IN FUTURE, the bloke who announces the teams at the Emirates will choose his words more carefully – or at least get name of the opposition right.
Before kick-off, he named Arsenal’s visitors as IPSWICH.
Yet remarkably, Norwich – cheered on by 8800 fans – thought they were set to be the first lower-league side to win at Arsenal in the League Cup since Walsall in 1983.
By the end, the PA man knew exactly who his team was playing.
Leading through Josh Murphy’s first half opener, Arsenal teenager Eddie Nketiah scored within 15 seconds of coming on for only his second first-team appearance.
Remarkably, he was born AFTER Arsene Wenger took charge.
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Wenger has never really liked this competition. Despite winning seven FA Cup finals, he has only been in two League Cup finals and the last one was 2011 when Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny delivered a cock-up to hand the silverware to Birmingham.
Despite making 11 changes following the 5-2 win at Everton, you would still have expected Wenger’s team to be better than this.
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And it was ridiculous Norwich had not put Arsenal out of sights before Nketiah scored with his first touch of the game.
Mohamed Elneny, who struggled at the back for Arsenal, was lucky to avoid a red card when he fouled Nelson Oliveira who was clean through in the 55th minute.
Elneny, who was clearly the last man, escaped with a caution much to the anger of Norwich boss Farke – and this was a key moment.
Matt Macey was handed his Arsenal debut in goal because back-up stopper David Ospina.
Yet it appeared as though he was going to be incredibly bored as his team threatened to take complete control.
It was 25 years ago this season, in the first ever Premier League weekend, that Norwich recovered from 2-0 down at half-time to beat Arsenal 4-2 at Highbury.
But an away victory on this occasion seemed extremely unlikely.
England under 21 keeper Angus Gunn, who dad Bryan was in goal for the Canaries that day in August 1992, pulled off an outstanding close-range save to deny Rob Holding who comfortably beat Ivo Pinto to a header.
It was all Arsenal – and then Norwich duly scored in the 34th minute.
Trybull showed real strength to keep possession against Francis Coquelin and James Maddison – who scored the winner against Ipswich in Sunday’s Old Farm Derby – released Murphy with an excellent pass.
Murphy’s identical twin brother Jacob moved to Newcastle for £12m in the summer – yet Premier League club have also been watching this member of the family.
Although clear of Holding and Mathieu Debuchy, Murphy appeared to take a heavy touch but got to the ball first before chipping the ball over the shoulder of Macey.
At least the Arsenal keeper prevented Norwich scoring a second when he did well to get down low to his to keep decent effort from Oliveira.
After struggling to get anywhere near their opponents, Farke’s side started playing with some confidence and stopped giving it away.
Walcott forced another decent stop from Gunn and Arsenal’s fans made their feelings known at half-time.
With that front line of Olivier Giroud, Walcott and Wilshere, you would certainly have expected Arsenal to deliver more problems but they were continually frustrated by some organised defending.
Ref Madley made that big call by only giving Elneny a caution but Norwich kept pressing to the increasing despair of the Emirates faithful.
Keeper Macey scooped the ball away from the feet of Oliviera after an excellent run and cross from Murphy.
Oliviera should have done better after a terrific raid down the right from right-back Pinto and Murphy had a golden chance to make it 2-0 when he lifted the ball over from 25 yards with Macey have raced off his line.
Mario Vrancic then wasted another great chance as Norwich, somehow, failed to make it 2-0
Arsenal enjoyed more pressure then levelled five minutes from time.
A sub for Reiss Nelson, Nketiah, 18, scored with his first touch from close range after a corner was flicked on.
Nketiah made his debut against BATE in the Europa League and this was some impact.
Gunn then made a cracking save to deny Jack Wilshere to send the match into extra-time.
But the Norwich stopper was powerless to prevent Nketiah adding his second with a bullet header to make it 2-1.
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