If you're a follower of the expected goals metric, known to most as xG, you wouldn't be surprised to learn that Arsenal generated enough chances to score more than three goals last night. It's not a measurement to everybody's taste, I understand that, but it is a useful way of judging the quality of chances … Continue reading Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2: High, wide and not very handsome
There's been a lot of talk around Arsenal's 'dark arts' already this season. Our willingness to slow the game down, to get physical, to innovate at set pieces; it's quickly become a feature of how we play our football and it's fair to say it's caused a stir. If there's any other side in the … Continue reading Arsenal vs Newcastle: Gear up for a big, ugly battle
Our trip to Newcstle on Saturday was, in many ways, a microcosm of our last few months without Odegaard.
It was never thus before the Saudi takeover but the influx of money into the north east seems to have ignited a certain strident aggression that simply didn't exist before. No club seems to have felt that more than Arsenal.
That Porto's entire approach to the match was ultimately justified in their theft of a narrow win was the final slap in the face on a terrible night for football.
The long trek up to St James' Park was never a particularly pleasant experience, even when Newcastle were a shambles of a club. Since their takeover by Saudi Arabia, however, the difficulty and hostility has been ramped up and the prospect of a positive result much diminished. It was something of a pleasant surprise when … Continue reading Newcastle vs Arsenal: It’s going to be a battle
Take nothing away from the performance, however. It was feisty, combative and committed - absolutely everything the previous clash against these sides was not.
As satisfying as that Chelsea win was, however, it's worth bearing in mind that Frank Lampard's side find themselves in a lamentable state - as bad as they have been for a generation.
Newcastle put on a 90-minute display worthy of anything that Burnley might have produced at the Emirates
When talking about remarkable turnarounds in form, Arsenal aren't the only side catching the eye this season. Newcastle United, so long in the footballing wildnerness, find themselves in the Premier League's top three and absolutely flying, with nine wins and just a single defeat across 17 games so far this season. Not since the days … Continue reading Arsenal v Newcastle: Pain at St James should be perfect motivation for Gunners
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