Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United: Gunners go three factors away from Man Metropolis with nervy win as Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze endure damage scares

Arsenal moved three factors above Manchester Metropolis on the high of the Premier League with a nervy 1-0 win over Newcastle.

Eberechi Eze scored the decisive purpose with a shocking, ninth-minute strike from the sting of the field following a brief nook routine however needed to be taken off within the second half after taking place off the ball.

His substitution, which he later stated was solely precautionary, adopted the withdrawal of Kai Havertz within the first half, however Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta downplayed the severity of the accidents. “They are muscular niggles,” he stated. “We don’t think it’s too much.”

Arsenal had been knocked off the Premier League summit when Manchester Metropolis beat Burnley on Wednesday and needed to work laborious to regain high spot regardless of Eze’s early strike.

Their sloppiness allowed the out-of-form guests to achieve a foothold within the recreation they usually had possibilities to equalise in an anxious finale for the house followers, with Yoane Wissa firing wastefully over after being performed in on purpose by fellow substitute Nick Woltemade.

Arsenal created little as they struggled to construct any momentum after Eze’s purpose, solely exhibiting some enchancment with the return of Bukayo Saka as a late substitute for his first look since final month’s Carabao Cup closing loss to Manchester Metropolis.

The England worldwide despatched a deflected effort narrowly extensive quickly after his introduction and likewise helped create a gap for Martin Odegaard, who was denied by Nick Pope.

Arsenal had earlier felt the Newcastle goalkeeper was lucky to keep away from a purple card when he was solely booked after speeding out of his purpose and fouling Viktor Gyokeres as he chased a protracted cross.

Arsenal had different alternatives to kill the sport because it entered seven minutes of stoppage time however their failure to take action allowed Newcastle to proceed making use of strain.

That they had one other probability when Dan Burn headed straight at David Raya, who had earlier saved from Sandro Tonali.

The loss is Newcastle’s fourth in a row within the Premier League as their poor season continues. Arsenal, in the meantime, are in a position to have fun a return to the Premier League summit, albeit with damage issues forward of Wednesday’s Champions League journey to Atletico Madrid.

Arteta: The margin ought to have been greater

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta in his press convention: “I’m really happy for the win. We talked about game one and how important that was.

“We should always have completed in all probability with an even bigger margin in sure moments of the sport, however when it is 1-0, it is at all times powerful as a result of they’ve high quality. They introduced so many good gamers from the bench as properly.

“And when we don’t finish the action, especially the open ones that we had, the margins are going to be smaller.”

On the choice to not ship of Pope, he added: “It’s a clear red card. I’ve watched it 10 times. If you have ever played football, it’s a red card.

“It is the second time in two video games. We had been up towards Manchester Metropolis when Kai Havertz goes by and [Abdukodir] Khusanov fouled him at 1-1.

“The title is there. It is a red card, guys. So, these are the margins as well, and hopefully that’s going to change.”

Odegaard: Profitable a very powerful factor

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard to Sky Sports activities: “It was tough. Very intense, very physical. Especially for me, playing 90 again was tough. But we did everything we could and we got the win.

“That was a very powerful factor and we did properly to recover from the road and get the three factors.”

On the short corner routine for Arsenal’s goal, he added: “We practise all of it – quick ones, first balls, second balls, the whole lot.

“That’s our quality, we can score in so many different ways. Today we did it brilliantly, we were dangerous a few more times as well. Credit to the work we did on the training ground.

“The stadium was a bit irritated we took it quick a number of occasions, but it surely paid off in the long run and it was an excellent end from Ebz.”

Redknapp: Arsenal strangled by worry, Eze the distinction

Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Redknapp: “You can tell yourself all you like that pressure is a privilege. ‘We are giving ourselves such an opportunity…’

“However really, once you’re on the market, generally worry can strangle you. It might take over you, and all the easy issues that usually you simply do, since you’ve accomplished it because you had been 10, 11 years or age, you discover it so tough, and that is what’s taking place with Arsenal proper now.

“Individual mistakes, all the players, maybe not having that final pass. And it just suffocates you. It stops you being the player that you are.

“And that is why it was so necessary right now that there was one excellent second of actual high quality by Eze. That was the true distinction, a fully unbelievable second.”

Howe: A big step forward

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to Sky Sports: “We’re in that second the place we’re dropping video games even once we look stronger. We have got to be resilient and discover a approach.

“Today is a big step forward. We need to make sure that’s not just attributed to the fact it’s Arsenal away from home and the players are hyper-alert to make sure we perform.

“We now have to verify now we have that for each recreation.

“But we have to take the positives and the performance and know that will ultimately change results.”

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