3 positives & negatives from Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle

Positive #2: Solid play, lacked finishing touch.

Arsenal played solid in this match but they couldn’t quite put it together in the final third.

It was a match of inches, with efforts slightly missing their target or shots being slightly mishit. Eddie Nketiah had a great chance at the end but he was brilliantly denied by Nick Pope, while Gabriel Martinelli’s header slipped just wide of the post.

Arsenal were so close to being able to score in this match but just couldn’t make it happen. Newcastle are the best defensive team in the league and they performed stoutly once more. The Magpies were compact and their defensive line was tough to penetrate, so credit to them for not making it easy by any means for the Gunners.

Negative #2: Lack of subs

Arsenal made one (1!!!) sub in this match. Takehiro Tomiyasu came on for Ben White and played well after coming on, and he isn’t the issue here. The problem is that there was no attacking option that Arteta trusted off the bench to make an impact late on.

Both Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos were unused by the boss.

The way that this match went, it made sense for Arteta to stick with his starting attacking line, but a spark and fresh legs were badly needed. The return of Emile Smith Rowe cannot come soon enough for the Gunners, and here’s to hoping he can be fit enough to get a run out against Oxford United in the FA Cup before the North London Derby.

Arsenal has also made a second bid for Shaktar’s Mykhaylo Mudryk, who would be an electric addition to add to this side. If Arsenal are serious about a title bid, they need to add to their bench because matches are only going to become more congested down the stretch.

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