Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players

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·8 janvier 2025

Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players

We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2.

Take a bow, lads, TAKE A BOW!!!

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I have no idea what Mikel Arteta will find to complain about, but anyone watching this, knows his team were well-beaten by the mighty Newcastle United.

We played like the home team for the first 20 minutes, then Arsenal seemed to get the measure of us, and came back into it. But a piece of genius by Mr Isak sent us into the break ahead.

Second half we got an unexpected second on the break, then just added players to the defence until Arsenal couldn’t see our goal.

Tactically we were spot on.

Even in the first half, Murphy was dropping into a back five when Arsenal were attacking, and when we did get the chance to attack, we flooded forward. I don’t think Arsenal played badly; we just played better.

We got just about everything right. Our key players turned up, our front three worked the goals between them, and every single player in a black and white shirt put in 100%.

A statement win, but to coin the cliché, it’s only half time in the tie. However, Arsenal won’t fancy the second leg at our place. I do.

Martin Dubravka – 9

I’d actually be happy for Dubravka to stay.

On this form, I’d put him ahead of Pope.

But his tears at the end suggest he’s off.

If he is, he can hold his head high. Another clean sheet, and some vital saves. Well played and thank you.

Tino Livramento – 9

Great in attack, great in defence (I may say this about a few players!).

Bags of energy and solid when under pressure.

Sven Botman – 9

Done for pace once, otherwise you’d never know he’d had such a terrible injury. Strong as an ox, brave as a lion, blocked everything they threw at him. As did…

…Dan Burn – 9

He’s one of those players that some Newcastle fans still have doubts about but this performance must have swayed some of them.

He was magnificent. Blocked, headed, tackled, and booted the ball into touch when he needed to.

Lewis Hall – 9

We are getting used to this sort of performance from Lewis Hall.

Arsenal could have played Nwaneri and Saka and I still think Hall would have bossed things. And he’s still developing.

Sandro Tonali – 10

My oh my, what a player we have here.

He plays the ball with time and composure, always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

My fear was that we’d miss Bruno, but we didn’t, Sandro was the main reason.

Joe Willock – 8

And Joe Willock was another reason we didn’t miss Bruno.

Played well, although he didn’t get a lot of the ball.

But his energy and commitment meant the Arsenal midfield got very little change out of us.

Joelinton – 8

His usual powerhouse performance.

Opposition fans hate him, for the same reasons we love him.

More of a defensive display than an attacking one from Joe tonight but he was excellent.

Jacob Murphy – 9

“Championship player at best”, according to many self-appointed experts.

Well, if that’s the case, Arsenal’s defence belong in League 2.

An assist and a half again and another positive performance. Defended well too.

Alexander Isak – 10

Can I give him 11? Everyone was saying he’s the best striker in the country before this game, and after the torrid time he gave Gabriel and Saliba (who are very good defenders), it’s hard to argue. He’s just class. Great movement, superb touch, and lethal in front of goal. His value has just gone well over £150m

Anthony Gordon – 9

Started a bit slowly, I thought, but once he hit his stride, he was great. Scored a poacher’s goal, was a threat in attack and a useful body in defence

SUBS:

Sean Longstaff – 6

All four subs were brought on to add legs and mostly to defend.

They did it well and they had to.

Sean was disciplined and focused. Exactly what we needed.

Harvey Barnes – 6

Got up the field once or twice, but by the time he joined the fray, we were playing a kind of 5-5-0 formation.

But he played his part in preventing Arsenal from getting back into it.

Lloyd Kelly – 7

I’ll give Kelly a bit of credit for his performance.

Arriving with 30 minutes to go, when Arsenal were ramping up the pressure, and being expected to go into a five-man back line can’t have been easy, but I thought he looked right at home.

Resisted everything that Arsenal threw at him and cleared his lines well.

Miguel Almiron – 5

Energetic as ever, just buzzed around for the 15 minutes or so he was on, without creating much.

But he was there to get in Arsenal faces and he did.

Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 – Tuesday 7 January 2025 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 37, Gordon 51

Arsenal:

Possession was Newcastle 31% (42%) Arsenal 69% (58%)

Total shots were Newcastle 7 (5) Arsenal 23 (14)