Arsenal Vs Newcastle United: Highlights and analysis – Away abomination

Arsenal travelled to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. Here is the full recap, all the highlights and analysis of the 2-1 loss.

Prior to Sunday’s tricky trip north to face a blossoming Newcastle United side who were hoping to secure their safety with one last win, Arsenal had not gained a single point away from home. No other Premier League club can match such ineptitude. Their troubles on their trips did not end here. Arsene Wenger may have made several changes with the Europa League now the sole priority this season, but that does not excuse such a lacklustre and insipid performance, extending their abominable record on the road.

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It was an odd first half. The game, clearly subdued with both teams having little to play for, even with Rafa Benitez’s insistence that his team aren’t quite yet safe, meandered through the motions with a rhythmic pace, both teams enjoying periods of possession and pressure, only to relinquish that for the other over the following minutes.

Newcastle certainly looked to attack their visitors with a more direct approach, utilising the speed of Dwight Gayle and the precise long-range passing of Jonjo Shelvey to exploit the space in the channels in behind the Arsenal defence. Arsenal, meanwhile, were more patient in their play, looking to thread their way through the Newcastle lines before looking to feed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lazette from closer.

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Ironically, then, the game’s first goal came from Arsenal emulating Newcastle’s tactics. Shkodran Mustafi had time enough to survey the field, seeing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang make his characteristic bent run off the shoulder of the centre-half. Mustafi measured a lovely pass into the striker’s path, and an exquisite first touch, lofted cross and stretched Alexandre Lacazette volley later, and the ball was nestling into the net for the first goal scored at St James’ Park by an away team since January.

Aubameyang was the primary threat for the Gunners. He would be released by some intelligent Alex Iwobi play just moments later, only for his eventual shot to deflect off a Newcastle hand, which was not seen as worthy of a penalty, and career behind for a corner-kick. Nevertheless, playing in a wide-left role, the greater space that he enjoyed out there allowed him to pierce the defence with a series of diagonal runs. Some of there were found; some of them were not. Irrespective of their success, however, the pattern of pay was in place for future years.

But, this being Arsenal, their attacking threat was only matched by their defensive sleepiness. Indeed, it was Shkodran Mustafi and his numbness to danger that led directly to the Newcastle equaliser. Jonjo Shelvey played a lovely pass into the path of Dwight Gayle, a play that disconnected the Arsenal defence on far more occasions than Wenger would have liked, Gayle then played the ball wide for DeAndre Yedlin to deliver. The low cross flashed in front of Mustafi, who was not aggressive in looking to clear the ball, and Ayoze Perez, who was much the eager of the two, steered a shot brilliantly past Petr Cech.

Newcastle did continue to threaten, at least briefly. Calum Chambers struggled at right-back, a position that is clearly not well-suited to his skills, and Dwight Gayle’s movement was a persistent thorn in the Gunners’ side. Nevertheless, had Chambers converted one his two chances at the other end — a stretched volley akin to Lacazette’s goal; a clear header from a corner –, Arsenal would have been a goal up at half-time. Predictably, it is those moments of falling asleep that again undermines this team. No matter the quality of their work, their lack of attentiveness will cost them.

The second half was a far quieter affair. Arsenal dominated possession, controlling the game with greater ease, but created little, while Newcastle seemed happy to play a little more conservatively. In fact, chances were extremely difficult to carve out for the Gunners. Alex Iwobi, Arsenal’s most lively attacker, did drag a shot just past the near post after a nice turn in the midfield. But, in reality, a goal never looked that likely.

That was until the 68th minute. And, predictably, it was Arsenal sleeping again that cost them. A long throw down the touchline was poorly headed clear by Shkodran Mustafi, angling infield. Nacho Monreal, who was the first to the ball, then failed to head clear for the second time, directing it back where it had come, straight to Islam Slimani, who had just been introduced for Dwight Gayle. Slimani then showed the Arsenal defenders how to head a ball, powering a lovely pass into the path of Matt Ritchie, who finished well off his weak foot with Petr Cech charging him down.

Arsenal inevitably began to press for the equaliser — Danny Welbeck and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were introduced, the former seeing Alex Iwobi shifting into a central position. But, in reality, it was Newcastle who looked the more likely to add to the score. Kennedy hit the crossbar after Shkodran Mustafi recovered well to make a last-ditch, sliding block, before Ayoze Perez was sounded out by Nacho Monreal following some good work by Islam Slimani to slip the attentions of Mustafi once again.

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Arsenal huffed and puffed for the equaliser, but they created very little. Hopeful balls into the box, aimless passes around the penalty area. There was little guile or creativity. There was an absence of quality in the final third. A lack of attentiveness at the back. This was a typical Arsenal away performance, and it was utter rubbish.

Highlights