Newcastle United vs. Arsenal: 6 Things We Learned
Arsenal traveled north to Newcastle and walked off the pitch with a hard-fought 1-0 at St. James' Park.
It was always going to be a tough game, with both sides worn out by the hectic New Year's fixture pileup and Newcastle's impassioned home fans energizing their team, which had only lost once on their home ground all season.
The entire game was very evenly contested, but it only took Olivier Giroud poking a long free-kick past Tim Krul to break the deadlock and hand Arsenal three points. The Gunners hunkered down defensively to hold onto the lead that Giroud's first goal in over a month had given them.
Let's look at six things we learned from a game that took Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League table.
Olivier Giroud Redeemed Himself
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After running himself into the ground against West Ham on Boxing Day, there was no way Olivier Giroud could put in the same spirited effort against a dogged Newcastle side.
He did, however, break a goalscoring drought that had plagued him for over a month by placing himself in the right spot to head in a deep free-kick.
The finish might not have been spectacular, but Giroud is a player who only succeeds when he is confident and thus tends to score goals in spurts. Getting off the mark will help him tremendously, as Arsenal fans have been on his back for a string of goalless showings.
He was obviously winded toward the end of the match and seemed to injure himself slightly, but if the knock is not too serious he is set up for an overdue productive stretch.
Wenger Will Sacrifice Panache for Pragmatism
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In many ways, Arsenal's performance echoed the one they put in to beat Borussia Dortmund on the road earlier this season.
The formula is simple: nick a goal and stack the defense with tough players so that, while Arsenal invite pressure, they can absorb it and hold onto their slender lead for 10 or 15 minutes.
Arsene Wenger, who so values fluid, attacking football, saw the need to shut up shop in a very hostile environment with three invaluable points almost won.
Mathieu Flamini put in a valiant performance at left-back for 20 minutes and Theo Walcott's replacement by Carl Jenkinson allowed a five-man back line to just about hold on until the referee whistled for full-time.
Set Pieces Are Key
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Once again, we are reminded that one set piece can produce the single moment that is needed to snatch three points in a game whose tempo does not seem conducive to either side scoring.
Based on how poorly Arsenal were passing and moving through the minefield of Newcastle's midfield, it seemed impossible for them to breach the Toon's defense from open play.
Yet Olivier Giroud, whose large, powerful frame is immune to the fluctuations of form, positioned himself in just the right position to flick the ball past Tim Krul, who almost got a hand to the ball.
One little tap of Giroud's head on the ball—that was all it took. Arsenal are not terribly effective on set pieces, but their ability to vary their goalscoring methods is impressive.
Newcastle Only Revved Up When They Went Behind
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While Newcastle had some productive attacking forays and threatened Arsenal's goal on more than one occasion before the Gunners took the lead, it is fair to say that Alan Pardew would have been content with a draw.
Thus, the Toon, already a very physically robust side, took a mostly defensive shape and were extremely difficult to break down.
Arsenal never broke Newcastle down in open play, but Pardew's men obviously did not count on giving up a goal on a set piece. Only then did they really attempt to attack with any purpose.
Equal credit must go to Arsenal, however, for doing just enough to stave off Newcastle's pressure.
Arsenal Can Win the Tough Games
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Cliche it might be, but teams that win titles manage to grind out victories in matches when they are clearly not at their best.
Arsenal certainly were not against Newcastle. With several key players missing, the Toon's constant defensive pressure and unrelenting physicality prevented the Gunners from establishing an attacking rhythm and playing their flowing style.
It is also very difficult to put one's nose to the grindstone when tired, and Arsenal were clearly somewhat worn down by this annually intense period.
Yet they did all they needed to do, especially in defense. Despite multiple yellow cards and intense pressure toward the end of the game, Arsenal held on when many of their forebears would have crumbled.
Arsenal Have Depth
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How telling is it that Arsenal were without Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal (in addition to long-term absentees such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby) and Arsene Wenger was still able to not only field a competitive team but rotate in some areas as well.
No more must Wenger rely on a core group of about 13 internationals who are backed up by mediocre benchwarmers and youth team players.
Mikel Arteta was rested in favor of Mathieu Flamini, and the latter replaced Kieran Gibbs because of the absences of Vermaelen and Monreal. Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla rounded out a still-world-class midfield, and Lukas Podolski did not even play after an excellent performance against West Ham.
Obviously, Arsenal are deeper in certain positions than others, but if Wenger can get almost all of his players fit at one time, the Gunners might just have the options needed to push for the title—options he has not had in several years.
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