Arsenal kept pace with their Premier League title rivals with a thumping 4-1 win at home to Newcastle United on Saturday night.
The Gunners had a point to prove after their surprise 1-0 defeat to Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday, and they silenced their doubters with a fine performance back on home soil.
The Magpies were second-best from the off and deserved to leave the Emirates Stadium without any points.
How the game unfolded
Newcastle were pinned in early doors, with Arsenal winning the ball high up the pitch on numerous occasions. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice both brought early saves out of Loris Karius, who started in place of the ill Martin Dubravka.
The early pressure soon told and Arsenal went ahead on 18 minutes. Gabriel Magalhaes rose high to meet a corner from Saka, bringing a save out of Karius, but the rebound ricocheted in off the legs of Sven Botman.
Six minutes later, the Gunners had their second. An intelligent pass from Jorginho found Gabriel Martinelli running across the box from left to right, and the Brazilian cut the ball back for Kai Havertz to tap in.
Karius came to Newcastle’s rescue again to keep out Saka at the near post after squeezing in between Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon.
Newcastle went into the break without registering a single shot – the first time they had gone a first half without one since 2014 – and their second half didn’t start much better when Havertz waltzed in behind their sleeping backline, though this time the German fluffed his lines and the Magpies were let off the hook.
The visitors’ first shot came on 49 minutes, with Gordon galloping into space and cutting inside onto his right foot, bringing a rather easy save out of David Raya from 20 yards.
On the hour mark, Alexander Isak drifted infield past William Saliba and fired at goal from a similar angle, with his shot sailing high over the bar.
But with their next attack, Arsenal added a third. Botman’s sloppy pass from the back was pounced upon by Havertz, and he found Saka out on the right. He twisted and turned his way past Livramento before finding the bottom corner.
Jakub Kiwior got in on the act with Arsenal’s 19th goal from a set piece this season, nodding in from a Declan Rice corner.
Newcastle grabbed a consolation goal in the final five minutes through former Gunner Joe Willock, whose looping header from Dan Burn’s cross sailed over Raya and dropped in off the inside of the post.
Burn cleared an effort from Emile Smith Rowe off the line at the other end in stoppage time as Arsenal settled for a 4-1 triumph.
GK: David Raya – 6/10 – Rarely called into action. Quick off his line to clear danger on the rare occasions Newcastle got in behind.
RB: Ben White – 6/10 – Only ever beaten by the quick feet of Gordon when the game had already escaped Newcastle.
CB: William Saliba – 7/10 – Defended with his usual ease and grace, though this did allow Isak to skip past him on one occasion. Only the one occasion, mind you.
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes – 9/10 – Caused Newcastle so many problems on set pieces and stepped into midfield to ensure they couldn’t progress attacks either.
LB: Jakub Kiwior – 9/10 – Given absolutely zero problems by Almiron and helped himself to a goal (if the Premier League don’t put it down as a Miley own goal).
CM: Declan Rice – 9/10 – Played higher as a number eight, tasked with winning possession high up the pitch. The plan worked tremendously well.
CM: Jorginho – 9/10 – Pulled the strings and enjoyed another fine big-game performance. Instrumental for Arsenal’s second goal.
RM: Bukayo Saka – 9/10 – A continual menace all night long, eventually grabbing his reward with an Arjen Robben-esque goal.
AM: Martin Odegaard – 7/10 – Was far from the standout man in attack but he made everything tick, finding his co-stars with quick flicks and crisp passes.
LM: Gabriel Martinelli – 8/10 – Put a testing night in Porto behind him with a busy display, running Newcastle’s backline ragged with his energetic pressing and relentless attacking.
CF: Kai Havertz – 9/10 – A well-taken goal and an assist to boot. Looked far more comfortable as a towering forward than a midfielder, even if he did miss his standard sitter.
Substitutes
SUB: Leandro Trossard (63′ for Martinelli) – 7/10
SUB: Emile Smith Rowe (76′ for Odegaard) – 6/10
SUB: Reiss Nelson (76′ for Saka) – 6/10
SUB: Eddie Nketiah (76′ for Havertz) – 6/10
SUB: Mohamed Elneny (89′ for Jorginho) – N/A
Subs not used: Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus
Manager
Mikel Arteta – 9/10 – Another comprehensive Premier League win for Arsenal to keep pace with Liverpool and Manchester City, the perfect tonic for their European disappointment.
GK: Loris Karius – 6/10 – Kept the scoreline down with some impressive saves. Has certainly put the days of his calamitous Liverpool spell behind him.
RB: Kieran Trippier – 4/10 – Roasted time after time by Martinelli and then the fresher legs of Trossard.
CB: Fabian Schar – 4/10 – Shaky when playing from the back, but he wasn’t the only guilty party. Had a lot on his plate.
CB: Sven Botman – 2/10 – Scorer of the own goal to break the deadlock before gifting possession to Havertz for the third. Not a great night for the Dutchman.
LB: Tino Livramento – 3/10 – One of Newcastle’s better players in a disappointing season so far, but this was one of his worst performances. Will have nightmares about Saka for weeks.
CM: Sean Longstaff – 3/10 – Offered absolutely nothing in the midfield battle.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes – 4/10 – Bullied in the first half but looked much livelier after the break, releasing Isak with a fine pass for one of Newcastle’s first meaningful attacks.
CM: Lewis Miley – 4/10 – Lacked the physicality and experience to compete in a game like this.
RW: Miguel Almiron – 4/10 – Shied away from action and never seemed keen to be overly involved.
CF: Alexander Isak – 5/10 – Still a little rusty as he gathers fitness again. More involved in the second half before being hooked.
LW: Anthony Gordon – 4/10 – Only ever had one real moment of prowess. Couldn’t even use his electric pace to get in behind.
Substitutes
SUB: Jacob Murphy (64′ for Almiron) – 5/10
SUB: Harvey Barnes (64′ for Isak) – 5/10
SUB: Joe Willock (73′ for Guimaraes) – 7/10
SUB: Dan Burn (73′ for Livramento) – 7/10
SUB: Jamaal Lascelles (73′ for Botman) – 5/10
Subs not used: Mark Gillespie (GK), Emil Krafth, Lewis Hall, Matt Ritchie
Manager
Eddie Howe – 2/10 – Newcastle’s record in away games, particularly against their supposed competitive rivals, has been appalling this season. They were overrun again and again.
Player of the match – Jorginho (Arsenal)
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