ARSENAL 0-0 NEWCASTLE: The Gunners were unable to extend their advantage at the summit of the Premier League after they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal failed to pile more pressure on Manchester City in the title race as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Newcastle on Tuesday night.
The Gunners, who have lost just once all season, headed into the match flying high after Pep Guardiola’s side dropped points in the title race earlier this week. However, they were frustrated by the Magpies, who stood firm and frustrated Arsenal in a fiery first-half.
Mikel Arteta’s side tried to up the ante after the break but struggled to create clear-cut chances against their well-drilled opponents. Eddie Nketiah did have a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the dying moments but couldn’t beat Nick Pope from close range as both sides picked up a point apiece.
Mirror Football looks at the biggest talking points from a feisty night in north London…
1. Gunners show grit but miss chance
With Newcastle in fine fettle, Tuesday night’s showdown felt like a real litmus test for Arsenal’s title credentials.
Arsenal didn’t quite blitz past the Magpies early like they did against Brighton a few days previously, but they showed plenty of grit to grind out a result which could still prove pivotal in the title race.
Gary Neville insisted before the match that any talk of Arsenal winning the title before April or May was “premature”. Yes, Manchester City have been irrepressible in recent years, but if they fail to beat Chelsea on Wednesday, then they will still have an eight-point deficit to claw back before May.
Arsenal didn’t fire against Newcastle, but they have looked the business in recent weeks. Can City still usurp them? Maybe: if there was one team you wouldn’t fancy writing off, it would be Manchester City. But one thing that is for certain is that talk of Arsenal winning the title is anything but premature. Arsenal missed an opportunity against Newcastle, but a point is far from a disaster.
2. A cautionary tale
It always felt as though this game was on the brink of boiling over after referee Andy Madley dished out a couple of soft yellow cards in the early stages.
And although nobody saw red before time was out at the Emirates, Madley’s decision to dish out nine bookings did little to benefit either side, who both appeared to be irked by the stop-start nature of the match. Madley and the VAR officials also passed on a couple of dubious looking penalty decisions – Dan Burn’s tug on Gabriel Magalhaes in the penalty area looked a nailed-on spot-kick.
A game that had top billing failed to deliver on the night. Ultimately, Madley has to take a large portion of the blame for that.
3. Defences on top
Arsenal (14) and Newcastle (11) had conceded the fewest goals in Premier League this term before their showdown at the Emirates – and the two leanest defences in the top-flight were very much on top throughout the majority of this unlikely title clash.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have spearheaded Arsenal’s title challenge this term, while Miguel Almiron is amongst the league’s leading marksmen. But the three of them were all stifled superbly during the opening 45 minutes and for the majority of the second period.
Martin Odegaard has also dazzled in recent weeks but failed to influence the game against Newcastle, who harried and hassled Arsenal’s captain at every available opportunity.
Ultimately, Newcastle did a top job in preventing Arsenal’s big guns from firing.
4. Newcastle prove their point
Like their hosts, Newcastle had tasted defeat just once this season prior to Tuesday night and have been completely transformed under Eddie Howe.
Unlike Brighton on New Year’s Eve, Newcastle managed to weather the early storm at the Emirates and more than held their own against Arteta’s title contenders. The Magpies were solid and well-drilled to deny Arsenal: the opposite of what they were prior to Howe’s arrival back in November 2021.
This hard-earned point keeps their own top four ambitions alive as they bid to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2002.
The Magpies started 2022 in the bottom three and looked destined for the drop. The progress they have made over the past 12 months has been nothing short of phenomenal. Few would have backed Howe to turn Newcastle into title contenders – there’s no telling where they could be at the start of 2024.
5. Jury out on Nketiah
Nketiah has been tasked with stepping up to keep Arsenal’s title bid alive with Gabriel Jesus sidelined – but the jury is still out on whether the Gunners academy graduate is up to the task.
He had, in fairness, netted twice in as many outings prior to Tuesday night’s crunch clash against the Magpies.
Nketiah contributed against Newcastle and did what he could to pester the Magpies’ well-drilled defence, but ultimately, it felt as though Arsenal needed more up top than the 23-year-old’s neat link-up play.
Nketiah, who spurned a golden chance after being flicked through in the final moments, is more than adequate to play a supporting role in Arsenal’s title bid. Whether or not he has the ability to spearhead Arsenal’s bid to claim a first Premier League title since 2004, however, is another matter entirely.
Source: mirror.com
