In what was a feisty affair from the Emirates on Tuesday night time, Arsenal finally needed to accept a 0-0 stalemate towards top-four rivals Newcastle.
Whereas the Gunners may need not less than briefly prolonged their buffer on the prime of the Premier League desk to eight factors, Mikel Arteta’s aspect might be feeling that they deserved to go away north London with extra to indicate.
Nonetheless, regardless of Eddie Nketiah spurring an exquisite likelihood within the closing moments, Newcastle put in one other rugged show away from St. James’ Park as they prolonged on what has been a exceptional run of kind this season.
With their sights firmly set on securing a shock Champions League spot in 2023, the Magpies additionally underlined why they’ve acquired many plaudits for his or her defensive resolve.
On an evening that was usually an ill-disciplined affair from the capital, we now have taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors.
Arsenal inch additional forward
Though Arsenal may need been annoyed with not widening their benefit to double digits on Tuesday night time, the Gunners will undoubtedly discover the temper of their camp at a red-hot excessive.
Whereas Arteta’s kids may need finally missed out on a Champions League return final season, the Gunners are within the midst of what might be a well-known marketing campaign in north London this yr.
Struggling only a single Premier League defeat this season and now holding a surprising eight-point buffer over defending champions Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal will now face an actual psychological take a look at throughout the second-half of the marketing campaign.
Persevering with to excel regardless of as soon as once more being with out attacking talisman Gabriel Jesus, Arteta may even be vastly excited by his aspect’s continued success in north London.
Doing the entire late pushing on Tuesday night time regardless of drawing their first Premier League clean of the season, the Gunners are actually unbeaten in every of their earlier 11 top-flight showdowns on the Emirates – a run that stems all the best way again to April ninth.
Newcastle’s exceptional defensive resolve
Whereas Arsenal would possibly discover themselves holding a stunning eight-point buffer over the chasing pack, Tuesday’s hosts are usually not the one Premier League outfit within the midst of a well-known flurry.
Though Eddie Howe’s aspect may need spent the vast majority of final season on the coronary heart of a relegation scrap, it’s no secret that the Magpies now have a Champions League spot on the prime of their agenda this yr.
As soon as once more displaying actual struggle in north London as they’ll really feel {that a} level was the least that they deserved, the previous Bournemouth boss has seen his aspect acquire an actual status for his or her defensive metal on both aspect of the World Cup break.
Whereas Newcastle may need needed to accept back-to-back 0-0 stalemates towards Arsenal and relegation scrappers Leeds, Howe’s males have now come away from every of their earlier six home matchups throughout all codecs – a run that stems again to November sixth.
In truth, delivery simply 11 Premier League strikes from their 18 appearances, Howe’s aspect have conceded three fewer targets than some other top-flight outfit this season.
All eyes fall on Stamford Bridge
At the very least briefly extending their buffer on the prime of the Premier League desk to eight factors in midweek, there isn’t a doubt that the entire Arsenal squad can be firmly watching Stamford Bridge on Thursday night time.
With Manchester Metropolis left shocked on the Etihad final week as they signed off 2022 with a 1-1 draw towards relegation scrappers Everton, Areta’s kids can be determined for his or her London rivals to do them a favour.
With Chelsea welcoming the defending champions to west London in 48 hours, the Gunners can be hoping that Tuesday’s minor slip-up is not going to show to be a pricey one.
Nonetheless, with Pep Guardiola’s aspect searching for an instantaneous response within the capital, Arsenal can be nervous by Chelsea’s continued struggles underneath Graham Potter.
Watching Chelsea must accept a 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest on New Yr’s Day, the previous Brighton boss has seen his aspect muster only a sole Premier League win from their final seven appearances.
Match Report:
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Subs: Tomiyasu
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Willock, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelinton, Wilson, Almiron
Subs: Wooden, Saint-Maximin, Murphy
Objectives: N/A
Yellow Playing cards: Arsenal: Zinchenko, Odegaard, Xhaka, Nketiah – Newcastle: Wilson, Joelinton, Almiron, Guimaraes, Lascelles
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Andy Madley