Arsenal continued their impressive form in the Premier League by defeating Newcastle 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. This victory brought them within two points of the league leaders, Liverpool.
After a disappointing 1-0 loss in the Champions League against Porto, Mikel Arteta’s team bounced back strongly in the domestic league, scoring 25 goals in six consecutive Premier League wins.
Effective set-piece plays led to an own goal off Sven Botman, as well as goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Jakub Kiwior to secure Arsenal’s win over Newcastle.
The Gunners, aiming to claim their first league title in two decades, are in red-hot form but currently sit third in the league standings, just one point behind second-placed Manchester City. With 12 games remaining in the season, the title race is finely poised.
Newcastle’s Struggles…
Newcastle’s defeat dealt a blow to their hopes of securing European football next season. Eddie Howe’s team, currently in eighth place, is 15 points behind the top four and has conceded 23 goals in their last eight league matches.
Goalkeeper Loris Karius, making only his second appearance since joining Newcastle in 2022, was unlucky with Arsenal’s opening goal, which resulted from a deflection off Botman after Karius parried a header from Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arsenal’s proficiency in set-pieces was evident as they scored their 19th goal from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.
Despite Newcastle’s efforts, Arsenal showcased their quality with Havertz and Saka adding to the goal tally. Jorginho’s precise assist to Martinelli leading to Havertz’s goal highlighted the Gunners’ attacking prowess.
Saka’s consistent form was evident as he scored his seventh goal in five games. Havertz’s involvement in the buildup to the third goal, converted by Saka, further emphasized Arsenal’s dominance in the match.
Impact of Set-Piece Coach Nicolas Jover…
Arsenal’s success from set-pieces has been attributed to the work of their set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover. The team’s threat from dead balls was once again evident as Kiwior scored from a corner delivered by Declan Rice.
Newcastle managed to pull one back late in the game through Joe Willock’s header, but it was merely a consolation goal as Arsenal sealed a convincing victory.
Arsenal’s performance against Newcastle showcased their determination to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the league title, proving that they have the resilience to sustain their push in the final stages of the season.
AFP