Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal: Superb scenes at St James’ as Rafa’s Mags secure Premier League safety

Another brilliant day at St James’ Park as Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle see off Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal to secure our place in the Premier League for another season – also sending us just two points from 8th!

Prior to today, we’d lost our last 10 in the league to Arsenal and had never won a game from behind since 2014. With Arsenal taking the lead 14 minutes in, history suggested that we wouldn’t have it in us to turn it around, but this Rafa Benitez team, full of fight and togetherness, had very different ideas.

They were pressing for a second, but we stayed in it and stood strong, being were rewarded for our efforts in the form of Ayoze Perez’s sublime front post flick. It was a clever finish, but credit must go to Shelvey for the initial ball in behind, to Gayle for the run in behind and his piece of hold up play that followed, and to Yedlin for the brilliant ball in for Perez.

We weren’t at our best today, but one thing this group always give us is 110% – and that will always give you a chance against this soft Arsenal side.

Slimani came on and caused havoc –  showing signs of being a proper centre forward with his nice blend of pace and power – and he played a big role in our winner, with his superb header guiding the ball across the box to Matt Ritchie to score what turned out to be our winner.

Diame was monstrous, Shelvey showed Southgate what his England side are missing out on, Ayoze Perez played a big part once again and Matt Ritchie made it three home goals in his last four at home, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface of this NUFC side (see player ratings here).

It was another outstanding team effort and electric atmosphere at St James’ Park as a result, putting us 13 clear of the bottom 3, moving us just one points from Everton in 9th (and two from Leicester in 8th) and putting us above that magic 40-point tally.

Just look at these scenes after Ritchie’s winning goal:

Another special afternoon at St James’ Park – the day our Premier League survival was made certain.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

 

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

92 thoughts on “Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal: Superb scenes at St James’ as Rafa’s Mags secure Premier League safety

  1. Stuart79:
    Eric, I think you’re on some kind of mind altering drug.

    I didn’t deny making a “politically charged point” but I do deny saying “the rich are downtrodden.” I didn’t say that, you thought I said that. You think I say quite a lot of things that I don’t. I guess it’s a way of you arguing the point you want to argue. Just because nobody has actually said it doesn’t seem to stop you…

    Anyway, this blog is better when discussing points people have actually made, not what you want them to have actually said.

    Although it has to be said, I do admire Thatcher. Youseem to think when you say that to me it’s an insult. It’s not I can assure you. Not to me anyway.

    You did make the point that it is bad to give under 25s free travel. I went to University on a grant and I don’t think I could get that now. A working class kid from Newcastle trying to better themselves. Socialism. The student loan issuing tw@ts is capitalism so that’s OK.

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  2. Well, Thatcher did give us Chancellor Nigel Lawson so we eventually ended up with Nigella who is nice to look at and I have made a few recipes of hers.

    I think I will name my Grandaughter Ericella.

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  3. So I have a question about VAR.

    Watched the footage of the German game yesterday and the ball clearly hit the defenders hand. Based on that the ref decided it was a penalty and called the teams back out from their half time break to take it

    Not questioning the decision .. refs choice .. but Bit of an odd call imo as the pen could have started the 2nd half. This just seems sensible to me .. I can’t quote the rules tho.

    So my question is does this mean VAR is wrong or is football just not ready for technology.

    The football industry imo is largely populated by backward looking folk who are simply unwilling to let advancement happen.

    In this instance VAR did it’s job but simply raised an instance no one seemed very ready to deal with.

    Football should persist but I doubt it will as it’ll remove the very thing many thrive on .. controversy.

    What on earth would Muppets like Merson & co talk about and consequently how many fewer posts / articles on blogs slagging them off ?

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  4. Stu

    Osborne compared Britain to Greece. Britain´s debt was 53.5% of GDP, Greece´s 120%.

    Osborne claimed that Britain was bankrupt, but it had its own currency and could print money,
    Governments are not like households as they can tax people.
    Austerity doesn’t work, they have already borrowed £150bn more than they had said they would and growth is far slower than they predicted.
    There is something seriously wrong when nurses are using foodbanks, these aren’t benefit scroungers but people saving our lives and paying their taxes.

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  5. GlosMag:
    So I have a question about VAR.

    Watched the footage of the German game yesterday and the ball clearly hit the defenders hand. Based on that the ref decided it was a penalty and called the teams back out from their half time break to take it

    Not questioning the decision .. refs choice .. but Bit of an odd call imo as the pen could have started the 2nd half. This just seems sensible to me .. I can’t quote the rules tho.

    So my question is does this mean VAR is wrong or is football just not ready for technology.

    The football industry imo is largely populated by backward looking folk who are simply unwilling to let advancement happen.

    In this instance VAR did it’s job but simply raised an instance no one seemed very ready to deal with.

    Football should persist but I doubt it will as it’ll remove thevery thing manythrive on .. controversy.

    What on earth would Muppets like Merson & co talk about and consequently how many fewer posts / articles on blogs slagging them off

    Saw that too mate, was a strange decision I agree, do it at start of second half as you say.
    Football is run by corrupt old farts.

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  6. kimtoon:
    Stu

    Osborne compared Britain to Greece. Britain´s debt was 53.5% of GDP, Greece´s 120%.

    Osborne claimed that Britain was bankrupt, but it had its own currency and could print money,Governments are not like households as they can tax people.
    Austerity doesn’t work, they have already borrowed £150bn more than they had said they would and growth is far slower than they predicted.
    There is something seriously wrong when nurses are using foodbanks, these aren’t benefit scroungers but people saving our lives and paying their taxes.

    I don’t think you will change his mind. Mark Thatcher – arms dealer. Prince Andrew = arms dealer. Stavely, arms dealer? I am not sure if she is any better than the Fatman.

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  7. They’re all over 25 so cannot get free bus travel which seems to be the curse of Britain according to Stewie.

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  8. me 76 year old Mam takes the bus into Newcastle every Saturday. She gets a free ride after working for the NHS for 30 years. Socialism! Shouldn’t be allowed. we shouldn’t look after our old people and give our young people a shot in life!

    Bus passes! Shouldn’t be allowed I tell you. State subsidies. Not good for Tory Boys like Stewie and floppy haired Eton Boy.

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  9. Eric, not sure Stavely is the clubs answer either, like any perspective buyer, she needs to put up or shut up.
    Just hope all this takeover malarkey doesn’t derail start of new season and Rafa’s future at Toon.

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  10. The Austin Powers movie when Mike Myers was trying not to cum and saying Margaret Thatcher, think of Margaret Thatcher, Margaret Thatcher was quite good. The opposite to Stewie wanting a threesome with Maggie and Dennis.

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  11. kimtoon:
    Stu

    Osborne compared Britain to Greece. Britain´s debt was 53.5% of GDP, Greece´s 120%.

    Osborne claimed that Britain was bankrupt, but it had its own currency and could print money,Governments are not like households as they can tax people.
    Austerity doesn’t work, they have already borrowed £150bn more than they had said they would and growth is far slower than they predicted.
    There is something seriously wrong when nurses are using foodbanks, these aren’t benefit scroungers but people saving our lives and paying their taxes.

    Kim, I don’t k ow one single person who uses a food bank and I know plenty of people who earn a lot less than Nurses. Why is it some have to use food banks but others don’t, even when they all earn similar money? I went past a food bank last week and there were about 5 people outside smoking. Maybe they should give that up and prioritise food instead of fags? As for running a house differently because governments can tax people – I agree. We should be taxing everyone more. Or what about this. Those who can afford private healthcare don’t use the NHS and don’t contribute to it financially?

    Eric – if you’re a still a student at 25 you need to give it up mate and get a job.

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  12. Eric Sykes:
    me 76 year old Mam takes the bus into Newcastle every Saturday. She gets a free ride after working for the NHS for 30 years. Socialism! Shouldn’t be allowed. we shouldn’t look after our old people and give our young people a shot in life!

    Bus passes! Shouldn’t be allowed I tell you. State subsidies. Not good for Tory Boys like Stewie and floppy haired Eton Boy.

    Seriously, Eric, I genuinely believe you can’t read.

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  13. Eric
    I take full advantage of my OAP free bus pass but I also pay the £12 per year charge to have it loaded with the metro and the Shields ferry.
    So that is every mode of public transport in Tyne & Wear for £1 a month. One of the perks of being old.
    Do you get anything like that in Chicago?

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  14. Stuart79: Kim, I don’t k ow one single person who uses a food bank and I know plenty of people who earn a lot less than Nurses. Why is it some have to use food banks but others don’t, even when they all earn similar money? I went past a food bank last week and there were about 5 people outside smoking. Maybe they should give that up and prioritise food instead of fags? As for running a house differently because governments can tax people – I agree. We should be taxing everyone more. Or what about this. Those who can afford private healthcare don’t use the NHS and don’t contribute to it financially?

    Eric – if you’re a still a student at 25 you need to give it up mate and get a job.

    Stu,i know plenty that have used foodbanks but lots that do don’t admit it through embarrassment.
    As for some who earn less not needing them but others who earn more do, well it could be that their rent/mortgage is more than the low earners. Often low earners get benefits due to low wages. The problem arises for people who earn just that smidgeon too much and are knocked out of certain benefits like tax credits for example.
    I remember the struggle my ex and I had landing our first home under Thatcher , we were both low earners but we had £2.50 a week too much coming in to qualify for further help and the council housing list was a no goer being a 3-4 year waiting list and that’s if you had kids!
    We had real trouble getting any bank or building society to lend to us even with a deposit to put down. We eventually got a house but by god did we struggle, if there had been food banks back then I reckon we’d of used it and we both worked 40 hours a week and NEVER went out. It was years before we were anywhere near comfortable.
    So it’s all happening again from what I hear from young couples I know and they are stuck in places with sky high rents or can’t even leave home and get on the housing ladder.
    As for council properties, there aren’t any left or being built that I can see, the poor are forgotten and the struggling low earners too.
    And don’t get me started on the treatment of the disabled under this government .

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