A big opportunity missed at the Emirates as wasted chances were punished on a day where Champions League football was there to be secured.
In the end, this game followed a similar pattern, albeit it with a very different result to last Sunday’s game against Chelsea. In both games, we were superb in the first half before falling off a cliff in the final 45, only this time we were punished for missed chances in the first and sloppiness in the second.
The situation is now clear. We can’t finish second, but a top-five finish is still in our hands. Beat Everton at St James’ Park next Sunday and we’ve done it.
After our defeat at Arsenal came following wins for Aston Villa, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest over the weekend, we head into the final weekend like this (Man City still have Bournemouth to play in their game in hand on Tuesday).
- Liverpool – 83pts (+46 GD) – Brighton (A), Palace (H)
- Arsenal – 71pts (+34 GD) – Southampton (A)
- Newcastle – 66pts (+22 GD) – Everton (H)
- Chelsea – 66pts (+20 GD) – Forest (A)
- Aston Villa – 66pts (+9 GD) – Man Utd (A)
- Man City – 65pts (+24 GD)- Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)
- Nottingham Forest – 65pts (+13 GD) – Chelsea (H)
Howe made one change and it wasn’t the one many were expecting. Sven Botman surprised a few by maintaining his place in the starting 11 despite knee concerns this week, with Alexander Isak the one to miss out instead after ‘stiffness’ in his groin saw him sit this one out despite travelling down to London.
That saw Callum Wilson come in for his first league start since a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in February and in search of his first league goal of 2024/25 on the penultimate weekend.
Newcastle XI: Pope; Schar, Burn, Botman; Murphy, Tonali, Guimaraes, Livramento; Barnes, Wilson, Gordon Subs: Dubravka, Lascelles, Longstaff, Neave, Willock, Krafth, Osula, Miley, Ruddy.
The game started at quite a pace and despite Arsenal looking in the mood early on, it was us who created two big early chances. The first saw a huge opportunity fall to Bruno from Tonali’s fired pass and Wilson’s lay-off, but the Brazilian’s shot was a little weak, albeit well saved from Raya, who then reacted quickly again to beat Barnes to the loose ball.
The second opportunity came from a superb break, as Gordon and Livramento link up brilliantly down the left before Tino’s effort was hit too close to Raya.
Pope then stepped up with a vital stop at the other end, making himself big to palm away Partey’s goal-bound header from Saka’s dangerous corner. An instinctive stop, yet it was Raya at the other end who continued to be the busier man. First the Spaniard did superbly to get a finger tip on Barnes’ deflected effort from his positive driving run, then it was Burn to go close as his header was parried instinctively by Rafa, who reacted again to stop Botman scrambling in the rebound.
Positive signs that we were causing havoc and creating chances, but between Bruno, Tino, Barnes and Burn you wondered how one didn’t find a way in as we approached a frantic first 25 minutes at 0-0.
Arsenal then had a period of pressure without ever testing Pope, as we survived a flurry of corners and went close again before Botman stepped out of defence an almost put Livramento clean through, only for the marauding wing-back to be held up as another promising attack ultimately came to nothing.
We hadn’t dominated possession, but we looked the more dangerous side for much of the first 45, with Gordon and Tino’s pace too much for White, Odegaard and Partey down Arsenal’s right, Bruno and Tonali dominating the midfield battle and the dual threat of Murphy and Barnes giving Lewis-Skelly problems down the other flank.
To this point it was a superb performance, giving us plenty of encouragement as we went into a second half attacking the Newcastle end. But, given the chances wasted and Raya’s five saves, Arsenal may have just been the happier team heading into the break.
We had to maintain those standards that saw us outplay Arsenal in that first 45 and we were surprisingly slack in the opening stages of the second as Arsenal pinned us back. They looked the brighter of the two sides and we gave them encouragement, sitting off them and becoming sloppy in our passing on the rare occasion we looked to break.
Pressure was building and the breakthrough came from Rice. Gordon lost the ball in a poor area thanks to an awful touch towards his own goal and Rice punished us, wrapping his foot around Odegaard’s cut-back to curl into the far corner from range. A superb strike, but an avoidable goal to concede and that moment of quality we’d been lacking in the final third.
That win to make sure of a top-five finish suddenly looked tough to achieve today, but Howe wasted no time in making changes, bringing on Osula, Miley and Krafth for Wilson, Murphy in Botman in a triple substitution that saw us move to a back four.
20 minutes into the second half, we’d managed just one touch in the opposition box, highlighting how much this game had swung after we’d forced Raya into five saves at this stage of the first 45.
One thing we were missing was Kieran Trippier’s leadership and creativity. Much like last weekend’s second half struggles against Chelsea, his calm head was missed in both halves as we struggled to wrestle our way back into this game, with our lack of control or creativity down the right evident.
We did, however, find a late surge in the final 10 minutes, yet it was that final ball letting us down once again, summed up by Willock firing well over after a big chance fell his way in the box. With no goal in the league all season and similar issues at Brighton two weeks ago, it was a moment that summed up Willock’s frustrating 2024/25 season.
And that was it. After having enough chances to be comfortably ahead in the first, we barely laid a glove on Arsenal in the second, with Gordon’s giveaway and Rice’s moment of quality the difference.
Next up, Everton on the final day where our mission is simple; win and we’re in the Champions League.
Howay the lads.
It was always going to be hard today – but once you’re without Isak it defo gets harder!!.
To be fair, if not for an inspired performance by Raya we could have been at least 2 up.
But going in HT with it still 0-0 I feared our chance had gone.
Not for the first time this season, we dominated the first half, only to come out chasing shadows in the second half. Really disappointing and fair play to Howe for making the changes – however, I’m not sure they worked.
Wilson, Willock and Krafth only highlighted the gulf in quality our squad currently has and it’s going to be a big summer.
I always anticipated it going down to the Everton game – but we go into it with the advantage of a superior goal difference. So it’s simple – win in front of your home supporters & you have CL football to show off with your Carabao Cup.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Not going to lie, I’m absolutely gutted at that loss. Mainly because we had it in us to beat them. That first half was excellent but with too many chances not taken or saved by Raya. What is it about second halves? Do we not want to play for a full 90? We do not do things the easy way that’s for sure. All down to the Everton game now.
I hope Bournemouth can win against City to help us a little bit but knowing our luck that will not happen. It’s down to us. But Everton are rejuvenated these days and won’t be a pushover. A win is not a given. So another nail biter to come next week that could make or break us. CL keeps our best players and allows us a stronger position to get new ones in, no CL and that becomes a bit more difficult
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Without a win at the Emirates it was always going to be a required win against Everton.
Sharpy17, you’re spot on with regards to the quality in the squad and we will definitely need five quality players to bulk up our squad because we are struggling now without having Champions League matches this season.
A Quality goalkeeper, Right Hand Side Centre Back, Strong Box to Box midfielder, Right Winger and a Centre Forward.
Joseph(Quote)
Joseph – who’s your picks then mate & who are you letting go from the current squad?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Once over you could have a conversation on here, a back & forth with another person and speculate.
Maybe Joseph hasn’t seen that but I can see he’s posting on other articles so 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy Your dead right the site has lost it’s community feel. We are now faced with article after article repeating the same transfer drivel over and over again! No real feature article only a proposed match team, followed by a match report! Closed season looks like being very dull on here!
nutmag(Quote)
Pretty sure my previews include more than just a predicted line-up…
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Olly Sure they do! Its only they are all much the same, pre match is mostly facts on teams, injuries, etc as it should be. The match reports are always very good but that’s what they are match reports. A feature article thrown in ‘a little more random’ now and then to encourage opinions even ruffle a few feathers. I’m sure our old ‘posters’ have an opinion on a wide range of matters ‘I certainly have’ It’s up to you Olly to poke them with a stick.
nutmag(Quote)
In … Mbeumo, Jonathan David/Delap, Tomori, Spanish goalie (cannot remember his name), or Trafford, possibly Viega from SA?
Out … Wilson, Jamal Lewis, Isaac Hayden, Longstaff, (maybe Willock), Ruddy, Gillespie, Pope, Harrison Ashby?,
Probably completely wrong and most likely forgotten a few
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – I wonder if Botman could talk David & Gomes into joining on a free – both former Lille teammates.
I need to be careful because I’ve set my heart on Mbeumo now & it’s all speculation – I’m like the 15yr old me all over again 🤦🏼♂️😂.
Grealish keeps getting mentioned for us I notice 🤨.
Outs – I think we need to clear some of the wages – Trippier is on a wage but I don’t see Howe letting him go. Target is reportedly on £100k pw 😳 out!!.
If we cash in on Longstaff while there is interest it’s pure profit – PSR sadly 🤷🏼♂️.
I think we’d be looking at about 5 in and 5 out though
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh yes I forgot about Targett. Good shout. Greek goalie could go too perhaps, but we may keep as a back up if indeed we let ruddy, Gillespie and either Pope or Dubz go. All our current goalies are the wrong side of 30 so some must go.
I’d quite like Tyler Dibling too but it would be him or Mbeumo I think. Rather have Mbeumo but Dibling is quite young.
Garcia was the Spanish goalie we’ve been linked with.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Watching this final between two sh.ite teams. I’m wondering if I’d have any of their players in our team. I think in reality the only one I’d have would be Bruno Fernandez, but I don’t see him as a starter. I cannot see him replacing any of our midfield. 🤷🏻♂️😂. From Spurs perhaps Kulusevski or Maddison but neither are playing here. Again, not sure they would displace any of our first team starters.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – Dibling has done nowt to warrant such hype for me just yet – especially if the talk is £50m 😳.
I watched the Everton game at the weekend & he got subbed – I honestly didn’t even know he was playing. Never heard his name mention once.
Yeah I think we have to be pretty ruthless this summer – especially with the higher paid players. Whatever wages we can save on them can be offset with the improved contract given to Isak and alike.
I like Delap – but I worry if his wage expectations of over £100k pw is right that’s big money. But if he’d take what Wilson is on – that’s a replacement I’d be happy with I reckon.
I think Osula looks better on the right, but he’s young enough to develop and could be the Murph replacement longer term.
Sharpy17(Quote)
This final is one of the ugliest games I’ve ever seen!!. – BUT I’d love to see Man Utd get beat.
Don’t like either really, but the idea of Radcliffe missing out on CL money makes my heart sing!!.
I also think the press have hammered Ange and been far too lenient on Rueben – I’ve also grown up hating Man Utd so 🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’d like to see Spurs win, just to rub it in to the Arsenal fans 😂😂. They’d have a meltdown. But yes, I really don’t want Manure getting anything at all. A scrappy goal that the goalie should’ve had but Spurs ahead. 😂
I too see Osula as a RW rather than CF Sharpy, so I agree there. I heard about Delap wage requirement. He’s a bit deluded there like. I’d rather give that to David. He’s at least more proven, albeit not in the premier league.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – the issue is I see Chelsea or Man Utd offering those wages to Delap coz they don’t have a CF.
I’m defo think we should speak to Delap and see if he fancies it, but wouldn’t be held to ransom. I agree, I’d also be speaking to David coz I think he could be a quality signing too.
I’d go get Walker-Peters to cover full back and let Target and go – maybe even Trips or Krafth too but don’t want to strip the squad too much with European football too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just love the fact Man U miss out on all that CL money 🤣not that Spurs deserve it either.
When you think a teams that have been fighting and playing well all season could miss out on the final day and one of these useless outfits gets CL just because one is slightly less **** than the other🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
So it’s all teams with birds getting trophies this year
liverbird
Magpie
Eagle
cockerel
kimtoon(Quote)
I watch all the podcasts with GNev and Carra in them – sometimes they can be good.
But for weeks I’ve watched them say there isn’t a world where Spurs beat MU – winning is in their DNA and Spurs will fold. Even if Spurs take the lead, MU will find a way – but if MU take the lead Spurs would crumble. Talking down to Spurs fans – you’re deluded!!.
GNev occasionally had a look on his face where he allowed the thought of a Spurs win to creep into his thoughts but would immediately come back with no, no it just doesn’t happen.
All of them – all those Mancs clinging onto the last thread of hope.
The only sad thing to come from that loss is it will probably result in Radcliffe laying off a few more people this morning.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So, the new home kit is out and it’s basically the one leaked. They will wear it against Everton. I’m personally not sure about the fuzzy lines. I need to see the actual shirt I think. What do you guys think of it?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Don’t like the fuzzy lines either Gilly.
kimtoon(Quote)
Derby games back then.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy17:-
Plenty to pick from
Ruddy, Gillespie and Oddeseas
Jamal Lewis, Taggert, Wilson, Willock, Longstaff.
That’s 8!
Who we bring in is who we can afford
Would like Mbeumbo, Delap, Tomori, Mainoo, Trafford
Joseph(Quote)