Arsenal crushed Newcastle 4-1 to secure a sixth consecutive Premier League victory that again closes the gap on Premier League title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
An own goal by Sven Botman and Kai Havertz’s close-range finish put the Gunners in charge before Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior extended the lead after the break. Only a late consolation by ex-Gunner Joe Willock blotted the copybook on an otherwise great night for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos had to say after the game.
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Mikel Arteta on the win…
I’m really happy with the performance, especially against the team that we faced today which is very, very good. The boys did an incredible job, they were really determined, really aggressive, we generated so many chances and I think we deserve to win the game. We were really, really positive today in our play. We took risks, we made runs in behind, we played forwards and it was a joy to watch the team.
Source: BBC Sport
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Eddie Howe on his side’s performance…
In the first half, we weren’t ourselves. The second half was much better until the third goal which knocked us. Arsenal were very good, we weren’t and we got punished. We were off in most aspects of our games, we didn’t do the basics right. Arsenal put us under pressure and we made technical mistakes. Sometimes you have those spells, you have to weather them, but unfortunately, we didn’t do that.
Source: TNT Sports (via BBC Sport)
7 – @Arsenal have become the first team in Premier League history to score 2+ goals in seven consecutive halves of football. Unstoppable. #ARSNEW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 24, 2024
Joe Willock on his return for Newcastle and reception from the Arsenal fans…
It’s a bit bittersweet. Obviously I’m delighted to score, but it’s weird. The results are the most important thing. And unfortunately, we didn’t get three points today. I’m grateful for my reception that I got from the Arsenal fans. They gave me a good reception. Arsenal gave me a lot during my career. I was there since I was four and a half so they gave me a lot and I’m thankful for them but today playing for Newcastle United and losing was a bit disappointing
Source: TNT Sports
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Jorginho on what he brings to the team…
All I do is try to make things easier for my team. When I go out there and I can do that, I’m really happy because to see the team pushing and scoring goals and having fun, enjoying being together on the pitch with these fans, it’s just incredible. You could see today, the team was really hungry, and we showed out there that we wanted to go hard and that’s what we did. I’m very happy for the team, because we worked so hard, everyone, and I think we fully deserved it. We are all just very happy.
Source: Arsenal.com
Bukayo Saka (22y 172d) is the first player to score in five consecutive league appearances for #Arsenal since Olivier Giroud between Feb-Apr 2015 (a run of 6) and is the youngest to do so for the club since José Antonio Reyes between Aug-Sep 2004 (21y 10d).
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) February 24, 2024
Mikel Arteta on Jorginho’s man-of-the-match performance…
He’s a top player, especially when the opponents have certain behaviours or certain set-up. The way I can imagine the game, he is going to have a big impact, but I think you have to do it at this level and when he’s not playing consistently, credit to him because he was magnificent today, again.
Source: Post-game press conference (via Hayters)
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Jorginho on Arsenal’s title chances
I like to be the underdog. Let them speak. We just need to stay humble and keep working hard in the shadow and keep pushing and believe because that’s what we need to do. Just keep pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing and then we will see where we’re going to get, we’re on the right path.
Source: beIN SPORTS
David Raya just made this fan's year, by giving her his gloves!
You love to see it…#beINPL #AFC #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/iwGwaGOsgg
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 24, 2024
Martin Odegaard on his style of captaincy…
I try to lead by example, I try to do the right things, try to put on a good mindset, always pushing the players around me and doing what’s best for the team. That’s the main thing, to get the best out of each player and to understand that every player is different, and to get the best out of everyone.
Source: TNT Sports
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Alan Shearer on Arsenal’s scoring form…
They’re scoring from so many different players, different positions, set pieces, playing some really neat and tidy football and in front of the goal at the minute they’re flying. You look at the last few results, there’s sixes, fours, four again tonight, and they’re looking really comfortable and impressive in every position. And that’s what they have to do, that’s what they have to continue to do. Will they miss that key guy in the tight games that might just get that scrappy goal from half a yard out, the poachers goal? We’ll find that out at the end of the season, but at the minute, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Source: Premier League Productions
Arsenal have scored 15 goals in their last three league games. The last time they netted more in a three-game period was in December 1934 when they managed 16.#ARSNEW
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) February 24, 2024
Kai Havertz on Jorginho and the win…
I know him a lot, so for me it is nice to play with him he knows me well. It makes life easy for me – he is a world class player. It was very important [to win] it was a tough game on Wednesday and we wanted to win today – we did well today.
Source: TNT Sports
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Bukayo Saka on his goal being ‘world class’…
No comment. I’m happy with another goal today and most importantly, I’m happy to win. I’m working hard every day on the training ground and giving my best and obviously I have good teammates giving me good passes, so that helps as well!
Source: TNT Sports
Bukayo Saka is the joint-top scorer in Europe's top 5 leagues in 2024.
7 Saka, Vlahovic
6 Kane, Füllkrug, Højlund, David pic.twitter.com/6x3QpfwIqS— Orbinho (@Orbinho) February 24, 2024
Mikel Arteta on the atmosphere…
Really impressive, thank you so much to everybody who turned that around with that attitude and that energy. Thanks for the club as well because it’s pushing that to generate as well this atmosphere at home and it makes a huge impact on the team, so thank you. We want the best club in the world, and to be the best club in the world we have to have the best stadium and best atmosphere in the world, that’s for sure.
Source: Post-game press conference (via Hayters)
Guimaraes on being a cunt…
*Grunting sounds*
Were you not whining about AFC recently? They made you happy? Lovely.
The fan boys? Oh no, look it is all good now!
What a great day!
Saka is a great player but he needs to save more penalties.
He needs to do that consistently in Europe too. Until then he’s not world class (quoting a certain junk head “legend”)
I will drink a Porto.
I feel we’re going to blow their doors off at home…
Classy performance. There was a period where Newcastle had possession for like 2 mins and Arsenal felt like the attacking team in those two mins. We’re deadly off ball, we have so much control of where they drive possession.
let’s just hope we get a Collina-type ref who doesn’t brook any of their divey-scummy crap!
Don’t you get the same ref for both legs?
Apparently not. Dunno why I thought that. Also, probably could’ve googled that before I posted and made myself look like a right wally.
Yeah but props for coming and owning it.
What a brilliant performance, specially after playing a game midweek with Porto. That first half performance was just amazing to watch. A bit disappointed with the Newcastle goal, but to win like we did today was just brilliant. We now have 9 days till our next game with with Sheffield United. Hopefully it will be a good break for some players and we get Jesus, Zinchenko, and Partey back by then.
The only saving grace to the Newcastle goal, was that it was scored by a Hale end boy.
The absolute single redeeming quality of their entire club.
Very nicely summarised and I hope Aaron is back too in the starting XI. It is worth giving him a start to see if we can stop such goals leaked at the end.
And Tomi unless Japan take him back again.
Please can we squeeze in another Dubai trip during the 9 days break?
Dubai seems good on our boys😀
The bench is getting thicker.
We had 9 on the bench yesterday ( without academy). Can someone shed some light what will happen on the match day squad if all the 5 (Partey.Zinny.Jesus.Timber.Tomi.) are back in the fold. ????? Fit players will be on the bench too????
Cedric and Elneny are usually the first to get off the bench,
And Leon’s getting laaarger…
It’s fun to still be in the title conversations at this biz end of the season. I remember those ominous seasons of title challenges effectively ending by November! Man United seem to have taken our place 😀😃.
Meanwhile, a win at Sheffield United will see us have exactly the same points tally from corresponding games last season.
Willock saying losing 4-1 was ‘a bit disappointing’, once a Gooner always a Gooner.
For his sake, I hope we don’t lose the title by 1 goal difference.
Europe’s top scorers in 2024 – Saka and Vlahovic.
Just imagine we had both of ’em!!!
Big shoutout to Havertz and Jorginho who have both had it as hard as it gets with us as a fanbase, coming from a despised rival. They’ve both knuckled down and worked hard for our support. That shows great strength of character. Long may it continue. Our best signings from Chelsea since Yossi Benayoun and, in fact, both have been more effective. They’re probably our best signings from that lot full stop.
I’m loving seeing this fight from the team and if we keep this up we could well be going into the City game top of the table.
Petr Cech was solid
He was for the first season, he was pretty crap after that…
Good fella though.