Norwich City have been praised for their footballing principles – by new boy Henri Lansbury's coach at Arsenal, Neil Banfield.

Lansbury has joined the Canaries on a 28-day emergency loan deal, as Paul Lambert shores up a midfield which has been hit hard by injuries.

Arsenal's compliment of midfielders – which includes the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Andrei Arshavin and Jack Wilshere – is, in contrast, keeping Lanbsury out of the reckoning at the Emirates Stadium.

It was that position which prompted Lambert to seek him out and for the 20-year-old to agree to head to a club where he spent time as a schoolboy.

The move, says Banfield, is ideal for both parties, with Lansbury – whose season has included a Carling Cup goal against Tottenham in September – able to gain valuable first-team experience.

'He went to see the manager and he felt like it was time to go,' reserve team coach Banfield told Arsenal.com. 'He felt for his progression it was time to go.

'He will go to Norwich, a really good club, and I'm sure he will do well. I think in the Championship now and even (League One leaders) Brighton – they all move the ball around.'

Lansbury follows in the footsteps of Kieran Gibbs, who spent time at Carrow Road during the Glenn Roeder regime. He is one of 15 Arsenal players on loan across the Football League and in Europe.

'They are doing really well and long may it continue,' said Banfield. 'One or two weren't playing and one or two were a bit of a surprise. We're coping with it [at reserve team level] but you'll probably see one or two come back and one or two pop out.

'You've seen it from when we've been doing (the loan moves) that there has been cycle and we're seeing the next generation come through.'