Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United
by Layth Yousif
at the Emirates Stadium
EBERECHI EZE’S goal after nine minutes was enough to beat Newcastle United and seal three precious points for Arsenal.
On a gloriously sunny late April on Saturday afternoon in north London, Mikel Arteta’s side moved back to the top of the Premier League after leapfrogging Manchester City.
With Pep Guardiola’s side embroiled in a hard-fought FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton at Wembley Stadium at the same time, victory was imperative for the Gunners.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “I’m really happy with the win. We talked about game one and how important that was. We probably should have finished it with a bigger margin in certain moments of the game. But when it’s 1-0, it’s always tough.”
Bukayo Saka returned to the Arsenal squad as a substitute following his achilles injury.
Arteta made a single change from the defeat to Manchester City, with Ben White replacing Cristhian Mosquera at right-back.
Kai Havertz was once again preferred to Viktor Gyokeres, while captain Martin Odegaard also started.
Riccardo Calafiori was not involved despite Arteta saying he would be included in the squad.
Eddie Howe made five changes, with goalkeeper Nick Pope recalled in place of former Gunner Aaron Ramsdale for his first start since February.
Dan Burn was handed a rare start at left-back in place of Lewis Hall, who was substituted at half-time against Bournemouth for “tactical reasons.” Another former Gunner Joe Willock lined up against his former club for his first start in six weeks.
William Osula kept his place after scoring each of Newcastle’s goals against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, with the Dane line-up either side of Willock and Jacob Murphy in an attacking trident, with record signing Nick Woltemade benched.
After Eze fired wide on seven minutes, it was instructive that the Magpies failed to pick him up two minutes later following Noni Madueke’s corner that went longer to confuse the complacent Newcastle backline. Eze, who is such an exciting attacker, was fed the ball by Havertz, cut inside slightly before unleashing a superb effort across Pope and into the far corner, to put the home side ahead in the north London sunshine.
Arsenal now hold the individual season record in the top-flight for most goals from corners (17) and most goals from corners, to go 1-0 up (10). Indeed, since the start of the 2022-23 season, Eze has now scored the most goals from outside the penalty area in the competition with 10.
Sandro Tonali fired in a swerving drive that wrong-footed David Raya, but the Gunners keeper managed to palm the ball away as Newcastle started to gain a foothold in the match as we neared the half-hour mark.
Havertz was forced off with an injury shortly afterwards, with Gyokeres taking his place. Worse was to follow for Arsenal’s sick list when goalscorer Eze had to depart the field of play after picking up an injury after the break.
Arteta said: “Eze is a big player for us and he’s in a really good moment. He produced an incredible moment to score the goal. Hopefully he’s fit and he can be with us on Wednesday,” when Arsenal travel to the Spanish capital to face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League.
Newcastle keeper Pope was extremely fortunate to stay on the pitch with 15 minutes remaining, when he recklessly raced out of his goal to tangle with Gyokeres, before hauling the Arsenal striker down. Referee Sam Barrott opting to dispense a yellow card, backed up by VAR.
Five minutes later, Wissa should have equalised for Newcastle, but lifted his effort high over the bar, after Woltemade and Willock were gifted far too much space in the build up. A huge let-off for the Gunners.
As the clock ticked down, Harvey Barnes crossed for big Dan Burn to test Raya, but, while the header was emphatic, it was aimed straight at the Gunners keeper, as Newcastle allowed another late chance to go begging.
There was still time for Odegaard to fire in a low drive that Pope turned behind, as the home side hung on to move back to the top of the Premier League. For now.