The Arsenal MO has always been the same, to cheat both ways…

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The Mag

·3 de noviembre de 2024

The Arsenal MO has always been the same, to cheat both ways…

Right, so it’s Tuesday night and I’m chatting to some mates about the aftermath of last weekend’s loss at Stamford Bridge.

We didn’t play terribly there and but for a couple of key moments, Newcastle United might have left with something.

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Anyway, I said that the week ahead could be definitive, were we to gain revenge on Chelsea in the league cup, then get the benefit of a decent home draw in the quarters which would be a confidence booster that might kick on positively into the match with Arsenal.

This sense of optimistic foresight was instantly dismissed, poo-poohed and scoffed at by my friend David Armstrong, who cemented his status as a massive idiot by blurting out wrongisms in between bites of crayon. Needless to say, I had the last laugh.

The cup situation had flipped the narrative of the season exactly as I had hoped and this was reflected in an atmosphere that was buzzing from the off, 12:30 kick offs have a tendency to make for a sluggish mood all round, but for whatever reason the crowd was well up for this one.

It’s possible this was fired up by the recent niggle with the Gunners, after their petulant manager and legions of weird online followers had a season long hissy-fit after our win here last season, seemingly counting it as three points robbed despite their not having a shot on target and Kai Havertz failing to see red after halfing Longstaff.

The team selection today included said Longstaff but saw no room for Tonali, with Bruno restored and the effective Joelinton/Willock left sided link up retained. It felt equally harsh that both Krafth and Kelly were left out after strong showings in midweek, but Burn and Livramento returned to a starting lineup with a familiar feel to it.

There was something reassuringly familiar about the performance that followed as well. As with Wednesday night, the press was back, the running on either flank was giving the defence something to worry about and the midfield looked more than capable up against Rice and ex-Mag Mikel Merino. Early promise swiftly turned to tangible rewards with a move started, as so many are these days, by a magnificent ping out from the back by Schar. Willock knocked it to Isak, who found Longstaff, and his neat ball slid in for Gordon wide on the right. The first time cross that Gordon delivered absolutely magnificent, straight onto Isak’s head to direct past Raya. A lovely flowing move rounded off by a special assist described as “a cross from the 90’s” by none other than Alan Shearer.

With only 12 minutes on the clock there was plenty of time to fear an Arsenal comeback, but what little threatening they did, was efficiently dealt with by strong performances all over the pitch. Longstaff was great, subtly showing what he adds to this team. He’s always in a position to disrupt counter attacks, even when he doesn’t actually get a foot in, the midfield is far more difficult to bypass. Livramento made a positive return in dealing with the misfiring Martinelli but the outstanding performance from a glut of quality showings came on the left side, where Lewis Hall was once again brilliant. Saka’s contributions first half were limited to a half chance header as the England winger was utterly shut down by the United left back. Hall also made the most critical defensive intervention as Arsenal created a goalmouth scramble from one of their many corners, which ended with Merino smashing a goalbound effort that was heroically blocked by the omnipotent youngster.

The second half presented United once again with the challenge of kicking uphill towards the Leazes. I am starting to think that Bruno sees this as a good thing and is deliberately sending us the wrong way, as it seems impossible that he’s lost five tosses in a row at home.

The chances seemed to be opening up more regularly than in recent times as the link up on the left between Hall, Joelinton and Willock worked to excellent effect, whether it was defensively in quieting Saka and co. or as an attacking unit. Willock looked up for sickening his former side again, going through and blazing over the bar and smashing another shot straight at Raya. Isak also tested the goalie with a powerful drive that was parried out, unfortunately to safety with Gordon lurking in the box.

Arsenal switched things up considerably, sending on Jesus, Zinchenko, White and Nwaneri in moves aimed at giving more attacking impetus. Howe was slightly later with freshening up the team, with Tonali for Willock on the hour mark the only change before the dying moments. Things turned from the enjoyment of a quality Newcastle performance to teeth gnashing nervousness as the clock ticked down and the defence of a single goal lead was the obvious intention.

Moments kept occurring that quickened the heart rate. Saka’s deflected cross found Jesus in space but as he set himself to shoot Gordon stole in from nowhere to nick the ball away, his last act before being replaced by Barnes. Then in injury time Saka managed to get a rare clean ball over to Rice at the far post, only for his poorly directed header to bounce harmlessly wide. Dark arts were employed to run down injury time, with Pope claiming an injury requiring treatment and Kelly’s introduction from the bench eating up some valuable seconds.

The whistle came to more raucous response from a crowd that had been well up for it, a sharp contrast to the subdued atmosphere against Brighton. It also puts paid for me to daft suggestions that the make up of the crowd today is universally poor compared to ten/twenty years ago, when you absolutely definitely saw similar fluctuations. I can’t speak for the atmospheres of terraces before my time, but then these days you don’t have rickets, smallpox and people pittling in your pocket.

This win could do all sorts of good. Back into the top half of the table with the option to close back in on Europe if this level of performance continues at the City Ground, against a Forest side with ambitions at the top end themselves. After a tough run of fixtures the matches between now and Christmas offer the possibility for some decent progress should consistency be finally achieved.

As well as our own positives, it is of course always nice to knack Arsenal’s ambitions. The Gunners’ behaviour after both last year’s game here and the previous season’s draw at the Emirates has been shameful and created a real mini grudge.

Arsenal’s MO has always been the same, to cheat both ways by rolling around and faking injury, then committing heinous fouls themselves that often escape deserved punishment.

This seems to have extended to the supporter base and manager, who repeatedly accuse us of excessive use of the dark arts when a quick check of the facts shows it’s them that top the table of time wasted during games this season. The ridiculous practice of stealing yards at every free kick and throw ins can only be designed to wind up the home crowd, a tactic that backfired horribly here today as they faltered weakly when faced with an up for it SJP. It’s likely a preference that will differ from person to person, but I’d rather see Man City or Liverpool win the title than this lot, every time.

For Newcastle though, time to look forward.

I do wince a bit at the extra points we could and maybe should have acquired over the past month or so, but things just may have clicked in the past week. I look forward to sharing my next predictions with Dave Armstwrong today and I’d urge anyone to do similar with your local naysayer.

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0 – Saturday 2 November 12.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 12

Arsenal:

Possession was Newcastle 36% Arsenal 64%

Total shots were Newcastle 9 Arsenal 10

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Arsenal 1

Corners were Newcastle 4 Arsenal 6

Touches in the box Newcastle 17 Arsenal 32

Newcastle United team v Arsenal:

Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Bruno (Kelly 90+5), Willock (Tonali 65); Gordon (Barnes 85), Isak, Joelinton