Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates following their 4-0 loss away at Liverpool last weekend, a loss that ended their 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Bukayo Saka and his eventual replacement, Gabriel Martinelli helped the Gunners to go 5th, level on point with 4th placed West Ham United who play Manchester City later on.
Mikel Arteta made just one change to the side that started in the loss at Liverpool, dropping Alexandre Lacazette for Martin Odegaard.
Eddie Howe was taking charge of his first Premier League following his appointment as replacement for Steve Bruce and his recovery from Covid-19. He made three changes to his team. Martin Dubravka returned from injury to replace Karl Darlow between the sticks.
Saka failed to reach a lovely ball over the Newcastle defence by Albert Sambi Lokonga as the Gunners pushed for an opener, before Dubravka denied Odegaard from a well-taken free kick.
On the other end, Aaron Ramsdale put up another of his fantastic saves to deny Jonjo Shelvey from his long range effort, similar to his save of James Maddison’s free kick. The former Liverpool man tried another effort moments later, but this time it was a more comfortable save for the goalkeeper on the second catch.
Then came what may be tagged the Miss of the Season yet when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to score from less than a yard out. Saka received the ball on the inside left, before making his way to the byline and sending the cross across goal, which was met by a fine header from Emile Smith Rowe. Dubravka managed to save the header and punched straight at Aubameyang, who had the goal at his mercy, but could only manage to hit the outside of the post.
Arsenal kept going in a one-sided affair and Smith Rowe saw his effort from a Takehiro Tomiyasu cross blocked by Emil Krafth, before Nuno Tavares blazed the rebound into the stands.
The Gunners continued after the restart from where there left off, requiring the creativity and bravery of Bukayo Saka to open up the Magpies. The England international made his way brilliantly past two Newcastle defenders before sending a low drive aiming for the far bottom corner. It was a comfortable save for Dubravka.
Five minutes later, the 19-year old opened the scoring for Arsenal, finishing off a fine move with a left-footed effort. Nice interchange of play between Smith Rowe and Tavares, before the latter released Saka on goal on the inside left channel, who was composed enough to find the right bottom corner.
Moments later, there was cause for worry for Mikel Arteta as Saka went down with what looked like a knee injury. He tried to play on after receiving treatment, but was eventually taken off and replaced by Gabriel Martinelli, who scored within 93 seconds of coming on.
Just before Arsenal’s second goal, Shelvey released Callum Wilson towards the Arsenal goal and the England striker went down in the box under the challenge from Tavares amidst shouts for a penalty, which was not given even after VAR review.
From the resulting reverse attack, Arsenal extended their lead with Martinelli’s first touch of the game. The Brazilian was released on the right inside channel by Tomiyasu, who had an excellent game. Martinelli did not need too many touches as he lobbed the ball one-time past the arriving Dubravka. It was the Brazilian’s first goal since May and his first at home in 22 months.
From there on, it was game management for Arsenal, who were looking for another clean sheet. Shelvey saw another effort straight at Ramsdale, then Aubameyang was unable to meet a through ball from Smith Rowe to chip over Dubravka. Ramsdale also making a smart diving save to deny Alan Saint Maximin late on.
Concluding Thoughts
It was an easy, but far from convincing win for Arsenal as they looked out of steam, especially with their press which we had seen before their loss to Liverpool.
Nonetheless, an important victory for them to keep touch with the top four as they are only behind West Ham in 4th place on goal difference.
Newcastle became the 6th team in the Premier League history to have gone winless in their first 13 games, with four of the previous five getting relegated. Only Derby County survived from such fate in the 2000/2001 season.
Eddie Howe obviously knows the herculean task ahead of him in securing survival for the Magpies, who sit rock bottom of the league, five points adrift safety.
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