Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal: What Did We Learn As The Gunners Claim A Heavyweight Victory At St. James’ Park?

With all eyes from across the Premier League falling on St. James’ Park, Arsenal claimed what was a crucial 2-0 victory away at Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

Traveling to the north east knowing that a single point was not enough, it was the red-hot Martin Odegaard who opened the scoring with a sublime effort after just 14 minutes.

With the Gunners’ skipper now notching five Premier League goals in as many appearances, Mikel Arteta’s young squad certainly showed their mental resolve here.

Eventually claiming what could turn out to be a season-defining victory away from the Emirates as Fabian Schar unfortunately turned into his own net on the 71st minute, Newcastle will certainly feel that they done enough to leave St. James’ Park with something to show for their troubles.

Hitting the woodwork on either side of the half-time break and causing Arsenal’s defence a host of problems, Sunday’s 2-0 loss drew a line under the Magpies’ stellar three-match winning run.

Two sides who look set to be featuring in the Champions League next season, what did we learn from a heavyweight showdown in the north east?

Arteta’s young squad show their mental resolve

While Arsenal might still know that they face a real uphill battle in their bid to dethrone Manchester City, Arteta will be hugely excited by an ultra-professional display on Sunday afternoon.

Despite signing off April with a 4-1 drumming at the hands of the defending champions and finding themselves in the midst of a four-match winless run, the Gunners have bounced back in some style over the past few days.

Drawing a line under their April blip by storming their way to a 3-1 romp at home against Chelsea in midweek, Arteta’s young squad have certainly overcome a real phycological hurdle.

Coming past a Newcastle squad that are enjoying what has been a famous campaign at St. James’ Park, Arsenal will know that they must simply keep fighting right until the very end.

Now securing back-to-back Premier League victories against Chelsea and Newcastle, Sunday’s guests will have to keep up their recent momentum as they face another huge challenge next time out.

Although the Gunners might be riding a recent wave of momentum, they will be next seen when they welcome a high-flying Brighton to north London.

Newcastle will prove this was nothing more than a minor blip

Mounting a second-half comeback at home against Southampton last weekend as they eventually claimed a routine 3-1 win, Newcastle would have certainly been smelling the chance to make another real Premier League statement here.

However, while Eddie Howe’s men might have been left hugely frustrated to have left St. James’ Park empty-handed, the mood in their camp should still be at a real high.

Hitting the woodwork on either side of the half-time interval, the Magpies have still won eight of their last 10 Premier League appearances and they remain on course to make real history in 2023.

With their Champions League charge highlighted by that remarkable 6-1 romp against Tottenham on April 23rd, the former Bournemouth boss knows that Newcastle’s destiny remains in their own hands.

Finishing Sunday’s fixtures holding a three-point buffer over Liverpool and still with an extra game left to play, Newcastle will be confident of claiming an immediate boost next week.

Desperate to avoid any signs of a hangover and what would be a heartbreaking top-four collapse, Howe’s side will be next seen when they travel to relegation scrappers Leeds on May 7th.

Odegaard is among Europe’s very elite

If Arsenal are to upset the odds and claim a first Premier League crown since 2004, then there is no doubt that the red-hot Odegaard has a key role to play over the final few weeks.

Although many might have been surprised to see Arteta appoint the one-time Real Madrid starlet as Arsenal’s full-time captain last year, the 24-year-old has only continued to blossom since taking on his extra responsibilities.

Bagging a brace as the Gunners cruised their way to a 3-1 romp against London rivals Chelsea earlier in the week, Odegaard produced yet another stunning strike here and has certainly hit a rich run of form since returning from March’s international break.

Now recording five Premier League strikes in as many appearances, Odegaard rightfully finds himself tipped among the leading contender to be crowned this year’s PFA Player of the Year.

Transforming into one of Europe’s hottest stars, the Norwegian ace has also bagged 15 top-flight strikes this season – more than any other Premier League midfielder.

Only continuing to receive a string of plaudits, Odegaard is desperate to drag Arsenal over the finish line and make real history in north London.

Match Report

Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Willock, Murphy, Wilson, Isak

Subs: Gordon, Saint-Maximin, Targett, Almiron, Anderson

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Jorginho, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus, Saka

Subs: Tierney, Partey, Trossard, Nketiah, Nelson

Goals: Odegaard (14’), Schar OG (71’)

Yellow Cards: Newcastle: Schar, Burn – Arsenal: Nketiah

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Chris Kavanagh