Arsenal rose to third in the Premier League with a straight-forward 2-0 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday evening.
Aaron Ramsey scored the opener for the Gunners as he started and finished a great move just on the half-hour mark. Alexandre Lacazette doubled the lead late on with an excellent chipped finish in the 83rd minute to ensure the hosts leapfrogged their cross-town rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Ramsey at the centre
The hosts thought they had claimed the lead as Ramsey volleyed past Martin Dubravka at the back post from a corner. However, the referee ruled out the goal for a foul on Florian Lejeune.
The Welshman was not to be denied however and it was a wonderful contribution from the midfielder that saw Arsenal take the lead. He played a clever touch into Alex Iwobi but the ball got away from the Nigerian. It deflected back to Ramsey and he finished low into the net beyond the stretch of the Newcastle goalkeeper.
Newcastle almost responded immediately as Bernd Leno tipped Salomón Rondón’s low effort around the post.
Gunners press for a second
Arsenal were deserving of their lead though and could have extended it seconds before the break had it not been for a vital goal-line clearance by Matt Ritchie. Alexandre Lacazette swivelled in the box and looked sure to score but the winger had got back on the goal-line to somehow nod the Frenchman’s effort away.
Unai Emery’s men also had strong appeals for a penalty turned down as the ball appeared to strike the arm of Paul Dummett but the referee was unmoved.
Substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could have found the net but his powerful effort was stopped by Dubravka.
Lacazette lob gives Gunners comfort
Fellow substitute Ki Sung-yueng probably had Newcastle’s best chance of the game as he fired just over from distance.
Arsenal did eventually get their second goal though and it was Lacazette and Aubameyang that combined yet again. The Gabonese forward nodded the ball beyond the Newcastle defence for his strike partner. Lacazette had managed to get behind Lascelles and reached the ball before Dubravka before lifting the ball over the stopper and into the net.
The Frenchman thought he had a second as the ball bobbled home from another corner but once again the referee ruled the strike out. As it happened though, two was enough as the Gunners coasted to a comfortable home win.
Final Thoughts
This win was a relative stroll for Unai Emery’s men. The only potential problem was getting the goals that their performance deserved. However, they did just that. There were of course tricky moments but Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle did not really provide that much of a threat. Arsenal now go third at T0ttenham Hotspur’s expense, whilst Newcastle remain in 14th, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Match Report
Arsenal: Leno (7); Monreal (7), Sokratis (7), Mustafi (6); Maitland-Niles (7), Ramsey (8) (Elneny (6), 67′), Guendouzi (6), Kolasinac (7); Ozil (7) (Mkhitaryan (N/A), 84′), Iwobi (6) (Aubameyang (7), 61′), Lacazaette (7).
Newcastle United: Dubravka (7); Ritchie (7) (Kenedy (5), 75′); Dummett (5), Lascelles (6), Lejeune (6), Yedlin (6); Almiron (6), Diame (6), Hayden (6) (Ki (5), 67′), Perez (5) (Muto (N/A), 77′); Rondon (6).
Goals: Ramsey (30′), Lacazette (83′)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Yellow Cards: Monreal (59′), Diame (72′), Kolasinac (73′)
Red Cards: N/A
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
