as first Naughton and Simeon Jackson failed to hit the target when in good positions, before Van Persie and Aaron Ramsey added to the profligacy.

Arsenal grew in confidence as the clocked ticked down, but a resolute Canaries defence continued to hold on, throwing themselves in the way of Tomas Rosicky’s crisp effort from 18 yards out and a tricky run and shot by Gervinho.

But, as the intensity of the home side’s attacks increased, so did the gaps in the Norwich defence.

Arsenal levelled matter on 72 minutes when Elliott Bennett’s strong block from a Marouane Chamakh shot saw the ball to rebound to Alex Song 25 yards out who looked up and lofted an inch-perfect angled cross for Van Persie to sidefoot home past Ruddy.

And it took Van Persie just eight more minutes to send the Gunners back into the lead when he pounced on Rosicky’s pass forward to slide the ball underneath Ruddy to draw level with Thierry Henry’s club record of 30 Premier League goals in one season.

But Norwich had the final say when second-half substitute Morison ran onto a pass over the Gunners’ defence and fired low across Szczesny to grab his side a point.