A perfect day all round for Arteta and his Arsenal side who, after a fairly slow second half, blew Newcastle away under the Emirates lights with a thumping four nil victory.
It was almost a tale of two halves as Arsenal spent much of the first half in the balance and one could argue that the visitors were the better side. There were a few half chances but actually, Newcastle didn't bombard Leno's goal by any means. It took a while to get going but when they did, the Gunners were devastating.
Whatever Arteta said at half time worked as key players came alive immediately. Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka stepped up their intensity and got the ball flowing foward whilst Nico Pepe increased his levels and went at his man time after time. Aubameyang also lifted it a notch or two and it was a smart cross from the Ivorian winger who found our number fourteen in the box who calmly placed a header back in the corner. One nil and it was full steam ahead as the second came just three minutes later. Some classy play down the left from the bang in-form Bukayo Saka saw him rinse to defenders and pick out Pepe who side footed it home.
It was almost game over there and then. Newcastle had one or two more sniffs on the counter and live wire Allan Saint-Maximim did smash one off Leno's post - which could have changed the game drastically. However, Mesut Ozil, almost at his best gliding round the pitch, made it happen once more for his team. He started the move before making his way into the box and finding Alex Lacazette's short cross and flukily squeezing it past Dubravka in goal. Game over now. What was fantastic to see was Lacazette getting an assist but the man didn't stop there...he bagged himself a well deserved late goal after more good play down Arsenal's right. The whole team celebrated with the Frenchman, every fan knew what it meant to him...and even if you didn't know, you could see. Everyone got behind their colleague and celebrated the end of his drought. Laca is back.
Ratings:
Bernd Leno: 7.5
Fairly quiet on the whole but did make a couple of important stops at crucial times. Should thank his post for the help too.
Hector Bellerin: 6
Troubled consistently by the pacey Saint-Maximim but stuck at his task well. Didn't get forward as much as a result but still a good shift.
Shkodran Mustafi: 7
There will always be that one slack pass or moment of madness but it seemingly stops there these days. Solid in the air and good on the deck.
David Luiz: 7
Led the defence well and played his usual passing game. Looking increasingly solid game by game but Joelinton barely troubled either Arsenal centre back.
Bukayo Saka: 9.5
Only a goal would have made this lad's rating a 10. Fantastic at both ends of the pitch and consistently made it happen for his side.
Granit Xhaka: 7.5
Quietly went about his job and kept his team ticking. Did the defensive stuff well but still gives away a silly yellow and puts himself at needless risk.
Dani Ceballos: 8.5
Improved as the game went on and come the second half was the man in charge. The creative passing he brings allows Mesut Ozil to stay further up the pitch and affect play far more. The best we've seen of the Spaniard so far.
Mesut Ozil: 8.5
Influential and consistently threatening. Got a thoroughly deserved goal albeit with some help from the Newcastle keeper.
Nicolas Pepe: 9
Come the second half, it was the best we've seen of Pepe for a sustained period. No Newcastle defender knew how to handle him and the Ivorian got everything he deserved.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 8
Back to goal scoring form and didn't he take it well. Not known for his aerial prowess, he found the corner with a neat header but also led his team well on the day. Still not sure he's at his best parked out wide but having Saka on the overlap allows him to come inside a plenty.
Eddie Nketiah: 6
Not the best day in front of goal but a building block nonetheless. The youngster did the basics well, had a couple of chances that he did do well to get to but just couldn't score.
Lucas Torreira: 5
Solid as always. Dug in, sat responsibly and protected his defence.
Alex Lacazette: 7
A star cameo from the back in-form Frenchman who grabbed an assist and a goal late on.
Joe Willock: N/A
A late sub to slow the game down. Was involved in the build up for the fourth goal though.
@craigbennett10
It was almost a tale of two halves as Arsenal spent much of the first half in the balance and one could argue that the visitors were the better side. There were a few half chances but actually, Newcastle didn't bombard Leno's goal by any means. It took a while to get going but when they did, the Gunners were devastating.
Whatever Arteta said at half time worked as key players came alive immediately. Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka stepped up their intensity and got the ball flowing foward whilst Nico Pepe increased his levels and went at his man time after time. Aubameyang also lifted it a notch or two and it was a smart cross from the Ivorian winger who found our number fourteen in the box who calmly placed a header back in the corner. One nil and it was full steam ahead as the second came just three minutes later. Some classy play down the left from the bang in-form Bukayo Saka saw him rinse to defenders and pick out Pepe who side footed it home.
It was almost game over there and then. Newcastle had one or two more sniffs on the counter and live wire Allan Saint-Maximim did smash one off Leno's post - which could have changed the game drastically. However, Mesut Ozil, almost at his best gliding round the pitch, made it happen once more for his team. He started the move before making his way into the box and finding Alex Lacazette's short cross and flukily squeezing it past Dubravka in goal. Game over now. What was fantastic to see was Lacazette getting an assist but the man didn't stop there...he bagged himself a well deserved late goal after more good play down Arsenal's right. The whole team celebrated with the Frenchman, every fan knew what it meant to him...and even if you didn't know, you could see. Everyone got behind their colleague and celebrated the end of his drought. Laca is back.
Ratings:
Bernd Leno: 7.5
Fairly quiet on the whole but did make a couple of important stops at crucial times. Should thank his post for the help too.
Hector Bellerin: 6
Troubled consistently by the pacey Saint-Maximim but stuck at his task well. Didn't get forward as much as a result but still a good shift.
Shkodran Mustafi: 7
There will always be that one slack pass or moment of madness but it seemingly stops there these days. Solid in the air and good on the deck.
David Luiz: 7
Led the defence well and played his usual passing game. Looking increasingly solid game by game but Joelinton barely troubled either Arsenal centre back.
Bukayo Saka: 9.5
Only a goal would have made this lad's rating a 10. Fantastic at both ends of the pitch and consistently made it happen for his side.
Granit Xhaka: 7.5
Quietly went about his job and kept his team ticking. Did the defensive stuff well but still gives away a silly yellow and puts himself at needless risk.
Dani Ceballos: 8.5
Improved as the game went on and come the second half was the man in charge. The creative passing he brings allows Mesut Ozil to stay further up the pitch and affect play far more. The best we've seen of the Spaniard so far.
Mesut Ozil: 8.5
Influential and consistently threatening. Got a thoroughly deserved goal albeit with some help from the Newcastle keeper.
Nicolas Pepe: 9
Come the second half, it was the best we've seen of Pepe for a sustained period. No Newcastle defender knew how to handle him and the Ivorian got everything he deserved.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 8
Back to goal scoring form and didn't he take it well. Not known for his aerial prowess, he found the corner with a neat header but also led his team well on the day. Still not sure he's at his best parked out wide but having Saka on the overlap allows him to come inside a plenty.
Eddie Nketiah: 6
Not the best day in front of goal but a building block nonetheless. The youngster did the basics well, had a couple of chances that he did do well to get to but just couldn't score.
Lucas Torreira: 5
Solid as always. Dug in, sat responsibly and protected his defence.
Alex Lacazette: 7
A star cameo from the back in-form Frenchman who grabbed an assist and a goal late on.
Joe Willock: N/A
A late sub to slow the game down. Was involved in the build up for the fourth goal though.
@craigbennett10
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