LONDON -- Arsene Wenger acknowledged that Arsenal still haven't figured out how to break down defensive-minded visitors to the Emirates, whom they have faced ever since the season-opening loss to West Ham.
Arsenal were beaten 2-0 by the Hammers in their first game of the campaign, and Wenger said that game provided a blueprint for other teams to follow at the Emirates.
Norwich were the latest team to drop deep and focus on counter-attacks on Saturday, but Arsenal won 1-0 after Danny Welbeck finally put them ahead in the 59th minute.
Arsenal have also been held to draws by Southampton and Crystal Palace at home and lost to Swansea in games that followed a similar script. They were also held 0-0 by Sunderland away last weekend. It's a big reason for why they're out of the title race and are now fighting just for a top-four finish.
"The problem we have faced this season is exactly the problem we have faced today," Wenger said. "It's that we lost in the first game of the season against a team who sat very deep, and didn't come out. And after that, all the teams came here and sit very deep. And we did not find the way, in the air or on the ground always to score the goals.
"Today again, once we were 1-0 up there were more goals [available] in the game for us. But we couldn't finish the game off, so you can always be caught back. Crystal Palace was 1-1. But we have not solved that problem with teams that sit deep."
In contrast, Arsenal beat leaders Leicester twice and also defeated both Manchester clubs at home.
"Why did we have fantastic results against teams at the top of the table? Because they come out more and they play more," Wenger said. "The problem we couldn't solve this season is with teams who sit in front of their box."
Arsenal dominated possession against Norwich but failed to create many clear-cut chances before Welbeck's goal. In fact, Norwich had come closer to scoring in the first half with Nathan Redmond drawing two good saves from Petr Cech.
"In the first half we needed to be patient, and we needed Petr as well once or twice," Wenger said. "After that I think in the second half it's a deserved win against a team that fights not to go down."
Norwich manager Alex Neil acknowledged that his game plan was to drop behind the ball when defending, which worked well until Welbeck came on early in the second half.
"I think what happened in that five-minute spell is Welbeck's come on and the game has become a little stretched which we didn't want. Because I think we kept the spaces between the lines really compact and I thought we got behind the ball really well and really quickly," Neil said.
"At the other end in the first half we probably had four chances just as good as that and it doesn't go in the net."
The loss leaves Norwich rooted in the relegation zone, but Neil said his players should take confidence from this performance.
"I think the players showed as much commitment, endeavour and effort and quality at times that we can ask for. That's all I can ask of my players," he said.
"But I need that another three times between now and the end of the season. And if they do it, then they're capable of packing up points."