Newcastle United vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League
Olivier Giroud scored a first-half brace as Arsenal claimed a nervy 2-1 victory at Newcastle United on Saturday in the Premier League.
Facing a side with only 13 senior outfield players fit, Arsenal started slowly but took a 2-0 half-time lead through Giroud's quick-fire strikes in the 24th and 28th minutes. Newcastle improved dramatically after the breaking and pulled a goal back through Moussa Sissoko but were unable to find an equaliser despite dominating until the final whistle.
For Arsenal, the result will matter more than the performance, with the Gunners chasing a top-four finish and looking for a good response after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League midweek against Monaco. With the win, the Gunners remained in third place, moving up to 60 points through 30 matches, just one point behind Manchester City.
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For Giroud, meanwhile, it was another strong performance against a team he clearly fancies playing. The Frenchman has now scored in five straight Premier League matches and has netted eight times in his last six appearances against Newcastle.
Despite failing to hit top form at Newcastle, especially in the second half, Arsenal find themselves in good position to finish in the top four and claim a spot in the Champions League next season. With a bit of luck, the Gunners might even find a way back into the title race, with Chelsea only four points ahead—albeit with two games in hand.
Up next for Arsenal is a potentially pivotal home match against in-form Liverpool on April 4. The Reds have been the hottest team in the league since the New Year, and a victory for either side would provide enormous momentum for the run-in.
Newcastle play at rivals Sunderland on April 5, Easter Sunday.
The home side came into the match with only 13 senior outfield players fit and available for selection, as reported by Louise Taylor at The Guardian. The shortage highlighted the club's need to sign new players in the summer, especially in central defence, but it didn't stop Newcastle from starting strongly against Arsenal on Saturday.
In the second minute, Newcastle hit the Gunners on a quick counter following a giveaway by Aaron Ramsey. Moving down the pitch at pace, the hosts worked the ball to Ayoze Perez, who saw his shot blocked.
After their unsteady start, Arsenal had a sight of goal in the 13th minute. Following a free-kick, the ball bounded to Alexis Sanchez at the far post, where the Chilean had a shot blocked.
The visitors continued to improve, gradually seeing more time on the ball. In the 22nd minute, Giroud sliced open Newcastle's defence with an incisive pass in the box to pick out Ramsey's well-timed run. The Welshman found himself in a good position to test goalkeeper Tim Krul, but his first touch was poor and the ball trickled out harmlessly for a goal kick.
It didn't have an impact. Arsenal were suddenly purring in the attacking third, and the opening goal arrived two minutes later. Santi Cazorla curled in a free-kick from the right flank, picking out Danny Welbeck, who headed on into the face of goal. With an outstretched leg, Giroud redirected the ball into the net, tucking his first-time finish inside the near post past Krul.
Arsenal had another big chance two minutes later, as Sanchez chased down a long ball near the byline of the right. The Chilean pulled back a cross to Welbeck, who volleyed off target from the edge of the box.
Welbeck should have at least hit the target, but again, the missed opportunity made little difference. Two minutes later, Giroud netted another goal.
The chance came from another set piece, with Cazorla curling in a corner from the right. This time, Giroud outmuscled his marker, Mike Williamson, and deposited his header in the bottom corner for a 2-0 lead.
Newcastle maintained a threat on the counter but were unable to place a shot on target before half-time. That changed early in the second half, as the Magpies found a way back into the match with a quick goal.
In the 48th minute, Ryan Taylor and Remy Cabella combined well on the right, with the latter crossing dangerously into the box. With his first touch, Sissoko side-footed into the bottom corner to pull Newcastle within one goal at 2-1.
Suddenly, the hosts were well on top, creating danger every time they touched the ball. Just one minute after the goal flew in, Perez curled an effort inches over the bar with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina flailing.
In the 61st minute, Perez picked out Yoan Gouffran with a cross that deflected off the hand of Arsenal defender Calum Chambers. Gouffran had a good chance to score, but he sent a tame shot straight at Ospina.
Newcastle came even closer in the 64th minute, as Williamson headed on a corner to Sissoko, who flicked a second header on goal from close range. Ospina made a fine reaction save to keep his side ahead, but cracks were showing in Arsenal's defence.
With his side on the ropes, Wenger made a double change in the 71st minute. Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky entered, with Cazorla and Sanchez departing.
The move was designed to give Arsenal more stability, but still Newcastle had the upper hand. In the 74th minute, Cabella embarked on a thrilling run through Arsenal's midsection before trying a shot from the left side of the box. Ospina saved again after the ball deflected off an Arsenal defender.
Arsenal made a rare move forward in the 79th minute, with Welbeck forcing Krul to make a save with a shot from a narrow angle on the left.
Newcastle appealed for a penalty in the 82nd minute, as Cabella went to the ground in the box under a challenge from Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny. Referee Mike Jones waved away the home side's protests, allowing play to continue.
The pressure continued to mount, with Ospina kicking away a deflected Newcastle shot in the 87th minute. But for all their nerves in defence, Arsenal were able to see out the full 90 minutes without conceding again, claiming three more valuable points in their quest for yet another top-four finish.
Grades
| Tim Krul | 5.9 |
| Ryan Taylor | 6.9 |
| Daryl Janmaat | 6.7 |
| Michael Williamson | 6.8 |
| Jack Colback | 6.6 |
| Vurnon Anita | 6.3 |
| Moussa Sissoko | 7.9 |
| Yoan Gouffran | 6.9 |
| Remy Cabella | 7.4 |
| Sammy Ameobi | 6.9 |
| Ayoze Perez | 7.1 |
| Jonas Gutierrez (for Anita, 72') | 6.5 |
| Adam Armstrong (for Ameobi, 89') | No rating |
| David Ospina | 7.1 |
| Calum Chambers | 8.5 |
| Gabriel Paulista | 8.0 |
| Laurent Koscielny | 7.5 |
| Nacho Monreal | 7.4 |
| Aaron Ramsey | 6.5 |
| Francis Coquelin | 7.6 |
| Alexis Sanchez | 7.8 |
| Santi Cazorla | 7.4 |
| Danny Welbeck | 8.2 |
| Olivier Giroud | 9.0 |
| Mathieu Flamini (for Sanchez, 71') | 6.1 |
| Tomas Rosicky (for Cazorla, 71') | 6.0 |
| Hector Bellerin (for Welbeck, 89') | No rating |
Reaction
Newcastle manager John Carver, via BBC Sport:
"People said we had our flip-flops on but if you saw our second-half performance that's not the case. I'll keep driving the players on. They want to keep working and keep having a go. The criticism was a bit surprising because it came from an ex-player, and they know what we have to go through, but we certainly weren't on the beach today.
"
Arsenal goalscorer Olivier Giroud, via BBC Sport:
"We started well, on the front foot, we put the pace we wanted to into the game. The problem in the second half was we didn't play, I don't know why. We knew we needed a third goal but they put us under pressure and did well to come back.
It was a tough game but it is a really important win. Even though we are disappointed with the Champions League exit, we want to fight on until the end of the season.
"
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, via BBC Sport:
"We played one game in Manchester United, one at home to West Ham, one in Monaco in Tuesday and now here so that's three away games in two weeks. I'm proud of the performance we put in today.
…
We want to finish as high as we can, we have 60 points with eight games to go. If you look at the points we have taken in the last three months, it has been outstanding. So we just want to win and win and win.
…
(Giroud) is like every striker, he wants to score goals and the confidence comes from scoring goals, it's a vicious circle. He is a fighter and has improved technically.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez.
