Arsenal have failed to establish a half-time advantage over Norwich City despite having the better of the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates Stadium.

A near-post header from Olivier Giroud that flicked the crossbar was the closest the Gunners came to breaking the deadlock.

Bacary Sagna linked up with his French teammate later in the half, crossing from the right for Giroud to guide an effort which Mark Bunn did well to save low to his left.

Bunn appeared to be beaten when Gervinho latched onto a Santi Cazorla through pass, but the Ivorian's heavy touch prevented him from squeezing his shot in from a tight angle.

Giroud continued to be an aerial threat, but his header in stoppage time was cleared off the line by Steven Whittaker, recalled by a Norwich side unable to create any notable chances of their own.

Victory today would see Arsenal climb above local rivals Tottenham Hotspur and into the Champions League qualifying positions.