The close scoreline reflected a close match which could have gone either way although a draw would have probably been a fairer result.
Having said that, the difference between those challenging at the top of the table and the best of the rest is the ability to take chances. On the day we didn’t but Olivier Giroud did as he took advantage of some lax marking from Davide Santon and Fabricio Coloccini to ghost in and head home the easiest set-piece goal he’ll likely score all season.
Arsenal enjoyed some decent early possession but couldn’t carve their way through a stubborn United defence and eventually the home side started to get to grips with the game, although in much the same way as Arsenal, we failed to really threaten Wojciech Szczęsny in the Arsenal goal. The best chance fell to Mathieu Debuchy who fired wide when well placed.
More chances fell for United just before half-time as Yohan Cabaye’s blocked effort fell to Moussa Sissoko who fired a rasping shot towards goal only to see Szczęsny get a hand to it and deflect the ball over the bar. The resulting corner saw Debuchy again threaten as his far post header rebounded off the crossbar before Arsenal could clear. That was to be the last action of the first period.
Half-time: Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
Both sides pressed after the interval which led to some tasty challenges flying in from both sides, the majority of which were waved on by Lee Probert who rankled the home fans with some strange decisions throughout the game.
The winning goal came just after the hour mark after a contentious free-kick award to Arsenal saw the ball chipped into the penalty area for Oliier Giroud who applied the merest of touches to the ball which was enough for it to go past Tim Krul. Neither Fabricio Coloccini or Davide Santon (the two closest to Giroud) picked up the Arsenal striker allowing him an unchallenged effort at goal which Mike Williamson was clearly unhappy about as he led the inquest as the Gunners celebrated.
The home side did try and conjure up an equaliser but Hatem Ben Arfa wasted a few chances when well placed and Shola Ameobi having another mare in front of goal. In fact arguably the closest we managed to get to a leveller was when Szczęsny’s clearance hit Loic Remy in the face and rolled narrowly wide of goal.
Despite all the pressure the home side put Arsenal under no equaliser was forthcoming and in the end it was Arsenal who celebrated as they resume top spot in the Premier League as we head into 2014.
Full-time: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
There are a lot of positives to take from this. Alan Pardew said in his post-match interview that if Arsenal are top of the league we aren’t far behind them on the performance today and I actually agree with that. The players tried and got clapped off after a defeat at St James’ Park so the effort was clearly there on show for fans at the game.
But as I said earlier, the difference between us and a top side is that the top sides will take chances when presented. Arsenal did that today and won the game. On another day it might have been totally different but I’m not too downhearted at all by either the performance or the result.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Davide Santon; Vurnon Anita, Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye; Moussa Sissoko, Loic Remy, Yoan Gouffran
Subs: Rob Elliot, Massadio Haidara, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Sammy Ameobi, Hatem Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi, Papiss Cisse
Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud
Subs: Lukazs Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Mikel Arteta, Ryo Miyaichi, Nicklas Bendtner, Serge Gnabry, Lukas Podolski
Attendance: 52,161
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2530753/MARTIN-SAMUEL-What-Nicolas-Anelka-did-twice-bad-Luis-Suarez-John-Terry-episodes.html
Martin Samuel slyly accuses two Newcastle players of anti-semitism by being associated to this comedian guy who is apparently a Nazi. I hope Ashley’s legal team get onto it.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Sidekick – £4m for Ben Arfa?! – you must be crazy mate!. He has his faults but that would be giving the lad away.
Sharpy17(Quote)
FJ@76, yep, why bring other players into the row if they haven’t done any wrong. I deplore what this comedian believes, I’m not about to up and follow suit just because a couple of Toon players are friends with him. The article has served to do two things imo ,namely give more exposure to the comedian and what Anelka did and assume fans are all dumb or some will be dumb enough to jump on the band wagon. Really the sensationalism is over the top ,yes it’s deplorable if he knew what he was doing ,so ban him for 6 or 10 games and move on ,don’t give it more air time .He says himself that many of us won’t of heard of the guy until now,well I still didn’t until he wrote this expose article, question is will Anelka’s actions convert otherwise none jew haters into anti semites overnight, ofcourse not , If you hate jews or are racist ,you are anyway and a poxy comedian won’t make a jot of difference.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim spot on there girl 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
I don’t think **** wanted Cabaye anyway after Ozil. They don’t need him, they need a striker unless Giroud and Podolski can stay fit and be more consistent. Even then I think he will pick up some wonder kid to go into the squad. We need Cabaye, believe it or not I think he’s still improving and he’s that type of player that will peak late, like Williamson. It’s encouraging that Pardew said £22m is not Mikes price but I wonder what Mike says.
DJG(Quote)
That Martin Samuel article has really pissed me off!. If he’s not in a position to name the players then he should be saying 2 premier league players rather than Newcastle players and associating our clubs name with this *****. I truely hope that Ashley does go gunning for him.
Kim’s right, all the article has achieved is to raise the profile of this ‘comedian’ and to smear ***** on our clubs name.
Also –
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/687591208?-11058:809:t
I see JFK has started already
Sharpy17(Quote)
All this anti Benny stuff just amazes me. The kid’s played less than 2 games recently. Scored, won a pen, 2 assists, laid on 3-4 wonderful chances, hit the post and the bar and played some beautiful passes. He’s getting slated for not scoring from the chance he brilliantly created. He does lose the ball sometimes but no where near the amount that Sissoko does or Gouffran, Remy, Shola. Perhaps you’d all prefer Cisse . . .
People are even saying sell him (£4m ????) and buy Ince, Finnbogason or some other unknown. Madness. 🙄
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – I never said sell Benny for £4m, I said that would be giving him away!. But I did say sell Marv and Oba and buy Ince and Finnbogason because I believe they will improve our squad. I think you’re confusing 2 different posts mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Toonsy I would like to wish you and your family all the best for 2014. I know it is not easy balancing the demands of a young family with a job that takes you away away from home so often.
I would also like to wish all the contributors to this blog all the best too. What I like about this blog is that usually the contributors can express a difference of opinion (and we all have pet likes and dislikes), without descending to immature insults like I see on Ed’s blog. Of course there is a lot of tongue in cheek ribbing. Perhaps I am thinking of Troy and AMF in particular, but I quite enjoy that.
Again all the best to everyone and here’s hoping the lads continue to do well in 2014 and Pardew becomes a little less defensive in his tactics.
Groucho(Quote)
Unlike some I don’t think it will be an easy three points tomorrow. I thought we struggled a bit against them at St James’. After going one up we sat back and allowed them back into the game. Fortunately we restored our lead more or less straight away. It worries me that when we go ahead we do seem to adopt a defensive line instead of wrapping the game up by adding more goals. I think we have the players to do that.
Groucho(Quote)
Groucho @84 – I’d seconded that mate. I think this is a cracking blog with a good balance of views. It’s really well ran and all of the article writers do a great job. So Happy New Year to you all and here’s hoping the positive articles can continue in 2014.
Groucho @85. I also agree mate. Their loss of manager doesn’t seem to have caused their form to have dipped at all. We will have to play well to get anything out of this one.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The Kid,
I’ve watched both Ben Arfa and Lallana closely for a couple seasons.
Yes, Lallana is the better team player. But he also has some superb touches (flicks and back heels, a drop of the shoulder) that look so simple but are actually very difficult to pull off). More over, when he attempts them, it usually puts himself or someone else in with a clear cut opportunity.
Ben Arfa is certainly the more flashy, but I would say Lallana’s skills are far more effective and consistent. He’s going to be a star that boy.
Lallana is flashy when the circumstances call for it. Ben Arfa is flashy when a simply pass would have the same or better result. He only really passes when he gets “stuck” or is getting a ball in from the byline. Which is why I think he would be most effective as a left sided forward player.
JJ(Quote)
Sharpy , agree too, don’t see tomorrow as an easy one at all sadly.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Oh yeah, and we have the rumour mill to look forward to starting tomorrow 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Anyone who thinks any Premier League game will be/should be easy shouldn’t be commenting on a football blog as they clearly know **** all about football….anyhoo I’m going for a 5 nowt Toon win 😉 😆
…oh and Happy New Year to all 😀
richietoon(Quote)
JJ –
“Lallana is flashy when the circumstances call for it. Ben Arfa is flashy when a simply pass would have the same or better result. He only really passes when he gets “stuck” or is getting a ball in from the byline. Which is why I think he would be most effective as a left sided forward player”.
That’s what I mean about him being a poor decision maker.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy,
from the amount of game time Pardew has given to Ben Arfa , a £4m valuation would seem about right. Interested clubs will obviously look at why he is not playing regular full games and put such an offer in.
Ashley will decide if the valuation and wage saving is acceptable.
Similarly with Cisse , I would imagine that a number of clubs are looking at his situation and I will be amazed if no other club has already made an offer.
I will be more amazed if such offer is in excess of £5m.
After all , what is the point of keeping players on high wages if the manager is not going to use them?
Perfect example – Carroll at Liverpool and Rodgers.
sidekick(Quote)
JJ and Sharpy – you guys must watch different games to me. I admit I really like Benny but I do watch him very carefully. You often see him look up to pass but our movement off the ball is really poor especially in the box. No one runs into space no one demands the ball no one offers for a one two. Our forwards stand still, well marked waiting for a cross. That’s when it looks like he’s really hogging the ball and going alone. Put him in Liverpools team and he’d do all that with Suarez or Silva at City. It’s OK admiring Lallana but you might as well compare Gouffran to Suarez or Shola with Lukaku.
Enough of that though. My last post this year says Happy New Year to all of you! It’s a good season again but a tough game tomorrow. Thanks Toonsy et al for all the articles and everyone else for the debates.
georgio(Quote)
Richie as usual your spot on 😉
So happy new year to you and everyone else on the blog
Big Dave(Quote)
have we held talks with anyone yet? 😆
when does the window open?
Hope everyone has a good New Yr.
mark(Quote)
2-1 to west Brom. 😥
mark(Quote)
What the fuk is this Lallana talk about? He doesnt play for us so who gives a **** about him..
Anyway, ive had a few beers a few beers a few beers and mellowed a bit so all the best to my fellow bloggers for the new year ahead.
Please try not to be so miserable in 2014 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Georgio – I’ve acknowledged his 6 assists this season. He came off the bench to set the Ameobi brothers up with 2 excellent assists in the Morecombe game and when he plays like that he’s outstanding.
The only problem I have with him is that rush of blood to his head he showed against Arsenal where he cuts in from the right and fires into the side net rather than squaring to someone in a better position. I agree about our forwards though. The likes of Cisse and Shola are too static. I’d like to see him with a Vossen or Finnbogason or Guidetti – even Tom Ince who would look to run beyond the opposition defence.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dave 😉
Aussie…I’ll try cuda but can’t promise owt for 2014 😛
whey the in-laws will be here anytime soon 😯 😥 😉
richietoon(Quote)
http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/31/referees-should-prepare-like-managers-to-stop-the-likes-of-cheick-tiote-eden-hazard-and-stoke-4245951/? what a dozt hilltbilly this writer is
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<< guess the hilly billy missed the foul on the far side just before the freekick that they scored from, when is shooving some1 with both arms not a blinking foul.
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
I wonder if Man City would loan us Stevan Jovetic in Jan?.
He isn’t getting his game there and needs PL games – far better than Shola or Cisse IMO.
I’m more in favour of buying players and don’t normally like the idea of improving other teams players (ie Zaha) but if we could get Jovetic I think the lad is superb
Sharpy17(Quote)
Toonarmy @ 100 I might add to the list players who fall over simply because they have the ball taken off them and win a free kick eg Arsenal.and West Ham.
Groucho(Quote)
Arsenal are the worst team for faking injury’s. Giroud is a good example of it this season. I think players should be booked for it as it’s a form of cheating but it will never happen.
Arsene Wenger is the first to complain if it happens to him. I think most refs take bribes anyway and it’s the small clubs that mostly suffer.
stem(Quote)
Back again but don’t know for how long. Computer nightmares for weeks now. Just had it fixed again. Spyware and viruses. Does anyone understand this stuff? At any rate Happy New Year to all of you. I hope we finish the season well. Disappointed with the Arsenal game. We looked like the away side for much of it. A good last 15 minutes but too late.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Why haven’t we made any signings? Ridiculous this!
Stuart79(Quote)
Luuk De Jong will be signed til the end of the season.
Mark my words.
Or
Mock my woods
Troy Stavers(Quote)