NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England — Arsenal reduce Manchester Metropolis‘s lead on the high of the Premier League to 1 level with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Newcastle United in a pulsating match at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Martin Odegaard gave the guests the lead in opposition to the run of play after 14 minutes with a tremendous low drive earlier than Fabian Schar turned Gabriel Martinelli‘s Seventy fifth-minute cross into his personal internet. Mikel Arteta’s facet have performed a sport greater than Metropolis however secured a win that can flip up the warmth on the title rivals given they have to juggle the home run-in with a two-legged Champions League semifinal in opposition to Actual Madrid over the subsequent 10 days.
Arsenal weathered a storm within the opening 10 minutes as Jacob Murphy hit the submit within the second minute earlier than referee Chris Kavanagh awarded the house facet a spot kick 5 minutes later. Jakub Kiwior was adjudged to have blocked Bruno Guimaraes‘ shot together with his hand, however Kavanagh overturned his resolution on VAR overview and the Gunners took full benefit by scoring with their first significant assault.
Odegaard took goal from the sting of the field to drill residence his fifteenth league objective of the season. Arsenal wasted a number of glorious possibilities to increase their benefit as Martinelli and Bukayo Saka have been despatched clear earlier than Joe Willock shot straight at Ramsdale on the different finish in a frenetic first half.
Nick Pope saved from Odegaard in first-half stoppage time, but it surely was Newcastle who began the second half higher, Alexander Isak hitting the submit earlier than Ramsdale brilliantly saved Schar’s header from point-blank vary. Either side pushed for the sport’s second objective, but it surely was Martinelli who would make the decisive influence, bursting down the left earlier than delivering a low cross that Schar may solely flip into his personal internet.
Speedy response
1. Arsenal rediscover mettle to maintain title race alive
This was probably win or bust for Arsenal. Arriving at St James’ Park 4 factors adrift of leaders Manchester Metropolis, a defeat right here would have left the Gunners needing a miracle from their last weeks of the marketing campaign to face an opportunity on the title. This was additionally the scene of a dreadful 2-0 defeat final season, when Champions League qualification slipped from their grasp, and the raucous sellout crowd have been decided to make this one other looking out examination of Arsenal’s resolve.
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The primary 10 minutes have been exactly that. Murphy hit the submit, Arsenal survived an enormous penalty attraction — initially awarded however then rescinded on VAR overview — as Arteta’s facet endured most stress. What adopted was a powerful show of resilience that retains the title race properly and actually alive.
They undoubtedly rode their luck at occasions — the beginning of the second half was equally as fraught as the primary — however Arsenal created the higher possibilities and saved their heads in what grew to become a massively bodily encounter in entrance of a hostile crowd. They grow to be solely the second visiting workforce to win at Newcastle this season — the opposite was Liverpool, who had the advantage of taking part in in opposition to 10 males for 68 minutes — however extra importantly, they’ve ended the late-season wobble with back-to-back wins. Whether or not it is available in time to win the title stays to be seen, however this end result offers Arsenal an opportunity.
2. Arsenal dance to Odegaard’s tune
A lot has been fabricated from Gabriel Jesus‘ and Oleksandr Zinchenko‘s title-winning nous probably being a significant asset to Arsenal within the run-in, however the captain led from the entrance on Sunday. Odegaard left the sphere 10 minutes from time with a modest move completion price of 75.9% however he introduced actual maturity to Arsenal’s play, retaining issues easy with little pockets of possession designed to interrupt up Newcastle’s stream.
He wasn’t at his most effective within the last third, lacking a wonderful likelihood with the ultimate act of the primary half that had him shouting to the sky in frustration, however he nonetheless registered his ninth non-penalty away objective within the league this season — essentially the most by an Arsenal participant since Alexis Sánchez in 2016-17 (15). Becoming a member of Martinelli on 15 objectives additionally means Arsenal have two gamers rating 15 or extra objectives in a single league marketing campaign for the very first time.
After scoring twice within the midweek win over Chelsea, Odegaard produced one other influential show when his workforce wanted it essentially the most. There may be nonetheless room for enchancment — he was one in all a number of gamers to underperform in opposition to Manchester Metropolis — however he’s main the battle to make sure Metropolis need to maintain profitable proper to the top.
3. Howe’s daring Isak and Wilson name fails to repay
This was the primary time Callum Wilson and Isak have began a sport collectively for Newcastle. Isak’s energetic cameos off the bench mixed with Wilson’s glorious kind since getting back from damage — eight objectives in seven video games in April — created a clamour amongst supporters in these components for the duo to be unleashed. Supervisor Eddie Howe justified the choice by an damage to midfielder Sean Longstaff “creating a spot” within the beginning lineup, however Newcastle’s assault seemed disjointed, significantly within the first half.
Arsenal did a superb job of stifling midfield playmaker Guimaraes, which means Newcastle have been pressured to go longer with their passing in looking for Wilson up entrance. The Magpies have the very best defensive document within the league this season, however they struggled with the steadiness of their facet on Sunday; it is a matter Howe should deal with extra successfully, particularly in the event that they safe Champions League soccer subsequent season, as seems probably.
Greatest and worst performers
BEST: Martin Odegaard, Arsenal. Gave Arsenal composure and high quality in midfield on high of an excellent opening objective.
BEST: Aaron Ramsdale, Arsenal. Made 5 saves and ended with an anticipated objectives in opposition to complete of 1.27 but saved a clear sheet.
BEST: Granit Xhaka, Arsenal. Broke up play properly, exhibiting game-management that delighted Arteta and infuriated the house facet.
WORST: Fabian Schar, Newcastle. Superb margins however he missed a wonderful likelihood at 1-0 down, planting a free header six yards out at Ramsdale after which turned Martinelli’s cross into his personal internet.
WORST: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal. Struggled to manage defensively — together with being placed on the deck as Murphy twisted and turned early within the second half — and was substituted for Kieran Tierney on 61 minutes.
WORST: Dan Burn, Newcastle. Regarded awkward up in opposition to Saka and booked for a foul deal with on the England worldwide within the last 20 minutes.
Highlights and notable moments
When a midfielder can place a strike with such pinpoint precision from practically 30 yards out, it is virtually unimaginable to defend. Odegaard has been sensible for Arsenal, but once more.
The skipper Martin Odegaard from WAY OUT! 🔥
The Gunners lead at St. James’ Park!
📺: @USANetwork | #NEWARS pic.twitter.com/QvJKIM0vRz— NBC Sports activities Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) Could 7, 2023
After the match: What the gamers/managers stated
Odegaard: “We confirmed one thing particular right here at present. To return right here and win shouldn’t be simple. We needed to be very sensible and to be ugly at occasions. It’s a massive step for a younger workforce like ours to return right here and do the issues we did. It exhibits we’ve got come a great distance.”
Howe: “Superb margins for us at present and we simply got here out on the incorrect facet of them. We missed some massive possibilities within the sport, and it simply wasn’t fairly there for us. I’m positive I’ll look again at some moments and rue some moments we did not get fairly proper.”
Key stats (offered by ESPN Stats & Data analysis)
– Solely Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have scored extra away objectives within the Premier League this season (13 every) than Odegaard’s 9.
– Odegaard joins Martinelli on the 15-goal mark this season in league play, the primary time that Arsenal have boasted two 15-goal scorers in a single Premier League season.
– Arsenal haven’t misplaced in video games when Odegaard has scored (10W-2D-0L).
Up subsequent
Newcastle United: The Magpies journey to Elland Street on Saturday for a Premier League contest in opposition to relegation-threatened Leeds United.
Arsenal: Seven days from now the Gunners shall be again in North London for a Sunday showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion as Arteta’s workforce tries desperately to maintain the stress on league leaders Man Metropolis.