Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle: 2-0 defeat ends top four hopes

Arsenal lost potentially fatal ground in the top four hunt as an own goal from Benjamin White and another from Bruno Guimaraes secured Newcastle a 2-0 win in the Premier League on Monday.

Mikel Arteta was sweating on the fitness of his first-choice central defensive pairing after Benjamin White missed the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham and Gabriel hobbled off late on.

Both were fit, and both started.

The other changes saw Takehiro Tomiyasu move to right-back, Nuno Tavares slot in at left-back, and Emile Smith Rowe replace Gabriel Martinelli in the forward line.

Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle as Gunners’ top four ambitions suffer potentially fatal blow with 2-0 Premier League defeat

Arsenal were at sixes and sevens in the opening period with mistakes aplenty and careless giveaways out from the back. Aaron Ramsdale nearly got caught out by Callum Wilson when he dallied on the ball, with nerves noticeable across the whole team.

Tomiyasu was forced off with a hamstring injury, in a half that Newcastle utterly dominated. The Gunners couldn’t get any modicum of control on the match, with pass sequences barely surpassing three or four.

After the break there was hope for an improvement, only for Arsenal to once be the victims of their own downfall. This time White poked into his own net with Wilson lurking.

Arsenal didn’t look like scoring in a month of Sundays. Bruno Guimaraes’ goal to make it 2-0 was the least the Gunners deserved. Now hopes entirely rest on Norwich beating Tottenham.

So, yeah, that’s top four gone. Gutless showing.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 4/10 – While the slipping wasn’t his fault, Ramsdale was anything other than a calming influence in goal. His kicking was way off in any case and he floundered in and out of possession, with every long kick coming straight back to him.

To his credit, he made three solid saves. Not enough, though.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 3/10 – Saint-Maximin had the beating of Tomiyasu every single time, who did not look his usual robust and solid self. In the challenges he wasn’t as secure and this was a real test of his defensive credentials. Got run ragged until his withdrawal.

Benjamin White (CB) – 4/10 – Coming back from injury, this was a nervy performance from White. Too often he wanted to go long into Saka as opposed to playing through Newcastle’s press, and the ball kept coming back each and every time he did. The own goal soured a game where he did have some decent moments defensively.

Gabriel (CB) – 4/10 – Looked shaky, but who wasn’t? Almost as if he had his hamstring injury in the back of his mind. Showed his leadership with constant berating and communication with his teammates, yet still looked uncertain on the ball despite some big blocks.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 4/10 – Worries were that he would be Arsenal’s big problem on the night and he wasn’t. Defended his side decent enough, not causing any usual chaos, and was subbed for Lacazette with half an hour to go. A foul throw though, really?

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Midfielders

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – 3/10 – Tidy, but ineffective, often acting as a wall pass option and not much more.

This was a game where Partey’s carrying ability was sorely missed. Elneny did not impact the game enough, at either end. Refused to play the ball forwards.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 4/10 – Wasn’t able to wrestle any control on this game with him sitting so deep when receiving, as Arsenal struggled to deal with Newcastle’s high press.

Had a couple of neat feints to evade pressure but was part of a midfield that got overrun throughout.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 3/10 – Completed just five passes in the first half. Five.

Could not get into the game and we when doesn’t play well, or indeed touch the ball, invariably Arsenal don’t either. This was a game where Arsenal needed their big players, and Odegaard wasn’t there.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 4/10 – Tried to get found in behind Targett but the service was poor. Once again he stood tall physically and looked dangerous with the ball, but Odegaard not being in the game affected how he could operate.

Grew increasingly fatigued.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 4/10 – Ran nonstop, chasing lost causes even when his teammates didn’t press in the same way. When he did get on the ball he looked like one of the more assured players technically, but he was feeding off scraps.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 3/10 – Worked his socks off tracking back and trying to cover, but physically Smith Rowe couldn’t get into this game in the way he would have wanted. Duels were being lost and impact was absent.

Understandably came off shortly after the break.

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Substitutes

Cedric Soares – 4/10 – Dreadful.

Gabriel Martinelli – 4/10 – Immediately made an impact, with his energy and bite bringing something different to the attack, although mere moments after his inclusion came the own goal. So engaged it made him rush key moments, which broke down big moments.

Alexandre Lacazette – 3/10 – Didn’t get a sniff after coming on as part of a double strikeforce. With no midfield it didn’t help, but he was not involved at all.

Nicolas Pepe – 2/10 – Got bailed out with a dreadful ten yard pass across the field that White and Ramsdale bailed him out from.

Not long for this club.