3 standout players from away win over Newcastle

Arsenal faced a tough test on Sunday.

Away at one of the most boisterous grounds against a team that has been playing exceptionally well and that knocked them out of the Champions League spots last year, the players were under immense pressure.

All of these factors are important but the title challenge has yet to be mentioned. With a loss against Newcastle, the title race would effectively be over. It was a must-win game, and Arsenal delivered.

Here are three standout players from the impressive away win over Newcastle.

3 standout players from away win over Newcastle

1. Jorginho

Thomas Partey’s form in recent games saw him dropped against Chelsea. While his poor showing against Manchester City may have been down to injury, Mikel Arteta decided to deploy his January signing against their city rivals. Jorginho’s solid performance resulted in him keeping his spot for Newcastle.

Question marks arose immediately. Would Jorginho be able to handle the physicality, pace and power of Newcastle’s midfield? Would he be overrun? Could he cover enough ground to shield his back four? Despite these doubts, he performed well. Using his experience and leadership to guide Arsenal through the game, the midfielder’s technical ability was also key.

His passing enabled Arsenal to play the way they wanted to play. He fired passes inside while also knowing when to just keep possession. The Italian’s ability to control the tempo of play is unique in this squad and it allowed the team to walk away with a crucial three points.

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2. Martin Odegaard

After scoring two goals against Chelsea in midweek, Odegaard added to his tally once again at St. James’ Park. His goal against the Magpies was crucial. With Newcastle supporters in full voice, something special would be needed to quiet the crowd. His goal was special indeed, receiving it perfectly before firing into the bottom corner from well outside the box.

While his technical ability has never been questioned, his ability to contribute goals from midfield was doubted. He has dispelled those doubts throughout the campaign, scoring 15 times. He now has the Premier League record for most non-penalty goals scored in a single season by a midfielder.

Like Jorginho, his passing ability was also on display against Newcastle. He created several chances for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka with delightfully weighted balls. He created for himself as well, getting more shots on target after his goal. Hopefully, his good form can continue against Brighton.

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3. Aaron Ramsdale

Clean sheets have been rare for Arsenal in the past few weeks. No man will have felt that pain more than Aaron Ramsdale, whose drought ended on Sunday.

He made several outstanding saves to keep Arsenal in the game. His proactive nature could also be seen clearly. He came out bravely for corners and other crosses. Keepers in the past have been reluctant to come off their line, conceding easy chances to dangerous players. Ramsdale, however, is hungry to claim the ball and did so well on Sunday.

The Englishman’s ability in possession allowed the team to play their game. His passing was crisp, moving it quickly and accurately to his backline and even further up the pitch. He broke the lines on several occasions, sliding passes into midfield to the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jorginho. While Arteta will not be pleased with how many shots Newcastle got off, Ramsdale did his part to help secure the win.

Arsenal performed admirably in the face of pressure. With Manchester City hoping their rivals will drop points, the team rallied and continued their form from midweek. St. James’ Park is one of the most difficult grounds to visit, and Arsenal walked away with a win and a crucial three points. They will be looking to continue this form at home against Brighton.