2 November 2024
Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0
In the early kick-off, Newcastle welcomed Arsenal to St James’ Park. Whenever you think of this fixture, that infamous game with the goal that caused a Kevin Keegan style meltdown in Mikel Arteta springs to mind. After suffering defeat against Bournemouth in their last game, The Gunners needed to make a statement in this fixture.
The Magpies started the game well and were passing the ball around, stretching the visitors all over the park. As it was worked out wide to Gordon, he put in an inch-perfect cross for Isak to rise and head into the top corner. Raya stood no chance in keeping the effort out. St James’ Park exploded into a cauldron of noise, if it wasn’t already.
This was the worst possible start for Mikel Arteta’s side. With just twelve minutes on the clock, their task had got even bigger as the hosts led. Arsenal had prided themselves on their defensive solidity earlier in the season but were now handing out chances like a Monopoly board. The Spaniard would need a big reaction from his team if they were to get anything from this match.
The Gunners were seeing a lot of the ball. They were passing it around with very little press from the hosts. What will worry Arteta is that there seemed no urgency or pace to their attacks at all. It looked more like an exhibition performance where no-one was really dialled in to wanting to win it. The high tempo from previous seasons seemed to be no more in this Arsenal side.
Havertz picked the ball up and looked to lift a cross into the back post. Saka rose above Hall but his header was lacking pace and direction as it went harmlessly wide. Not usually one to dominate in the air it was a big chance wasted for the visitors. Arteta looked like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders on the touchline by this stage.
Willock then swivelled on the ball on the halfway line. He played a sweeping pass out to the wing to set Gordon free once again. The Magpies’ winger tried to pick out Joelinton at the back post but it took a slight deflection and went behind for a corner. The visitors managed to clear their lines and get forward to put Eddie Howe’s side under more pressure.
Saka put a teasing cross in along the six yard box. No Arsenal player was gambling or busting a gut to get on the end of it but Schar could not take that chance and hooked it over the goal for a corner. As the cross came in, it was headed goalwards but struck Partey. The ball dropped to Merino, who lashed it towards goal, only to see it strike Hall and Newcastle cleared.
After the interval, The Magpies continued to probe. Gordon played the ball into the path of Willock in the box but Raya managed to save his effort at goal. As an Arsenal attack broke down, the hosts streamed forward again. Willock was completely unmarked at the back post but skied his effort over the crossbar, another let-off for Arteta’s side.
Newcastle seemed to have had an energy boost at half-time. Isak picked the ball up in the middle and, with the Arsenal players backing off him, made a beeline for goal. The Swede looked to bend one past Raya but it was too close to the keeper, who parried it out. The Spaniard does this a lot and often back into dangerous areas but his teammates managed to clear.
Rice went on a mazy run for The Gunners and looked to bend one in the far corner. It took a big deflection but narrowly missed the far post with Pope rooted to the spot. As another cross from Saka came in, Jesus seemed to wait an age for the ball to drop to him. Gordon got himself in between the striker and the ball, which resulted in the Brazilian kicking the Newcastle man.
As is the way in the modern game, the Arsenal man demanded a penalty. On what planet these are handed out for you kicking somebody, is baffling to everyone. It sounds a topsy turvy world, wherever it is, maybe it could be an interesting holiday destination. Arsenal continued to come forward but struggled to create any clear-cut chances.
Saka was getting crosses into the box but there was very little from his teammates in the middle. On this occasion Rice met it with his head but could not direct it goalwards. The Magpies were happy to hold onto what they had and were getting numbers behind the ball. Arteta’s side just could not find a way through the hosts’ defence at all.
Newcastle held on to claim all three points. This is now turning into somewhat of a jinx venue for The Gunners. Two defeats from as many visits. St James’ Park erupted as the final whistle sounded as Arsenal suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats. With only ten games gone in the season, Arteta’s side find themselves seven points behind leaders Liverpool.
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