Arsenal found the perfect opponents in Newcastle United to get back into the groove before their match against Manchester United. After a crushing loss to Liverpool, the Gunners needed a boost or some kind of positive result before facing yet another top Premier League team. As the hosts registered their 7th league victory of the season, some new lessons were learned during the course of the match.
The Gunners put on a fairly decent performance against the Magpies. However, they should have capitalised on the opportunities to score more goals against the visitors. The 2-0 win against Newcastle United had many shades, highlighting “everything is not yet green” for Arsenal.
Arteta will be a happy manager with the win, but he must take note of some worrying signs before they become major problems for his side. Following are some essential learning points that should be noted from the Arsenal vs Newcastle United game.
1. Arsenal Midfield Still Craving For Xhaka Return:
The Arsenal midfield had a comparatively good match, but still couldn’t manage to dictate the pace of the game. Partey particularly needed to step up and control the game from the deep. It seems like the Gunners are missing Xhaka in midfield.
Xhaka’s return is not scheduled till 2022, according to Daily Canon. In his absence, Sambi Lokonga has played well but Partey’s graph has remained flat. The midfield was the most instrumental part of the team during the Invincibles era, but the Gunners have failed to even get close to that level since 2010. Something needs to change and Xhaka’s return would be crucial to that.
2. Aaron Ramsdale’s Keeping Is Contagious:
Aaron Ramsdale’s transfer to Arsenal had many opinions – for and against. However, the English shot-stopper has managed to shut down his critics with flair and pomp on the back of some exceptional performances and with consistency. Ramsdale has not only become a fan favourite at Arsenal in such a short period, but also serves as inspiration to other young keepers.
3. Captain Needs To Produce Some Goals:
Aubameyang was in blistering form during the 2019 season, scoring 22 goals for the club, but since signing the new contract, his performances have dropped drastically. The club captain has shot blank in 4 consecutive games now.
The Arsenal vs Newcastle United game was a great opportunity to grab a goal or two and get back on track before the big fixtures, but Aubameyang failed to do so. On the contrary, he squandered an easy opportunity late in the first half.
4. Young Guns Are On Fire:
The credit to Arsenal’s current run of form certainly goes to their young players. Ramsdale for one has replaced Leno well, while the White-Gabriel pair has been terrific in the centre of the defence. New faces Tomiyasu and Odegaard also have proven their worth with solid displays.
Saka, Martinelli and ESR are among the scorers on a regular basis. Arsenal’s future looks safe in young hands and Arteta certainly will be pleased with their development. Kudos to the recruitment team and the academy for this crop of youngsters.
Read More:
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The Road Ahead:
Arteta will take the positives and need to work on the shortfalls in order to fight against stronger opponents. The lessons learned from the wins and losses are very important as Arsenal are still in the development process. The younger players should be given more encouragement and with experience, they will tend to get even better.
Do you agree with the given points from the Arsenal vs Newcastle United match? Give your opinions in the comments section below.
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