Norwich City 1, Arsenal 0

Manager Chris Hughton's wait for a league victory ended in the eighth game as Holt struck on 20 minutes, tucking home the rebound after goalkeeper Vito Mannone spilled Alex Tettey's powerful 20-yard shot.

The goal took Holt into the top six goalscorers in the Canaries' history, his 73rd for the club setting the stadium alight and guaranteeing an electric atmosphere.

The recalled Michael Turner and Holt might have made victory even more convincing with chances in each half.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy's late save from Mikel Arteta guaranteed that the Canaries held on to a well-deserved three points after a tremendous team performance in which defender Sebastien Bassong and midfield pair Tettey and Bradley Johnson were especially outstanding.

The final whistle was greeted with a tremendous roar by the vast majority of those in another full house, saluting Arsenal's first defeat at Norwich since 1984.

Next up for City will be former manager Paul Lambert's Aston Villa at Villa Park next Saturday.

Hughton made two changes from the eleven who started the 4-1 defeat at Chelsea a fortnight earlier.

Michael Turner returned in defence at the expense of Leon Barnett, while Anthony Pilkington was back in midfield with Jonny Howson relegated to the substitutes' bench.

Robert Snodgrass was on the bench for the second game in a row, after recovering from the ankle injury that forced him to withdraw from Scotland duty.

Barnett was not included in the 18, with Ryan Bennett the defensive substitute, and Declan Rudd was back as the second goalkeeper.

Arsenal, with a string of injuries to key players, showed just one change after the 3-1 win at West Ham with Andre Santos replacing injured left-back Kieran Gibbs.

Theo Walcott, who suffered a chest injury on duty for England, was one of the absentees, but midfielder Jack Wilshere was named among the substitutes after a 14-month injury nightmare.

City started brightly and in only the second minute, Elliott Bennett's tackle enabled Hoolahan to set up Pilkington for a right-foot shot that whistled past the woodwork with Mannone struggling to cover the post.

Podolski broke on the left and fired across the face of goal as the Gunners threatened for the first time.

There was a competitive look about City in the opening stages as they looked to harry Arsenal at every opportunity and they certainly looked up for the fight.

There were no clear-cut chances at either end but after 20 minutes, the Canaries sent Carrow Road wild as Holt put them into the lead with his third goal in successive games.

The goal was Holt's 73rd for the club and put him into the all-time top six scorers in City's history.

Tettey unleashed a powerful drive from 20 yards that Mannone was unable to hold, and Holt pounced to tuck the rebound coolly past the grounded 'keeper.

Ruddy clutched a header from Giroud as Arsenal won a corner and, with the atmosphere in the ground pumping, Johnson was booked for a foul on Cazorla.

City looked for a second and Jenkinson had to make a timely clearance to stop Pilkington getting on the end of a Holt cross.

A foul by Podolski on Johnson gave City a free-kick on the edge of the Arsenal area but Hoolahan took it too quickly and the Gunners broke dangerously and after a sustained spell of possession, Ruddy saved well from Giroud, though the flag was up for offside.

It might have been 2-0 on 34 minutes when Pilkington swung a corner in from the right and Turner arrived for a free header, but headed wide across goal.

A foul by Johnson gave the Gunners a free-kick in dangerous territory but Gervinho completely miscued with an attempted volley as Arteta floated the ball in.

• Half-time: Norwich City 1, Arsenal 0

Five minutes after the break, City put together an intricate passing move and when Garrido crossed from the left, Holt was just unable to connect with his head as he jumped with Santos.

At the other end, Jenkinson's cross had Ruddy punching clear at full stretch but Giroud was unable to control his attempt to hook the loose ball goalwards and sliced it wide.

Hoolahan was booked 10 minutes into the half for carrying on playing and tucking the ball into the net after he had been flagged offside.

There were appeals for handball against Ramsey as City stepped up the pressure, and Johnson sliced a long-range effort wide.

Holt became the third City player to be cautioned for what looked like a word out of turn, then Arsenal pushed forward and Ruddy saved Gervinho's header.

Arsenal made their first change after 65 minutes when Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Podolski.

Turner was shown the yellow card as the game entered the final 20 minutes for upending Giroud, but Cazorla curled the free-kick straight into Ruddy's arms.

Holt had his sights on a second goal and after getting the better of Mertesacker, he strode forward and let fly with a long-range drive that flew wide.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was struggling soon after coming on, with what looked like a pulled muscle, and made way for Arshavin with just over 15 minutes to go.

Vermaelen was lucky to escape a yellow card for bringing down Elliott Bennett and it was virtually Bennett's last involvement as he made way for Snodgrass with 11 minutes left.

Holt might have made it 2-0 when Vermaelen slipped over on halfway and the striker raced clear, but in trying to float the ball over Mannone, he simply chipped it into the keeper's arms.

Vermaelen headed wide from a corner and the Gunners made their last change when Gnabry replaced Ramsey.

With less than five minutes left, Ruddy dived to his left to make a fine save from Arteta's low drive.

Tettey needed treatment after being hit in the back by the jumping Giroud, which caused a delay as the seconds ticked away.

A brilliant block by Bassong denied Gervinho a possible equaliser as the game entered the final minute.

As Arsenal waited to take the corner, Morison replaced Holt.

Five minutes of stoppage time were signalled by the fourth official before Ruddy punched the corner clear.

Ryan Bennett then replaced Hoolahan with three additional minutes still to play.

Substitute Gnabry sliced horribly wide as the Gunners looked for a late leveller.

Referee Probert stopped play after picking an object up in the Norwich goalmouth, and he handed it to the fourth official.

Cazorla fired high into the Barclay with Arsenal's last chance of the match, before the final whistle brought a tumultuous roar from the home crowd, celebrating City's first league win of the season.

• Norwich City: Ruddy; Russell Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido; Elliott Bennett (Snodgrass, 79), Tettey, Johnson, Pilkington; Hoolahan (Ryan Bennett, 90); Holt (Morison, 90). Subs: Rudd, Howson, Surman, Jackson.

• Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos; Ramsey (Gnabry, 83), Arteta; Cazorla; Gervinho, Giroud, Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 65, Arshavin, 74). Subs: Martinez, Coquelin, Djourou, Wilshere.

• Referee Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

• Attendance: 26,825

• Goal: City: Holt (20)

• Bookings: City: Johnson (24), Hoolahan (55), Holt (62), Turner (71)