Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle: 4 Things We Learned From FA Cup Win

Arsenal secured a 2-0 win over Newcastle in the defence of their FA Cup title on Saturday.

Following three morale-boosting Premier League wins on the spin, the performances of many Arsenal players was reminiscent of the torrid spell endured before Chelsea came to the Emirates Stadium.

A relatively lively opening, the kind that has been widely praised over recent weeks, filtered away soon enough and the lethargic, laboured and overindulgent style that became the norm in north London returned to the fore.

There were still chances in the first half for the hosts, but no breakthrough was found. The second half went by with Newcastle flexing their muscles gradually more, and in the end they were unfortunate to not snatch victory.

Andy Carroll missed a sitter before Bernd Leno saved his side’s skin late on from the same foe. Extra-time saw the substitutes steal the show, with Emile Smith Rowe firing in the opener before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added some undeserved gloss to the scoreline.

Here’s what we learned.

Second String Lagging Behind

Over the past three fixtures before Saturday evening, the tables had turned on what would be perceived as Arsenal’s strongest side.

At the start of the season, Nicolas Pepe and Willian would have been in that bracket. Including early form, Mohamed Elneny would have, too. There is now zero debate over who is first choice for the club in the Premier League.

Securing nine points from the previous three fixtures, the general pace of Arsenal’s play and the enhanced movement in the opposition half of the pitch has been paramount to the improved performances. With the likes of Willian, Pepe, Cedric Soares and Elneny taking up their place in the second string against Newcastle, the drop off in fluency was painfully noticeable.

Every player who isn’t a regular fixture in the first team had no understanding for the economy of touches. Each time possession was assumed, play stagnated to a halt with one, two, sometimes even three touches too many.

All of Arsenal’s best spells in matches have come when each player takes less time on the ball. Quickness of thought, touch and movement make for more incisive and unpredictable play, none of which was evident until the latter stages against the Magpies.

No risk was involved either, and it took the introduction of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to inject urgency into a game stuck in first gear. Pepe showed glimpses of it, just without end product.