Arsenal 4 Newcastle 1
Arsenal welcomed Newcastle to The Emirates seeing this match as a chance for payback for their contentious defeat at St James’ Park earlier in the season. Mikel Arteta’s side were looking to bounce back from a midweek defeat against FC Porto.
The hosts started the game like they had a point to prove and Declan Rice was played in with a chance to test keeper Lorius Karius. His shot was straight at the Newcastle keeper, which he punched away to keep Arsenal at bay.
Arteta’s side are becoming renowned for being dangerous at set pieces and there was further evidence of this as Gabriel flicked a ball on at the near post. Livramento, Botman and Karius turned into a comedy troop for the goal on the line.
The keeper saved the initial header, Botman tried to clear it and completely missed the ball before Livramento then tried to do the same but his clearance hit the knee of Botman on the floor and Karius then caught the ball behind the goal line. The three are available for kids’ parties by the way.
Credit: @Arsenal
Soon after Martinelli picked the ball up in the box and carried it to the byline before cutting it back for Havertz to bury it in the back of the net. The Magpies were crumbling under the pressure from The Gunners and it seemed they could score at will.
The visitors continued to try and play out from the back and continued to get themselves in trouble. Odegaard robbed them of the ball and squared it but there was no one in the box to convert with Newcastle well and truly on the ropes.
Saka got down the right wing and clipped a cross into the box which was met by the head of Martinelli but the Arsenal winger could not adjust quickly enough to keep his effort below the crossbar. This was proving to be a potential massacre in North London.
Arsenal continued to turn the screw and Saka danced in between the Newcastle challenges before getting a shot off but Karius was able to save to deny them. By the interval many in the stadium and no doubt The Gunners’ dressing room were wondering how they had not scored more.
The hosts started the second half with the same momentum and Saka ran through the middle before finding Martinelli. He spotted the movement of Havertz and slotted him in but the German squeezed his shot the wrong side of the post.
It was good to watch this Arsenal attacking play, going through the visitors’ defence like a hot knife through butter. But these missed chances, in bigger games, are what have the potential to cost Mikel Arteta’s side dearly when it comes to title challenges.
Credit: @premierleague
Havertz in particular has the potential to pop up with important goals this season but much like his country’s offensives on the eastern front in WW2, for every successful blitzkrieg, there is always a battle of Stalingrad just around the corner.
The Magpies had a rare break into Arsenal territory and as Gordon cut in from the left flank, he only had eyes for goal. Looking to bend the ball into the bottom corner, he did not catch it well enough and it made for a routine save for Raya.
Isak then followed suit and pulled the ball out of the air with some sublime control, before skipping past the defender. On his stronger right foot, the Swedish striker went for goal but it was always rising and caused the Arsenal keeper no trouble at all.
Eddie Howe’s side gave the ball away in a dangerous area once again and Odegaard found Havertz before he laid it out wide to Saka. The Arsenal winger cut inside onto his left foot and placed his shot in the far corner with it finding its way through a host of Newcastle players.
The Gunners whipped in another corner and Kiwior got the flick before it ended up in the back of the net. Looking at the replay, it took a massive deflection off Miley before nestling in the net. Newcastle were having a defensive nightmare at The Emirates.
Two substitutes combined for the visitors as Burn got down the flank and clipped a cross into the box. Willock met it with a header which looped up into the far corner to give the visitors a late consolation to give their travelling fans something to celebrate.
Smith Rowe almost added another late on but his effort was cleared off the line by Burn, having beaten Karius in the Newcastle goal. It was a dominant win for The Gunners and put them just two points behind Liverpool at the top of the table. The Magpies are having a season to forget.
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