Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
When the fixtures came out, it looked a rocky road and within that St James Park away, a place we don’t enjoy and always throws up big talking points. Thankfully Arsenal was on the right end of the result and all in all probably the best performance of the season so far.
Arsenal settled well into the game, dominated the ball and controlled the tempo. The starting XI suggested the handbrake well and truly was off following the talk from the Man City game. Eze and Saka starting together again following the midweek Carabao Cup win at Port Vale. In the early stages, Saka the driving force, with Zubimendi time after time getting the ball to the right hand side, with Bukayo driving at Dan Burn. Our first big chance came from that flank. Timber clipped a ball to the edge of the box, Eze cushioned it deftly and drove a low left-footed shot, forcing Pope into a sharp save.
I thought we were bossing the game even more, controlled and a 1-0 lead with of been justified for the way we started the game and possibly should of had a chance to do that from 12 yards.
The first controversial moment of the game, Eze from deep clipping a ball centrally into Saka, who crowded by defenders around him flicked a touch with the ball bouncing leading to a mix up, Murphy rolling it back to Pope, the ball not making it to the keeper instead Gyokeres reading the situation well.
Picking the ball up, attempting to drive past the Newcastle stopper. From the angle on TV it looked stone wall, Gyokeres taken out as he attempted to go past. Now this is where you see the inconsistencies that run through the officiating in this country, a clear and obvious error? Given the time it took and the replays slowing it right down to show the touch, which is not a tackle, just shows the error. Last week you have Sanchez sent for Chelsea, even though he touched the ball? Last season, Saliba, touching the ball against Brighton away then touching Joao Pedro in the aftermath of the touch, penalty given. So every incident justified by the PGMOL, mistakes not learnt from and as a fan you’re not sure what is a foul or isn’t these days. It’s just baffling to know what is and what isn’t.
After the VAR intervention and no penalty, Arsenal continued on the front foot and forced two further great chances. The first one showing the fluidity and pace to the side the more they play together, a flowing move down the right, Saka keeping it well, cutting inside and finding Rice steaming through centrally with acres of space, Trossard on the left. The ball rolled perfectly into Leos’ path, who crashed the woodwork with his attempt, one of those near post driven shots he likes. Following that another Eze chance saved well from Pope, the ball bouncing on the edge of the box, a driven half volley aiming for the top corner.
Then, out of nowhere, 1-0 down and against the run of play. A long ball down Arsenals right hand side, Mosquera who hasn’t put a foot wrong seemed to be caught in two minds, initially looking like he was going to mop up and clear the ball out for a throwing, then realising he had more time, seemed to change his mind attempting a ball back to Raya. Going with his left foot, getting it all wrong with Newcastle getting a corner from nothing. A short corner worked well, a wicked delivery from Tonali and Gabriel not showing his best, as he felt the slightest of touches from the tall presence that is Woltemade who then powered his header past Raya. Out of nothing we were behind and it was a thought of not again at this ground.
Gabriel lucky not to get a card following this with an altercation with the Newcastle striker as the game restarted, one where in the modern game, defenders blocking runs of strikers, here the Brazilian giving a shove to Woltemade in the face.
So Arsenal down 1-0 at that break but all in all, a good performance so far. Not cagey, not out and out defending, it was Arsenal on the front foot. Plenty of great play, but also mixing it up well, Raya going long when needed, Gyokeres proving a real presence up top in the game. And, I will say even without the goals, his best game in the red and white so far, he was intelligent, held the ball up, bought others into play and looked generally much sharper than his previous outings so far. It was a shame following his great anticipation that the penalty was overturned, as most likely he would of taken it as well.
A change at halftime, Mosquera switched for Saliba coming on to have our usual pairing at centre back. The pattern of the game developed quickly in the second half, Newcastle settling more and more into a low block. A packed out defence and playing on the break. Early on in the half straight from kick off a chance forged but the offside flag up, nervy moments for the Arsenal, Joelinton flashing one past the bottom post and a chance worked well from Anthony Gordon who played one across the box but thankfully no one there to finish the opportunity.
Arsenal continuing to dominate the ball, but the game becoming more and more of Arsenal recycling possession on the edge and not looking likely that an open chance will come. One was forged out, Eze as bright as ever, playing touches around the edge, finding Trossard on the edge, flicked back to Zubimendi, who played a lovely clipped ball reminiscent of a Fabregas type pass with the outside of his foot, centrally, Timber six yard box, heading down low, Pope with another great save.
Changes were rung by Arteta, he threw on everyone that could do something attacking wise, even reacting to Newcastles back five by going into a back three. An extra midfielder, Merino, Martinelli and Odegaard on for even more attacking power. Arsenal not as free flowing as the first half given the state of the game, relentlessly kept the pressure up, wave after wave of attacks and we were finally level when Merino popped up in the 84th minute.
A goal similar to Newcastles in the first half, Arsenal from the corner going short, a combination of Rice, Eze and Odegaard exchanging passes, the ball back to Rice, who sent in a driven floated cross, Merino in front of his marker with a great leap and flick behind him, the ball coming off the post giving Pope finally no chance to make an unbelievable save. But it was unbelievable header given the way it went in and Merino getting great contact the way he did to direct it. Tails were up, Arsenal on the attack, Newcastle reminiscent of City a week earlier,on ultra defensive mode if you were playing fifa or whatever its called these days.
And then controversial moment number three instantly after the restart from the goal, one where we’ve seen these given. More in Europe than the premier league mind you, Elanga firing a cross into the box, Gabriel slide tackling, the noise reevaporating from the home fans on the TV of ‘handball’, it looked a great tackle from the angle on the tv pictures but as replays showed, the ball firing into Gabriels outstretched hand. VAR check and this one cleared as the justification being the ball coming off Gabriels leg as part of the block in this instance then hitting the hand.
Had this been a UEFA competition I think Newcastle get the penalty.
The board then went up, eight extra minutes following the injury to Livramento. Eight minutes to find the winner and that’s exactly what the team did.
I have to say, what a cameo from Odegaard. He was central to everything, demanding the ball, controlling the play and his disguised pass in the 94th minute in behind Trippier for Skelly running in behind was those that are just natural, you can’t teach that.
To see it is one thing, to play it to perfection and at the correct pace is another, he showed glimpses of coming back to the captain we know. The pressure was up, Arsenal forcing corner after corner, never giving in.
Then the moment the opposition fans must of thought a draw would be the result, Pope claiming a cross well, and wanting to get again on the front foot to go for a winner, clipping a ball back down the middle of the pitch straight to a red shirt.
Another chance for the Arsenal to pile forward, Rice then floating a cross to the back post, flicked away for another Arsenal corner, the away teams 12th of the game. One final chance to set one up, Jovers eyes must of lit up on the bench, Saliba floating around Pope, the delivery from Odegaard perfection, floated into the six yard box, Gabriel with the run on Dan Burn, Pope caught up in the melee and under the ball, the Brazilian king crashing the ball into the net. The hero on the day wheeling away, making up for his error for Newcastles goal.
Set piece again ole ole, the Arsenal, 2-1 up and deserved on the performance. The manager not cagey here. I said last week given the points difference to Liverpool we had to now take risks to get back close to the top.
Given it’s September, not huge on the bearing of where this title ends up this year but for the mentality of this side. The belief that a big win can provide, given a venue that the club was humbled at on occasions over the last few years, especially last season.
I also take away from this game the firepower the team has now, Merino is such a threat in various situations but especially crosses and this side has such prowess in that area, that say a game isn’t going to plan, we do have that ace in the hole that we can rely on, players like this that can come on to change things.
Defensively sound once again, giving up one clear cut chance for Newcastle to Arsenals three in the game, just shows the level of dominance that this team can have at a tough ground. Given the fixtures that Arsenal have had so far, the points return is good and now means the team can kick on. Players returning from injury, well placed to go on a run now. I’m especially excited to see how we lineup Wednesday against Olympiakos, the prospect of Eze, Odegaard and Saka linking with Gyokeres is one that will give teams such problems, a mixture of pace, power and intelligence. A great win and attention now turns to Europe before West Ham at the Emirates next weekend, until the next one, have a great week.
The View From Block 107 