**Arsenal:** Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Eze, Havertz, Madueke
**Subs:** Kepa, Mosquera, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Trossard, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to three points after edging past Newcastle 1-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a first half strike from Eberechi Eze.
Mikel Arteta made one change from the side that lost to Manchester City last time out with Ben White replacing Cristhian Mosquera in the starting line-up.
Bukayo Saka was a welcome returnee to the substitutes bench after six weeks out but Riccardo Calafiori failed to make the matchday squad despite the manager hinting otherwise during his pre-match press conference.
**FIRST HALF**
There was a (really) early scare for Arsenal who were caught cold within the first 30 seconds when Osula was allowed to run through off the back of William Saliba but fluffed his effort with only David Raya to beat.
But the Gunners did settle and after a string of short corners, took the lead through Eze who found himself in space on the edge of the box after good play from Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz, before whacking a perfect strike into the far corner beyond Pope. [1-0](http://1-0 https://streamff.com/v/407862f2).
That was Eze’s seventh goal of the season and Arsenal’s 17th from a corner – an all-time Premier League record across a single campaign.
It was an important early goal for Arteta’s men which helped settle some nerves, but the game continued at a frantic pace with both sides looking to attack and Raya was needed at his best to deny a swerving half-volley from Tonali that dipped right in front of him.
With half an hour on the clock, there was more bad news for Arsenal with Havertz down on the turf and receiving treatment with what looked like a muscle injury. The German was quickly forced off and looked visibly gutted with Viktor Gyokeres replacing him up front.
That seemed to knock some energy out of the side who were struggling to keep the ball (or create anything) with any real conviction, and Newcastle probably edged the first half even if they didn’t create anything clear cut after going behind.
**SECOND HALF**
Neither side made a half-time change but it wasn’t long before Arsenal were making another injury enforced one, with Eze coming off less than ten minutes into the second half after signalling to the bench.
The goalscorer looked “slightly” more relaxed and took seat in the dugout which may suggest it was a precautionary decision, whereas Havertz went straight down the tunnel when he was forced off.
Time continued to tick by without much really happening, and the Gunners were starting to drop deeper with Newcastle probing in possession although the ball wasn’t sticking to any of their options up front.
There were some sights of goal with Declan Rice finding himself in a good position before declining to shoot for some reason, before Noni Madueke did well to find Martin Zubimendi in the box but his shot lacked power with two defenders in front of him.
With the clock running down, Newcastle were fortunate not be reduced to ten men after Pope came for – and completely missed – a long ball over the top before fouling Gyokeres as he attempted to run past.
The goalkeeper was booked by referee Sam Barrott but VAR did check for a red card offence, which was quickly dismissed even though Pope denied a clear goalscoring opportunity despite Thiaw covering behind him.
With ten minutes remaining there was another heart-in-mouth moment for Arsenal, who got caught when second-half substitutes Woltemade and Wissa combined but the former Brentford striker blazed over after being played through on goal.
Arteta wasted no time making two more changes after that scare, with Bukayo Saka replacing Madueke to healthy applause and Myles Lewis-Skelly deputising in midfield for Zubimendi.
Saka almost made an instant impact but his goalbound effort was deflected wide by Botman, before Martinelli and Odegaard both saw strikes saved by Pope before seven minutes of injury time were added on.
That number made no sense after a fairly uneventful half, but Arsenal continued to defend with their lives as Newcastle pushed forward with a number of crosses and set pieces being fired towards the goal.
There was a huge moment for Arsenal to end the game when Gyokeres broke in transition down the left but his pass inside was intercepted by Thiaw despite Saka and Rice running totally free alongside him, which surely would have finished the game.
Despite some nervy late moments, the Gunners eventually saw out the game for a crucial three points with everybody dropping to their knees on the pitch and those in the stands letting out enough air that could’ve taken the stadium off its hinges.
It wasn’t pretty. The injuries are a concern – but three points are three points. Over to Atletico.