Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle: Pathetic Toon embarrassed at the Emirates

Newcastle would’ve been better off staying at home. Whether it was errors, misplaced passes, non-existent marking or a total lack of quality all over the pitch, we didn’t turn up in any department.

A Sven Botman own goal followed a dominant opening quarter of an hour for the Gunners and Kai Havertz doubled the score minutes later. Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior made it four before 70 minutes. Perhaps the only positive on the night saw fit-again Joe Willock grab a consolation goal six minutes from full-time.

Eddie Howe made three changes from the team that drew with Bournemouth last time out, with Tino Livramento replacing Dan Burn, Loris Karius coming in for an unwell Martin Dubravka and Alexander Isak replacing Harvey Barnes.

Despite Arsenal’s early onslaught, there was a hint of misfortune in how the opening goal came.

Following a header from an unmarked Gabriel at a corner, Karius made a decent initial save. But a melee of black and white limbs failed to get rid of the ball and it bounced off the knee of Botman over the line.

But if the opener was perhaps fortunate, the second was clinical and precise from Arsenal and very poor from the Toon. A sublime lofted ball to Martinelli took out a lethargic looking Newcastle back line and the Brazilian’s squared pass to Havertz was only going to result in a goal.

Karius made a good save to deny Saka in the final 10 minutes of the half, but as excellent as Arsenal looked, we looked in equal parts terrible.

Howe’s Mags could count themselves lucky not be behind by more by the time the whistle went for half-time. A reset was sorely needed after the Toon failed to have a single shot within the first 45 minutes for the first time in 10 years.

Newcastle had made two changes just after the hour mark, but almost immediately after Saka found himself in space on the right side and cut in on his left to curl the ball past the onlooking Karius into the far corner.

Yet another set piece brought about Arsenal’s fourth as Kiwior turned the ball in after 69 minutes, compounding a dreadful night for the Mags who looked vulnerable at almost every Arsenal set play.

But it wasn’t to be a whitewash as substitute Joe Willock, returning from injury, scored a looping header after getting on the end of a Burn cross – himself a sub. While the goal ensured Arsenal did not keep a clean sheet, it was the only real chance we fashioned.

We lacked fight throughout the night, making far fewer fouls than we have become accustomed to. Mikel Arteta wanted retribution for what he saw as an unfair Toon victory in the reverse fixture. He got exactly what he wanted and we made it easy for his Gunners side.

On to Blackburn in the FA Cup next and a reaction is well and truly needed. This was embarrassing tonight.

STARTING XI: Karius – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Livramento – Longstaff, Bruno, Miley – Almiron, Isak, Gordon. 

SUBS: Gillespie, Lascelles, Ritchie, Barnes, Krafth, Hall, Murphy, Willock, Burn.