Another fantastic bounce-back performance from Newcastle United saw us beat Arsenal 1-0 at St James’ Park for the second season in a row.
It’s a huge result and a monstrous performance from all involved, as the collective spirit and confidence gained from our midweek win was clear to see in all areas of the pitch. Everyone played their part and Eddie Howe got it spot on to outsmart Arteta once again.
From the very first minute, Eddie Howe’s side continued the high intensity from the Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea, and caused chaos – on and off the ball – for Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing team.
The game started with both sides trading shots and breaks, with Joe Willock’s proving to be an early problem for Arsenal’s defence as he combined with Joelinton down the left once again.
The Gunners’ notorious set pieces initially looked like a problem for Newcastle, with their 8th minute corner coming close to Nick Pope before the Magpies defence managed to clear it.
Arsenal continued to press early on, with Raya’s long range free kick finding Timber in the attacking third, who soon found Saka, but the England international’s effort just went wide.
Arsenal were left to rue their missed chances as just moments later, Alexander Isak controlled the ball in their third before the ball eventually made its way to Anthony Gordon on the right wing. A sensational cross from Gordon saw Isak rise highest amongst the towering Arsenal defence, with a picture perfect header putting the ball past Raya in the Gallowgate End to make it 1-0 Newcastle.
It was Isak’s fourth goal of the season in all competition, and his 12th in his last 12 appearances at St James’ Park: a welcome return for a striker slowly building some momentum back up this season.
The visitors came close to equalising in the 27th minute, where another set piece fell to Mikel Merino, whose powerful striker was blocked by Lewis Hall. An unwelcome return for the Spaniard on Tyneside, and just one highlight of Hall’s MOTM performance at left-back.
Hall and his full back partner Tino Livramento were both astounding this afternoon, with Gabriel Martinelli greatly struggling against Livramento. The defining moment coming in the first half when Tino caught the Brazilian up with ease and stop a potential break.
As the game went on, Arteta’s team showed no signs of a break through, with Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff controlling the midfield. Sandro Tonali being dropped was a controversial call before the match, but the duo were brilliant against Arsenal’s big money midfield.
All our hard work was almost undone in the dying minutes, as Saka’s incisive cross was almost poked in by Declan Rice in 93rd minute, but the ball once again went just wide of the net.
The win propels us up to 8th in the Premier League table, for now at least, and if results go our way this weekend, we could be just three points out of the Champions League places with some winnable games against Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Crystal Palace coming up in the league.
For the second season in a row, a 1-0 loss at St James’ Park has dealt some damage to Arsenal’s title push, and by the time the weekend is over, Mikel Arteta’s men could be closer to the midtable than they are to Manchester City at the top of the table.
What a difference a week can make! Get in.
A truly excellent performance. Now start doing it on a regular basis.
The Panther(Quote)
Superb win. Great write up as usually Olly! Livramento and Hall we outstanding today. What really pleased me was that we looked equal to Arsenal all over the pitch. Usually we are overwhelmed and battered but that just didn’t happen today. We controlled everything.
I think our midfield should be either Bruno or Tonali. We play better with only one of them on as they are quite similar. A great game.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Bloomin brilliant stuff, well done lads, Hall and Tino superb, they all were.
That’s more like it, now do that to the teams around and below us please.
kimtoon(Quote)
I think yesterday was the perfect example of balance over playing what’s deemed the best 11.
The lads were outstanding & the goal was a thing of beauty – a winger putting a cross in rather than cutting inside & taking a shot.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Very very good team performance with both full backs standing out and no one across the team found wanting.
Especially pleasing was longstaff who was energetic ( unsurprising) and progressive ( surprising) and his part in several key attacks including the goal was key.
One passage of play in particular summed up the difference from the slow, plodding and predictable build up we’ve seen a lot of this season; livramento playing it from deep in right back position to play across the box from where they release willock down the left for a 1v1 and shot which he blazed high. Beautiful stuff.
Hopefully confidence and form continue to grow
Jonesy(Quote)
I recognise that the team can still drop places after the game tomorrow but now most of the weekends fixtures are over and we’re 1/3 through the season is it worth taking stock of the season to date?
Nufc sit 10th, 3 points of (likely) CL or EL and 10 points above bottom 3 and are into a cup 1/4 final beating two PL teams on the way and a home draw to come.
7 points from 12 (3 home games) against the establishment is about par but 8 from the rest is sub par.
The points dropped against Brighton and Everton especially look bad.
Nufc are a little below my expectations(6th to 8th) but close enough that while disappointing no real alarms are apparent that I hadn’t already considered. It also looks like teams will take points of each other so the rat-eaters and manc’s aside it feels pretty open.
So plenty to aim for, consistency required and lots hinging on January trading success for which the club should be set up.
Jonesy(Quote)
It’s been a straight season coz despite no new signings – with Barnes fit again & Tonali back, with moving Burn to CB and bring Hall into LB – there’s been quite a bit of disturbance to the starting 11.
So much so that is probably only been the last 2 games we can say we look anything like we did last season.
My big concern is still the lack of goals throughout the team. We depend heavily on Isak – too heavily and I wonder if that’s his delay on signing a new deal?!
Regardless, we need more goals across the team – Gordon hasn’t been as clinical this season – Murphy, Joelinton, Bruno, Tonali, Longstaff, Willock – too few goals.
We don’t get enough from set pieces imo.
I think we’ll struggle to get top 6 this season if other players don’t step up.
Improvements need to be made to the squad still too and the board need to figure that out quickly or we’ll be faced with HAVING to sell Isak & Gordon to generate those funds.
Sharpy17(Quote)
**strange start to the season**
Sharpy17(Quote)
well worth a watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjv8n_en77U
PremAndUp(Quote)
Plenty of soundbitable clips in there, the cream of which was ‘ onions in the bolognaise ‘
Jonesy(Quote)