
Following a recent turnaround of performances and results — inspired primarily by Hale End graduates — in the league to drag Arsenal up into a less catastrophic position on the table, last Thursday, Mikel Arteta’s team came up against what has been their most troublesome nemesis this season: a low block of dogged defenders at the Emirates. Though that match against Crystal Palace wasn’t entirely without positives – the clean sheet, a number of attempts on goal that with a bit more composure and precision could have earned us a victory – the overall impression was one of lacking enough creativity or nous to keep our newfound momentum going for any considerable stretch of games.
Hence there was a well-justified trepidation in the Goonerverse going into our 19th match of this maddeningly (or thrillingly, depending on whom you are asking) erratic league season. Our league position was no longer darkened by the shadows of the relegation zone, but still a depressing 11th. However, the numerical gap in points with the European contender positions being tantalizingly close, the more optimistic among us could be forgiven for harboring a glimmer of hope that with the right set of results, come end of season we can be relatively excited about where we stand.
Arsenal welcomed an out-of-form and beleaguered Newcastle United side against such a chiaroscuro backdrop of emotions. Would we further solidify our mid-table mediocrity which for much of the season seemed to have been our deserved lot? Or would we build upon the flashes of pedigree shown in the last few weeks to remind everyone, but most of all ourselves, that the Arsenal are on their way back to where they belong?
The team selection had little surprise except maybe for Cedric starting ahead of Bellerin whose attacking display against Palace was rather mediocre. We welcomed back Thomas Partey who – despite playing only a few matches in the injury interrupted start to his Arsenal career – had already shown that he is head and shoulders above the rest of our central midfielders. David Luiz kept his place even though his younger Brazilian counterpart – and from this reviewer’s perspective, a more imposing and effective presence in defense – Gabriel, had been declared fully fit. The magnificent maverick Scot too had recovered fully from his niggles and reclaimed his rightful place on the left side of the pitch.
A well-balanced 4-2-3-1 formation:
Leno
Cedric – Holding – Luiz – Tierney
Partey – Xhaka
Saka – ESR – Aubameyang
Lacazette
Newcastle started with purpose as Almiron floated a cross in the first minute, but it was merely catching practice for Leno. Cedric and Saka were involved in these early minutes down the right, looking for an opening to get outside the Newcastle defense who were compact down the middle.
Arsenal’s first meaningful chance came in the 8th minute when Aubameyang found himself on the ball with empty space in front of him. He drove purposefully into the box, the defender kept him away from an attempt with his right foot, and an off-balance Auba shot at the keeper with his left.
In the 14th minute Saka earned Arsenal a free-kick following a quick counter-attacking move by Emile and Bukayo. Cedric sent in a powerful and accurate delivery from the free-kick with the right amount of dip in it, Luiz headed wide.
A minute later, following a neat interchange between Saka and ESR the Newcastle goalkeeper did well to touch a perfect pass across the goalmouth from Saka meant for Aubameyang. The touch diverted the ball just enough and a slightly off-balance Auba managed to hit the post, ignoring the invitation of an empty net.
In the 21st minute Arsenal put together a good-looking move with Partey in the middle of it. He had an albeit difficult, chance to end the move gloriously as Saka set him up for a clean strike at goal from outside the box. Partey’s shot flew over. It would have been a great first goal for our Ghanaian midfielder whose dominating presence and control over the match grew throughout the rest of the game.
Newcastle, despite a somewhat positive looking set-up, weren’t offering anything attacking wise. Just to break the monotony of Arsenal possession the speedy Almiron combined with Andy Carroll (the commentators never tired of reminding us of all his past exploits and how dangerous he could be etc., etc.) but at the end of the move he shot over the bar.
Even though the overall tempo of the game was ordinary, it was evident Arsenal had prepared well to mix a few tactical variations in attack. This time there was no high press, recognizing that Newcastle wouldn’t be playing out from the back, sometimes willingly conceding possession as a kind of enticement to get Newcastle out of low blocking defensive shape then to hit on the counter, especially down the flanks. Aubameyang shot over the crossbar from one such counter-attack involving Partey and ESR. Even though he didn’t appear to have fully regained his confidence as his rare goalscoring drought continued, Aubameyang was noticeably more involved in the penalty box compared to his outings in the last couple of months.
In the 37th minute, Tierney sent in a cross from his right foot. His magnificent right foot curler against West Bromwich Albion had already shown us that he is not without abilities on his weaker foot as well.
In the 40th minute, Auba attempted a very clever finish with the toes through a small slit of an opening between two defenders, but the ball rolled out.
A few minutes later his shot from the left side of the penalty box was almost deflected into Newcastle’s goal but for a good save by their keeper. From the resulting corner Saka’s delivery was met by Luiz who despite finding himself with only the keeper to beat got the angle of his header wrong. That was the last action before the interval. Given how poor Newcastle were for much of the first half, going into the break without scoring a goal was a little frustrating. Xhaka, and increasingly so Partey, completely dominated the midfield. And ESR and Saka combined well with each other with ESR especially taking up intelligent positions and trying to create triangles. But the movements – on and off the ball – lacked pace and incision.
The second half started with Arsenal raising the tempo of passing and movement. In the 47th minute Lacazette manufactured an excellent shot for himself through a melee of defenders, but the goalkeeper made an equally impressive save.
In the 50th minute the deadlock was finally broken. From a Newcastle move, Lacazette – always willing and able to help out his defense – cleared the ball to Partey. Partey picked a fabulous pass to find Aubameyang down the left flank. Auba drove into the box, anticipated well that the defenders would block his right side, switched the ball to the left and finished wonderfully into the roof of the net.
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 50’) – Newcastle 0
The quality of the passing and inventiveness in moving the ball vertically as well as by switching flanks improved after the goal. Partey’s reassuring presence – there is a certain charismatic simplicity to his game that helps his teammates to be more imaginative and less burdened with fear – contributed towards that.
In the 60th minute ESR, hugging the left touchline, received a pass from Auba. He strode forward past defenders in the penalty box, went towards the byline and provided a perfectly weighted cutback for his mate Saka to slot in nonchalantly.
Arsenal 2 (Aubameyang 50’, Saka 60’) – Newcastle 0
By his lofty standards Tierney was relatively quiet from an attacking perspective. It is possible he was playing well within himself, per instruction, to ensure his fitness given the games coming ahead. He was still a noticeable presence on the left on both sides of the ground.
On the right flank Cedric was a revelation. He played by far his best match in Arsenal colors. Defensively he didn’t have too much to do – someone like Saint-Maximin, if fit, might have given him and Rob a bit more trouble – but on the attacking third he combined excellently with both ESR and Saka, and supported Partey well on the right side of the midfield. In the 66th minute Cedric and Saka combined superbly and following a clever flick by Cedric, Saka created enough space for himself to send in a sumptuous cross that Laca headed decisively only for the goalkeeper to make an excellent save.
Elneny replaced Partey in the 67th minute. If there were supporters in the stadium Thomas would have left to the sound of a standing ovation.
Elneny slotted in well in the midfield and kept up the tempo of the passing. The actions stayed mostly in the Newcastle half with a third goal now looking more than a distinct possibility. And it duly arrived in the 77th minute.
Saka and Cedric combined well again on the right side. Cedric made an excellent run from Saka’s pass, cut inside, and even though the ball bobbled up kept enough of a control to provide a precise and powerful cut-back that Aubameyang simply guided into the goal.
Arsenal 2 (Aubameyang 50’, Saka 60’, Aubameyang 77’) – Newcastle 0
This was our captain’s 400th match in European top tier football, and his exuberant celebration of his goals numbered 205 and 206 should now set up a return to form following a rare lean patch. His Arsenal numbers are eye-catchingly extraordinary: 78 goals and 16 assists in 129 matches. And long may that efficiency continue.
Willian was brought in for Aubameyang around the 80th minute. And Gabriel Martinelli – back in the squad after missing couple of matches due to injury – replaced Emile in the 81st minute. There were a few more pleasing moves from one of which Laca earned a freekick in a promising situation. Willian – who in all his career has been a genuine expert in set-pieces – with full concentration hit the free-kick straight at the wall. Let us hope that he finds his own unquestionable qualities sometimes soon and proves all the doubters (including this reviewer) wrong.
A fourth goal would have been nice but there weren’t many more opportunities created. One noticeable event as the match petered out was a gratuitous elbow right on the face of young Martinelli, and the perpetrator was not even cautioned.
A promising performance especially in the second half, a convincing 3-0 victory, the return of Thomas Partey, a return of our captain to his goalscoring habits, one more clean sheet and the continued excellence of two academy graduates. Arteta and the team should start to feel more confident and optimistic about the rest of the season.
One minor statistic from today’s match: ESR’s assist to Saka meant that they are the first English pair to combine for three goals in premier league before either player has turned 21. Already known for his technical abilities on the ball, ESR’s performances have been remarkable in their maturity too. Maturity in positional awareness, in defensive discipline when needed, in tireless attempts at creating openings and driving the team forward. In his five appearances since the Chelsea match, he has created 10 goalscoring opportunities in the league. Add that to his deadlock-breaking finish in the FA Cup. He was my man of the match.