The Gunners ensured that the Premier League title race will go right down to the wire with a stirring victory at St James' Park
Arsenal are not giving up this Premier League title race without a fight! Many felt this would be the day that Manchester City would all but seal the title without even kicking a ball, but Mikel Arteta’s team didn’t read the script as they claimed a fabulous 2-0 win at Newcastle.
It was a victory that guaranteed the Gunners at least second place in the table and, more importantly, it saw them move to within one point of City with just three games remaining.
Martin Odegaard was excellent, just as he was against Chelsea in midweek, and it was the Arsenal captain who opened the scoring in the first half with a low drive that flew into the bottom corner from outside the box. Both teams then had chances in what was frenetic encounter, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Odegaard all wasting glorious opportunities to extend Arsenal’s lead before the interval.
Newcastle then hit the post through Alexander Isak before Aaron Ramsdale made a sensational stop to keep out a point blank header from Fabian Schar. That was a key moment in the game, as Schar later put through his own net soon after some excellent play from Martinelli to double Arsenal’s lead and seal a win that proved they are not yet ready to wave the white flag amid City’s relentless end of season form.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from St James' Park…
Getty ImagesWINNER: Aaron Ramsdale
What an afternoon the Arsenal keeper had. He made some excellent saves, but the one he produced in the second half to keep out Schar’s close-range header was up there with the best saves you will see all season.
The fact he managed to get his hand to it was one thing, but the fact he was then strong enough to somehow claw it out was another. But it wasn’t just his shot stopping, the way he commanded his area and and dealt with so many high balls was hugely impressive.
It was a top display from the England international. One of his best of the season.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Thomas Partey
On paper, this was a game made for Thomas Partey. It wasn’t long ago that it would have been inconceivable to think that Arsenal would go to a place like St James’ Park with Partey available and he wouldn’t be in the starting XI.
But that’s what happened on Sunday, with Arteta sticking with Jorginho after the Italy midfielder's fine showing against Chelsea.
Jorginho was impressive in that midweek success, but the expectation was Partey would come back into the side against Newcastle just to help Arsenal deal with the home side’s physicality. The fact that he didn’t says a lot about Partey’s form right now, and begs the question as to whether he will return to the starting line up during the final three games of the season, especially given the quality of Jorginho' performance.
GettyWINNER: Martin Odegaard
There’s not much more you can say about Arsenal’s captain at this point. Odegaard was excellent once again at Newcastle, just as he was against Chelsea in midweek.
The home side were all over the Gunners early on at St James’. Park, and looked like only a matter of time before their incessant pressure led to the opening goal. Arteta’s side desperately needed someone to stand up and make something happen, and it was their skipper who obliged, turning the game on its head with a wonderful strike from distance to break the deadlock.
It was Odegaard’s 15th goal of a superb season, equalling a record set by Cesc Fabregas for a number of goals scored by a midfielder for Arsenal in a single Premier League season. A captain leading by example.
LOSER: Chris Kavanagh
This was a staggeringly bad performance from Chris Kavanagh. The referee lost control of the game early on was completely unable to get it back.
He let so many things go and it gave license to the players to commit some awful challenges. The fact it took 71 minutes for the first yellow card to be shown was incredible.
Players from both sides got away with challenges that should have seen them punished far earlier. It was very fortunate that no-one was badly injured. Kavanagh just looked completely out of his depth.