Newcastle United secured a vital and impressive win against Arsenal at St. James’ Park on Saturday lunchtime to put another dent in the Gunner’s quickly fading title challenge.
Alexander Isak scored the only goal with a powerful header from inside the 18-yard-box following a sumptuous Anthony Gordon cross from the righthand side.
Here are our five key takeaways from the game:
- A huge thank you to Chelsea’s youth academy
One key stat that gave a huge indicator of how good United were defensively – Arsenal only had one shot on target in the entire game. However, a surprising, but most welcome addition to that stat was the fact the Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall weren’t dribbled past once by either winger they faced.
Hall pocketed Saka making Arsenal’s Starboy look painfully average as he was reduced to flopping over and feigning fouls all afternoon as he tried to get an advantage – Hall was having none of it. He won all his duels, looked so, so comfortable in possession, and is quickly becoming a vital attacking outlet for the Black and Whites.
Livramento (who may’ve been under pressure for selection following an excellent performance from Emil Krafth on Wednesday against Chelsea in the Cup) turned in his best performance of the season so far. Again, he pocketed Martinelli and despite backing off a little too much for my liking, ultimately, he blocked the cross or shot and marshalled the righthand side beautifully.
- Isak Stats
Alexander Isak has now been involved in 18 goals in his last 17 appearances at St. James’ Park, and only Haaland Palmer have scored more Premier League goals than the Swede this calendar year. His overall record for United is now 34 goals in 60 games. If Newcastle were to improve, Isak had to improve, and he has now scored in three games in a row.
The lad’s quality is undeniable, and he scored a picture book header from a wonderfully whipped cross at the Gallowgate End – Shearer would’ve been proud. But more than that he made the much-vaunted Saliba and Gabriel look stupid by finding the space between them to power the header home unopposed. Fine centre forward play all around.
- The Willock and Joelinton Left-hand side
A brilliant return for the lefthand side combination of 2022/23. Big Joe and little Joe linked up again on Saturday and it is a duo where opposition attacks go to die.
Joelinton is the disruptor, the cute fouler and the power, Joe Willock is the legs, the dynamism and the runner who takes defenders into areas they do not want to be.
It was a tremendous return to form on Saturday for the pair, yet with such a fine footballer as Anthony Gordon’s best position being the leftwing will the combo returns for the game against Forest? And what does it mean for Harvey Barnes, arguably one of the best performers so far this season.
- Refereeing
I’ve written one of these takeaways after every game this season and maybe devoted one or two lines to referees – well today I’m going in on them. What an absolute shambles refereeing is in the Premier League.
They’re simply incompetent, do not know the rules, and only make decisions when the crowd is baying, or they have a television to back them up. Arsenal got a free-kick every time they fell to the floor, committed seven fouls in the first half with no card – despite constant dissent towards officials – and to book Tonali for his first foul after ignoring consistent fouling from Arsenal’s midfield was criminal. As for that brilliant tackle from Willock that somehow ended up getting him a yellow? Don’t get me started!
The stats will show they had 18 fouls to United’s 16 but it’s the subtle control of the game that comes via booking key individuals at key times which really drives me up the wall. Schar and Tonali were victims of it on Saturday. They must do better.
- Momentum starting to build?
It’s been a huge four days for the club. The Chelsea win in the League Cup, and the favourable home draw in the QF’s, means United are one win away from another semi-final and the chance of finally ending the long trophy drought. And to end Arsenal’s title challenge in November and completely nullify and outclass them on Saturday lunchtime has seen a hint of momentum starting to build.
Eddie Howe has manufactured two wins in two difficult games and surely has calmed the waters as the club sits eighth at the time of writing just three points off the top four. Big performances against excellent (yet unsufferable) football teams builds confidence and momentum and United have a recent happy hunting ground up next in the City Ground. Win there and the season is well and truly back on (if it had ever truly gone away).
Lovely words, particularly about our full backs, and also the massively inconsistent booking of Tonali.
But take care, Forest up next, “happy hunting ground” or not, they sit much higher than us, have been beaten only once in their 10 games, so we will have to produce something special even to keep a point.
Here’s hoping!
davewallace(Quote)
Lovely words, particularly about our full backs, and also the massively inconsistent booking of Tonali.
But take care, Forest up next, “happy hunting ground” or not, they sit much higher than us, have been beaten only once in their 10 games, so we will have to produce something special even to keep a point.
Here’s hoping!
Oh, and they won’t be putting out their reserves this time.
davewallace(Quote)
Five words;
adaptability: a mantra of Howe when signing and developing players that paid off yesterday. Gordon and joelinton.
Options: when he has them Howe can use them well as shown in swapping players in a proactive not reactive approach. Guimaraes / Tonali
Availability: it’s the best ability. Willock
Competition: too many have not worried about their place. Allowing tonali and Kelly for example to show what they can do and it’s no surprise schar/burn and guimaraes looked much better.
Instinct: too much has been plodding and predictable and the team have struggled. Give isak a ball to attack and not overthink and he scores.
Jonesy(Quote)
I should’ve added a sixth: consistency. Team need to perform well more often to make yesterdays result count starting with forest
Jonesy(Quote)