Arsenal 0 Newcastle United 1
The Magpies moved up to a place behind their opponents after a third straight win in the top flight this afternoon at the Emirates. An away victory avenged the Carling Cup exit to Arsene Wenger’s side eleven days ago up in the northeast. Andy Carroll’s header at the end of the first half in front of watching England boss Fabio Capello was enough to take the three points back to St. James’ Park.
Arsenal struggled to get going with the visitors coming out of the traps better. Bacary Sagna looked particularly shaky as both Shola Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez got the best of him early on, the latter claiming a penalty should’ve been awarded after a tangle of legs. Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas could only rattle the bar from a free kick after Fabricio Coloccini’s foul on Jack Wilshere. The long-time target of boyhood club Barcelona would also have a hand in the only other real chance the home side created during the opening forty-five. With five minutes of the first half remaining the Spaniard squared for Samir Nasri, otherwise ineffective, whose side-footed effort was superbly saved by the strong palm of Tim Krul in the Toon goal.
With the final ball lacking quality from the Gunners, Cheick Tiote worked extremely hard in the centre of the park for Newcastle, man-marking Fabregas with considerable success at times. On the stroke of half time the away side saw some reward for their determination to keep Wenger’s side at bay. Joey Barton whipped in a free kick, Lukasz Fabianski came a long way and failed to get there in front of Carroll who headed into the empty net. It was an error of judgment by the Polish stopper and it cost Arsenal dear. Early in the second half Theo Walcott raced in from the right, receiving Wilshere’s through ball but saw his effort come back off the woodwork from a tight angle. Moments later a last ditch intervention by Danny Simpson prevented Marouane Chamakh from tapping home Alex Song’s pullback.
Arsenal’s keeper dealt with the aerial threat posed by the Toon better in the second half. Their fortunes up front did not change however. Not even an hour had been played when Wenger called Arshavin and the returning Van Persie to replace the largely lacklustre Nasri and Chamakh. With just less than a quarter of the match remaining Nicklas Bendtner was introduced but these substitutions did not change matters. Having stifled the home side’s creativity successfully the Magpies rarely attacked after the break, happy to sit on their goal lead. In the final moments Arsenal’s misery was compounded when they finished the game with ten men. Substitute Nile Ranger got goal side of Laurent Koscielny late on and the Frenchmen hauled him down with a run on goal ahead from the right wing. Mike Dean did not hesitate to brandish red, the former Lorient centre half’s second dismissal since his summer move to the Emirates.
It is seldom that Arsenal create so little at home and fans will make the point that Newcastle’s keeper was time wasting for much of the second half, but the plaudits have to go back up the A1 along with the points. Either side of elimination from the Carling Cup, Chris Hughton’s side have taken a maximum nine in the league. Under his stewardship they have put six past Villa, demolished their bitter rivals and taken a giant scalp this afternoon. What more does he have to do to earn a new contract from the owners? How many managers would have the confidence and belief in his players not to sit back, put five across midfield and try to nick a draw from a match against Arsenal? The Magpies played football, coupled with hard work and remarkable fitness and thoroughly earned their win. Sure the Gunners had an off-day but the Toon are riding high and sit in a Champions League place with other results to come in.
What can Fabio Capello take from today’s match with the friendly against France just around the corner? He witnessed personally what Andy Carroll is all about on the pitch, superb in the air and a good team player. It will not have escaped the Italian’s notice that Jack Wilshere likes a tackle or two, but can also play a perceptive ball. Both to me in their respective roles seem to be the future of our national side. They do of course still have some developing to go through before either is the finished article. The difference today was largely summed up by set pieces. Newcastle won it from such a situation and Arsenal still don’t look very threatening at all from them. With Chamakh in the side they really ought to be more so, but they had three different players trying to deliver good corners in the first half from the right all equally ineffective.
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