Monday, December 23, 2024

Report: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Rosicky, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Giroud

Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Arteta, Ryo, Bendtner, Gnabry, Podolski

Olivier Giroud was Arsenal’s hero as the Gunners secured a second win in three days on the road with a hard-fought 1-0 result at Newcastle United. The Frenchman headed home a Theo Walcott free-kick to break the deadlock just past the hour mark and Arsene Wenger’s side soaked up sustained pressure late on to cling on to a vital victory.

Arsenal began the game knocking the ball about confidently. On three occasions inside the first six minutes Kieran Gibbs nipped behind the Newcastle defence on the left but on each occasion his pass failed to pick out a player in red.

Off the ball Wilshere, Rosicky and Flamini were quick to close down in midfield forcing Newcastle to rush their passing although the home side did nearly find a direct route through our back four with a long ball which caught Kieran Gibbs napping. Only Mathieu Debuchy’s failure to control the pass meant we escaped a dangerous situation.

As the momentum ebbed and flowed Newcastle had the first effort on target, a header by Sissoko on 16 minutes, before Wilshere fired over six minutes later with Arsenal’s first shot in anger. From similar positions just outside the box both Rosicky and Cazorla hit left foot efforts straight at Krul. Giroud then tried to repeat the trick with a curler of his own but his effort went wide just after the half hour mark.

The Frenchman had previously required treatment on his ankle following a nasty challenge from Williamson who’d slid into the back of our striker as we looked to break. Referee Lee Probert deemed it a fair tackle although replays showed it definitely deserved a yellow card.

Giroud was in the wars again four minutes later when he appeared to turn his right ankle challenging Tiote. More treatment was needed and to add insult to the injury he also got a booking for the foul. Unbelievably, Tiote continued to escape the referee’s book despite taking out Flamini and catching Walcott with his arm in quick succession.

Szczesny was called into action in injury-time of the first period as Sissoko crashed a rocket from 25-yards which required the Pole to tip over and from the resulting corner Debuchy’s looped header clipped the bar. The two efforts were the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in a tight and fraught opening 45 minutes.

The home side picked up where they left off at the start of the second period, snapping into challenges and denying us anytime to settle on the ball. We were left shooting from range, Flamini had one particularly wild effort, or attempting ambitious balls into the box which were met by nothing but thin air or Tim Krul.

On 64 minutes we finally broke the deadlock. Tiote fouled Cazorla about 40-yards from goal and from the resulting freekick Theo Walcott whipped in a curling effort to the penalty spot which Giroud glanced past Krul. The French striker looked relieved to have broken his drought, it was his first goal in seven games and he was mobbed by his teammates.

Giroud had a golden chance to double the lead within four minutes. Cazorla fed Wilshere who quickly slipped in Walcott. Bearing down on goal, the England man’s initial effort was blocked by the grounded Krul but when the ball came back to him he looped an effort goalwards which required Debuchy (?) to clear off the line. With the goal gaping and the rebound dropping at his feet just yards out Giroud snatched at his effort and the chance was gone.

Mikel Arteta was sent on for Kieran Gibbs, who presumably had a problem, and Flamini went to left-back. In response Ameobi came on for Anita, the home side having already sent Ben Arfa on for Gouffran, as Alan Pardew looked to rescue the game with 16 minutes remaining.

Flamini picked up his sixth booking of the campaign for a foul on Ben Arfa, Rosicky joined him in the book for a challenge on Cabaye. Massadio Haidara came on for Sissoko, before Wenger settled on a 3-5-2 formation removing Walcott and sending on Jenkinson. Sagna moved into the middle alongside Mertesacker and Koscielny who were both having terrific games.

With nine minutes remaining Szczesny got let off the hook big time. Dilly-dallying over a back pass from Flamini the Pole hammered his clearance straight at Loic Remy and watched helplessly as the rebound rolled inches wide of his goal. After his mistake at West Ham it was another rocky moment for the club’s number one.

Giroud was replaced by Bendtner with five minutes left as attack after attack was mounted by the home side. It was real backs to the wall stuff as we just hoofed the ball clear whenever possible and tried to wind down the clock.

Despite an absolute barrage in the closing moments the Gunners managed to cling on to victory returning themselves to top spot in the Premier League. It wasn’t a pretty game, but it is a massive three points. The type of game which makes potential champions.

Happy New Year everybody.

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Thomas

TOP OF THE LEAGUE.

seriousspy

Whisper it quietly…haters gonna hate!!

Thomas

… top of the league.

VT

And I think we just secured Premier League football next season (mathematically)!

Malaysian Gooner

I don’t think mathematically is what you meant.

There’s still 57 points to play for in the league. But we’ve broken the 40 point barrier.

VT

Ahhh, I’m sorry that my attempt at sarcasm has failed!

Clock End Mike

Mathematics defies sarcasm, it’s the most pure and absolute of arts. The two just don’t mix.
(btw, I think you mean irony, not sarcasm)

Arsene Nose

I saw passion and commitment from the whole team.. Can’t ask for more.. RosickY, take a bow!!!
COYG!!!

Bolarinwa Mayowa

I want some of that thing Rozza’s taking, this guy’s got the biggest engine in the premier league

Manchester Gooner

His engine has been carrying light weights. Still love his commitment to the cause.

goonerratic

Serial heart attacks in final 10 mins.

itshopethatkills

mertesacker and koscienly…take a bow

Heroldgoon

I actually did die when Szczesny knocked the ball straight into Remy. i dont even know how iam writing this…

GooneRon

Ghost of Arsenal fans past?

Big Chief from Antarctica

I couldn’t help but think of the dark days of before whilst getting those heart attacks.. but the odd thing was that there was also a wry smile on my face that we can see out the matches these days..

TOP OF THE LEAGUE IN 2014. HAPPY NEW YEAR FELLOW GOONERS!

Norwad

I was outside jogging before the game, and I think my puls was higher at the end of the game than when finished jogging.

German Gunner

That was a crazy fucking 20 minutes COYG

Heroldgoon

It was so intense Jenkinson got frozen in time..admiring the ball.

Jagger

He made the right choice. It would not have been a clear scoring opportunity, even if he had thrown the ball to Bendtner. Gave the defence the chance to regain shape and refocus.

Jagger

Actually I take that back. I’ve seen that particular play again.

muchadoaboutnot

Yes, it’s a common syndrome when you have a clear sight of the goalposts with the keeper no where to be found. Jenkinson is forgiven.

Wilko

Wow, those last 15 minutes were scary – great resiliance – you shall not pass. Pleased to see Giroud get his goal, but he does need a rest. I thought we might have seen Monreal?
COYG – ONE NIL TO THE ARSENAL!

jack

Monreal was sick as far as I recall.

Heroldgoon

The distance Remy takes to jump up and get the ball Mertesacker like the gentle motherfucker he is just stands on his toes and fucking clears with his head.

seriousspy

One-Nil to the ARSENAL!! Real graft, real guts…

Bonjour

Real Mental Strength

k

How did Tiote not get booked

GooneRon

He should have gotten a booking for that Mohawk in the first place.

AFCEdwards

and Debuchy, and Santon.

Ermias

Thankfully it didn’t hurt us. But man Jenkinson needs to have some fucking awareness, how was he not aware that Krul was scrambling back and Bendtner was alone?

Flo

So frustrating….quick throw in to bendtner and he could have scored the second goal with Krul being so far away from his own goal.

Bonjour

Maybe he thought Bendtner would have missed anyway!

Bonjour

Not a dig at him by the way! Light-hearted harmless humour is a good way of reducing stress for survivors of heart attacks, of whom there are many here…

Heroldgoon

The miss by giroud was worse as for Bendtner when the sun is up, calm weather and bendtner is infront of the goal alone with the keeper….thats still not a clear goal scoring opportunity

Mooro

Massive win. The stuff of champions.

Ollie’s goal very reminiscent of Smudger at Anfield ’89.

And if Sagna decides to call it day we could do a lot worse than Debuchey.

Genorious

Personally, I think Coleman would be the perfect replacement for Sagna. I’d rather keep Bac though!

Heroldgoon

Agree. He’s tireless at RB and always a threat going forward + very astute at defending. sign him up.

Dick Swiveller

I dunno, good going forwards no doubt but he’s not great defensively from what I’ve seen (mostly going by his run a year ago than his current play, admittedly) so I’d rather get someone with a little more top level experience to mentor Jenks further; teaching him that a striker can’t be offside from a throw in, for example.

If he were a little younger and Jenks a little older, I’d see him as a good young backup but not sure as it is.

texasgooner

I hope to god Sagna stays, but if it comes to it I would take Coleman over Debuchy because Debuchy is already 28 and we would have the same problem in a couple of years…plus Coleman can score some cracking goals1

wiya

Get in!..

TV5

well done one and all.

Massive, massive, massive!

Next!

GooneRon

Give Rosiscky a new. deal. Super performance.

Jagger

Overall I think that Debuchy was man of the match, but from Arsenal it was Rosicky. At 94 minutes he was scampering and pressing near the Newcastle box to slow down Newcastle advancing up the field. Special mentions to Flamini, Mertesacker and Sagna.

GooneRon

Mertercielny axis was a rock today dealt well with all those arial balls. Massive massive shift by them. Arsenal 2013/2014 EPL champions.

Jack

szczesny is one lucky motherfucker

VT

For once I thought he did that on purpose, so that he could take Remy out (and buy some time) and still earn a goal kick.

Arsepedant

I wouldn’t put it past him.

Der Springer

I would give Rosicky MOTM followed closely by Sagna.

GooneRon

and Flamini.

nujt

Sky sports gave it to debuchy… haters gonna hate i guess

TOP OF THE LEAGUE!

texasgooner

Well Debuchy did have an excellent game

Eiregun

Not many top teams will get points at Newcastle, well done lads

Dre

I am happppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp0pppppppppppppppppppppyyyyyyyyyyyyyyytyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! yay! top of da league…where them bitching haters at now?

Mate Kiddleton

When Szczesny kicked the ball into Remy and the ball ricocheted towards the goal… I nearly died

Erwandy

My heart leaped out!…..heart attack non stop for the last 20mins. COYG!

indiangooner

How many of you still alive???
#phew..!!

AW

LOL Rosicky trolled Cabaye so bad!!!

Amusa

Resilent performance from the team.
3 points is all that matters.
Remember, great defences wins you leagues.

PGunner

Most satisfying won of the season so far. Love it!

Arsepedant

Not sure if I agree, although I thumbed up your sentiment … I was particularly pleased with the 1-0 over the Scum, particularly since they’d outspent 110 million to zero at that point. Loved the chant at the end of that match – “We spent fuck all and it’s still one nil!”

Rambo sambo

Love seeing Rocky running around with 100% intensity right up til the last minute. Didn’t let up an ounce of energy for the entire game.

Wa

Happy days:) hey blogs! Show us the fouls to card ratio for that game. Keen for a good lol.

Jack

Who would have thought on August 18th that we would be TOP OF THE LEAGUE by years end!
In a game that lacked any real goal mouth action to come away with the 3 points is sensational. Credit to Giroud, while he can be frustrating at times he just keeps on given 100%. The back four again rock solid and in those final 15 minuets the team really showed unity and fight. Onwards and Upwards!

Heroldgoon

So lemme get this straight this was the last game of the season eh? have we won the league? and are newcastle relegated?

what a football match!

Ishan

Got one chance and he scored, Olivier Giroud!!! Haters gonna hate

UpTheArse

Great win. I think the whole debate about Arsenal’s title credentials this season stem from the fact that both sides have a good case. Those who say we will win the league, have a good case. Those who say we won’t, have a good case. Personally, at this precise moment of the season and despite two great away wins, I am tempted to fall down on the side of “we won’t win the league” simply because I think there is one better squad than us that seems to have clicked and is getting the results to match aka man city.… Read more »

Fellonious

Of course Wenger could drop 32 mill plus on Costa, and a combined 30 million on a good defender and midfielder and your statement could be almost guaranteed…otherwise the team needs to stay healthy all season long. Either way, if your point is we are punching higher than last season I agree with you. I’d just rather we fucking go for it. It meaning titles and trophies.

Clock End Mike

I think what’s impressed me most about the last month is that quite clearly, Arsenal have not quite clicked, far from their fluent best (and all the pundits agree on that, for once), yet we’ve ground out some good results (draws against Everton and Chelsea could well look like good results by the end of the season), should have had more goals (eg at Man City), and finished the year still on top of the League and in the knockout stage of the ECL. And with two of last season’s top three strikers (Walcott and Podolski) just coming back to… Read more »

Mach iii

Walcott is the story of a person that made it in football despite being utterly shite. Imagine having Ben Arfa in his place. Giroud has been awful for the passed 2 months. The only player we have as a genuine attacking threat at the moment is Poldi. What was Jenkinson doing, just staring at the ball. How can he be so completely overwhelmed by the game that he’s caught sleeping? I’m glad it’s January, even of we don’t sign anyone, all the speculation will give Giroud a kick up the arse. We won’t win the league if we play like… Read more »

German Gunner

Fuck! Try and enjoy the moment!!!!!

gunnergav

I do believe, poor soul, that if we play like that, as in winnin, we will win the league.
Good day

Arty's Art

Walcott has been amazing since his return.

This comment is extremely wrong, in many ways.

arseblog

Walcott set up our goal. Ben Arfa shot wide because he’s a greedy cunt.

Özil Gummidge

I died with ten minutes left. What was the final score?

ajackie

1-1

Rambö

Sagna, Rosicky and Flamini played really well today in my opinion. Great match, and those 3 points feel extra good because of that insane last leg of the match as well as the fact that we are on top of the league through 2013!

Daft Aider

Phew and then Hooray,
what on earth has Podolski done to annoy Wenger so much?, there must be a reason surely

Mooo

Podolski isn’t quick in pressing upfront.

Clock End Mike

And he’s not exactly defensively-minded…

sol (not campbell) eid

Well we’re not putting him on when we’re not attacking at all, the reason for bendtner is because he’s the same build/height as giroud so we can rest the jaded giroud and replace him with someone who can replicate his defending at set pieces.

Would have liked to see pod on today but in all honesty, it just wouldn’t have made any sense

amen

It was Colocinni that cleared off the line following Walcott’s effort and not Debuchy. Cheers

mike

great fighting defense, good to see giroud on the score sheet, but i give big props to walcott for that free kick.

Ibra

We made defending look sexy today.Have to admit that was nerve wrecking though. Great to be on top again

Hutch

Nearly shat my pants in the last ten minutes.

Why do I put myself through this?

Because I love The Arsenal.

DaMobot

Great team win. The team was focused on winning and getting the three points. We are inching closer and closer to the title. Im almost tempted to camp out somewhere along the route where Arsenal are gonna parade the Trophies, just so that im sure my spot is reserved.

COYG’s

goonytunes

FOR GOD SAKE! THIS IS TORTURE! WHERE THE FUCK IS CHU YOUNG ‘GOALS’ PARK WENGER, CAZORLA WAS FUCKING ABYSMAL TODAY IF WE HAD PLAYED CHUY THEN WE WOULD HAVE WON BY AT LEAST 4?! Evidently my extensive letter writing campaign to Arsene to get him to reinstate Parky back into the starting line up has failed. I am dismayed. Forsooth, I do declare that we will not win the league unless we play Park. Did anyone see the incredible goal he scored for the U9s in midweek? Fucking incredible, scored a belter from the halfway line a whole 10 yards… Read more »

Arty's Art

I am certain this is a joke

goonytunes

How dare you? You think the plight of Chu Young Park is a joke!? Shame on you!

Also what’s funny about wanting Wenger to sign one of the greatest strikers of the last 20 years? Some fans baffle me…

Arsepedant

Must be what Arty says. It only makes sense if it’s a joke.

AP

Its a lame attempt at Evilkagawa style crap…

PGunner

Win*..of course. P’s Rosicky was a monster!

TJ

Come on you bloody beautiful GOONERS! GET IN THERE!

Amusa

I loved it when Newcastle were committing fouls and the ref was letting it go; Flamini kicked the Fuck out off Ben Arfa when they didn’t give the ball back and Rosicky went in hard on Cabaye and told Tiote to Fuck off.
Great to see the players standing up for each other.

mozilla

Arsene should had played santi in the middle, with jack & flamini behind him, walcot and Rosický on the wings. we was seriously lucky today. thank god for the double act in CM . brilliant performance kos and mert.

Tom Thumb

Anybody who says we’re not title contenders after today is a twat, I’m talking about you Alan Hansen. Guess he won’t be motd tonight,never seems to be on when we win. Great resilience today when we were not at our best against a very organized Newcastle

ArsenalHobbit

Giroud. Je t’aime.

Lobster

Missing our Captain and two of our best players.. We won at The Toon to go top of the league in the last round of games for the year.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we could do amazing things this season

Great Game

In fairness, our ‘captain’ hasn’t been a regular starter in over 6 months…

GossipGooner

The season is only half over but Arsenal were top of the league for most of it and it’s giving mr a feeling that im just not used to. A good feeling, but, man, what is this…

AIC

What was JENKINSON thinking?

mike

like 1 mistake, and we still won, he came on to help us hang on, we did hang on, he allowed less space between defenders, allowing us to win more headers, and when we can get in shape we have a ‘winger’ able to track and tackle. he did what was asked for me.

LovelyArse

Halfway home. Ours to lose. Lovin it.

Perry S.

I’m utterly confused by what went on over that last 15 or so minutes. It was as if we were playing with the mindset we only has 10 men. Playing to maintain the one nil lead is one thing, but to completely give up on our football was foolish. This could have easily ended in disaster, and on other occasions it likely will. These types of formations are best used with a few mins left in the match. We play possession football and this proves we are very shaky at the other game. I’m just relieved for the win, but… Read more »

Der Springer

And Wenger would have put in Verm and Monreal too if that was possible. It is a tactic we have seen quite often since late last season and I don’t think it has backfired in all that time. It’s not good on the heart but it works on the scoresheet.

Rush

Top of the flipping league

muchadoaboutnot

Neat piece of work. And it’s called taking care of business. One nil to the Arsenal!

TJ

PS: Stan Collymore is a TWAT!

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