By now most of you would have read the varied opinions of all the wind-up merchants and bad actors who come out of hiding whenever Arsenal lose, we all know them and by and large we have the common sense to ignore them – many unfortunately don’t!
Ok, where to begin, one game doesn’t make a season but alternatively some individual games can break a season and we might have just suffered one of those.
Let’s not beat around the bush, after the referee influenced dropped points at City, Bournemouth and at home to Brighton you couldn’t help but feel that this wasn’t going to be our season in the Premier League, it just happens that way.
Then the injuries to Odegaard and then Saka, both huge body blows that only somebody gaslighting could ignore. We saw how losing Saliba in 2022/23 derailed that season, we’ve seen how injuries to Van Dyke and Rodri/De Bruyne affected Liverpool and Man City in recent and current seasons so why should anyone think it wouldn’t affect Arsenal?
And then there was the virus, ok this sounds like excuses and yes they are, viable excuses that have influenced our season.
But as it stood yesterday, despite all the issues, Arsenal were still 2nd in the EPL, comfortably situated in the CL, home to a Man Utd team that didn’t know whether it was Arthur or Martha in the FACup and in the LCSF, not bad for a club in ‘crisis’…
Newcastle came to the Emirates without Bruno in midfield, they’d never won when he was absent before but they were in hot form and Botman was fit to start so defensively they were strong. The Newcastle fans took up most of the Clock End so no Ashburton Army and not as energetic an atmosphere from the home fans as you’d expect in such an important game.
Arteta picked a really competitive team, Havertz was back and Timber returned after suspension, Sterling was on the bench along with Jesus. Trossard operated in the Saka role and worked hard but it wasn’t his night, Martinelli should have scored, but lets be blunt here, how confident do you feel when he’s running at goal, do you expect him to score because I don’t? Well he hit the post and that reminded me of the Merino miss at Brighton, sliding doors, a goal that can change the whole outcome of a tight game, Martinelli missed, Isak did not.
Newcastle were resolute in defence and dangerous in attack, this wasn’t a game that Arsenal could dominate, Timber headed over and Saliba came close with a low shot that the enormous Dan Burn got his basketball frame in to block. Odegaard was not at the top of his game and Havertz looked like he’d just got over a debilitating illness although to his credit he played the entire game.
Newcastle took the lead as the 1st half drew to a close, a long ball by the Geordie goalkeeper sailed (just) over the head of Saliba, it pin-balled around as red and black boots challenged for it and then, there it was, somehow at the feet of Isak in front of goal with just Raya to beat and he rifled it into the roof of the net. He didn’t make a meal of his celebration, maybe with an eye on the summer perhaps, but the hope just seemed to ebb away from the home fans. We were struggling to score and Newcastle know how to kill a game, it’s a storyline we’ve seen before.
Saliba and Gabriel had been below par, Partey was invisible, Rice was working manfully, Martinelli was running, Timber played well but I wonder was this a game for Ben White? Lewis Skelly was the star for me 1st half, this kid is a baller.
Half-time and it was a subdued queue for the toilet and refreshments.
The 2nd 45 began brightly, Arsenal pushed deep into the Newcastle half but after only 6 minutes Newcastle countered, Partey was on his heels as Isak shot across Raya who made a good save but Gordon followed in the rebound with Timber slow to react, it was a killer. Both Newcastle goals had an element of fortune but they were also very simple in their execution, one touch, no over elaboration, just clinical.
Newcastle had been hunting down the red shirts in packs all game and that went up a notch as they switched to ‘what we have we hold’ mode or 4 5 1. But the Gunners opened them up, a deflected Trossard cross looped up and Havertz stole in to head us back into the game, or that’s what should have happened but he misjudged his header and the ball bounced wide via his shoulder, it was gut wrenching.
Arteta then took off the ineffective Partey and Trossard for Jorginho and Jesus, still no Stirling, how fit was he? Saliba headed over from a corner following some more scrambles in the Newcastle area, Willock was playing as if his life depended on the result, Dan Burn was all over Gabriel at corners desperately trying to exchange shirts before the final whistle.
The last 20 minutes was basically Newcastle showing an appreciation of how Arsenal defended at Man City earlier in the season, a lot of scrambles, some determined defending and a lot of effort by Arsenal trying to get a goal back. Jorginho came closest with a drive that just went over the bar, but that elusive Arsenal goal that would keep this tie alive, wouldn’t come.
Apparently no team has lost a League Cup semi-final 1st Leg by 2 or more goals and reached Wembley so the portents don’t look great. Can Arsenal do it at St James’s Park, well yeah of course we can, we can win 2-0 and go through on penalties or win 3-0 but Newcastle are experts at killing games and if we concede up there it’s over.
So whilst it’s not over yet it’s also not an ideal scenario.
Arsenal didn’t play badly but we lacked a bit of zip, Newcastle defended well and took their chances, we fluffed ours, it’s disappointing because this is a competition we could and should be winning, because we need some success to keep our stars contented and settled. Sunday is going to be huge…
By Allezkev