Premier League 2018-19, Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

Arsenal coasted to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates to leapfrog Manchester United and Tottenham into the third spot in the Premier League Table.

The game wasn’t the greatest spectacle as the Gunners found it tough to find their rhythm at the start. However, once Aaron Ramsey’s opener went in on the half-hour mark, the Gunners controlled the game.

In the second half, the hosts’ play looked a lot more purposeful with them searching fervently for their second goal.

The net-bulger arrived seven minutes from time when Alexandre Lacazette played a superb one-two with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and deftly chipped the ball over the opposing goalkeeper.

While the victory enabled Arsenal to claim pole position in the race for the top four slots, the defeat left Newcastle stranded in 14th with them flirting dangerously with the idea of a potential relegation tussle.

Here is a look at five talking points from the game:

#5 Arsenal’s perseverance puts Newcastle away

The game at the Emirates was always expected to be a tight affair. Under Rafa Benitez, Newcastle has favoured calculation over creativity and the said trait was evident on Monday night too. Yet, the Gunners eventually broke down the Magpies’ rear-guard through sheer will.

In the opening period, Arsenal’s approach play looked slick. However, they were unable to carve any clear-cut opportunities. The closest the home side came to breaking the deadlock was when Ramsey’s goal was disallowed.

But, the Gunners’ dogged determination to keep posing questions paid off in the 30th minute when the Welshman scored.

In the second half, the hosts turned the screws and kept pushing and probing. Their endeavours were rewarded when Lacazette firmly put the game beyond doubt in the 83rd minute.

Through the course of the game, the Gunners only had seven shots at goal of which four were on target. But, they did enjoy the lion’s share of possession and stitched together 700 passes.

The hosts were diligent in their build-up and methodically moved the visitors’ defence across the pitch. Their exhaustion chasing the ball led to the lapse in concentration for the second goal. Thus, highlighting that the Gunners’ tactics bore fruit.

Over the past few years, Arsenal has been guilty of not putting such games to bed with their inability to mix patience and panache often a stumbling block. Yet, on Monday night, they showed that they might just have turned a corner.

And with push officially having come to shove, Unai Emery would’ve been thrilled with the triumph.

#4 Ramsey and Ozil star in midfield

For the game against Newcastle, Arsenal was without the services of Granit Xhaka (injury) and Lucas Torreira (suspension).

Hence, the Gunners had to deploy Matteo Guendouzi and Ramsey in midfield with the pair playing together in central midfield for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, the Arsenal faithful felt a little nervy about the selection. But, by the time the game ended, Unai Emery was vindicated in his decision to start the Welshman, in particular.

The midfielder was a bundle of energy throughout the game and contributed at both ends of the pitch. While he scored the opening goal, he was efficient in getting behind the ball and carrying out his defensive duties.

In the 67 minutes he was on the pitch, the Welshman made two tackles and several ball recoveries. Additionally, his passing wasn’t too shabby as he piled up 73 passes at an accuracy rate of 93.2%.

Yet, despite the midfielder’s accomplished performance, it was arguably the display of his German teammate that would’ve given Arsenal more joy.

Mesut Ozil has endured a troubled 2018-19 season so far. Initially, he started a few games but soon found himself isolated courtesy a string of injuries and questions over his work rate.

However, in the past few weeks, with an apparent difference in his effort off the ball, the German has been utilised more by Emery.

On Monday, Ozil was handed a free role behind the striker and the play-maker excelled. He roamed all across the pitch, shrugged off his markers and took up threatening positions in the opposition half. Though he couldn’t bag an assist, he did make 2 key passes in the game.

In addition, he also made 54 passes in the Newcastle half, whipped in three crosses and won three fouls.

While it would be still a little premature to label Ozil as being back to his best, there certainly are glimpses that the German is finally enjoying his football again.

At times this term, Ozil has mesmerised and frustrated in equal measure. Yet, against Newcastle, it was more a case of the former than the later.

And with the scuffle for the top four reaching fever pitch, the German’s return to form couldn’t have come any sooner for Arsenal.

#3 Newcastle dreadful all across the pitch

Newcastle United came into the game at the Emirates amidst a patchy run of form. After having enjoyed a decent February, the loss to West Ham and the draw to Bournemouth in March showcased their deficiencies as a team. On Monday, those shortcomings came to the fore again.

For long periods of the game, the visitors weren’t able to get a sniff of the ball. Their midfield looked listless with them being out-passed with worrying regularity. In addition, they couldn’t get close to Arsenal’s wing-backs as Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles had another field day in the attacking third.

Defensively, they looked organised but losses of concentration at crucial junctures cost them dearly. Though they were pretty dreadful across the pitch, their offensive play deserves special mention for being absolutely dire.

Salomon Rondon waged a lone battle in the attacking third as none of his teammates portrayed the bravery to make use of his hold-up play. Miguel Almiron had his first poor game for Newcastle while Ayoze Perez blew more cold than hot.

For a major chunk of the 2018-19 season, the Magpies’ attack has malfunctioned. The Tyneside outfit has only mustered 31 goals across 32 games, which incidentally is the lowest tally apart from that produced by the current bottom three.

With 35 points, Newcastle seems to be relatively safer than their rivals to avoid the drop. Yet, if such toothless displays characterise their upcoming games, they could well find themselves embroiled in a scrap they thought they had avoided.

#2 Lacazette shines up front

Unai Emery decided to tweak his formation against Newcastle and opted for a single-striker system. Hence, Lacazette was given the nod ahead of Aubameyang. Though there was a furrowed brow or two at the selection, the Frenchman ensured his Gabonese friend wasn’t missed.

The striker looked sharp from the outset and caused the away side’s defence problems. His propensity to run into channels troubled the Newcastle centre backs with the three defenders unable to track him adeptly. Moreover, he functioned as an ideal focal point and brought his teammates into play.

The first goal came about after some clever movement by Lacazette created space in the middle. Ramsey made the most of it, making the net ripple in the process.

The second goal, meanwhile, embodied the Frenchman in a nutshell. Sensing an opportunity, he played a quick one-two with Aubameyang before sumptuously clipping the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

A year ago, the striker was lambasted by the media with many even calling him an expensive flop. However, since the arrival of Aubameyang and Emery, Lacazette has scaled new heights and is now one of the top-drawer strikers in the land.

And with the Frenchman firing on all cylinders, the Champions League next season looks more realistic a dream as ever this term.

#1 Arsenal capitalise on Spurs’ slip

Emery has led Arsenal to third spot — Emery has led Arsenal to

At the turn of the year, Arsenal had a herculean task on their hands trying to wipe out the deficit on Spurs in third position. However, a couple of days into April, the Gunners have accomplished the task and sit a couple of points ahead of their eternal rivals.

At the weekend, Spurs contrived to lose again which kept their points tally over the previous five league games restricted to a grand total of one. Unsurprisingly, they are now in real danger of missing out on the top four, despite having spent the majority of the season in the said spots.

Thus, with their North London rivals slipping, the onus was on Arsenal to make Spurs’ blip count and they did so handsomely. The Gunners were far from their effervescent best yet had enough in the tank to see off a lackadaisical Newcastle United and catapult itself into the top three. And in clutch situations, it is the result that matters more than the performance.

The win against Newcastle coupled with the favourable run-in Arsenal boast of makes the battle for those slots theirs to lose now.

As for Spurs, if they do end up outside the top four, they can only look at themselves in the mirror and wonder where it unravelled so spectacularly and so promptly.