Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal (Gordon 64′)
If you like your football packed full of controversy you will have enjoyed this one.
This was ostensibly a game between two top-four rivals, but it offered so much more than that. There was a wild lunge and a bizarre forearm smash that went unpunished, constant snarking and bickering between those in black and white and opponents in red, and a goal that had three different elements checked by VAR before being given.
Before addressing the rough and tumble, let’s discuss Anthony Gordon’s goal that was almost disallowed for multiple infractions before eventually being given in the end. Ultimately, Stockley Park ruled that: Joe Willock had kept the ball in play; Joelinton did not foul Gabriel; and Joelinton was not offside. And all it took was four minutes and two seconds of forensic analysis to unpick.
Gordon will be unbothered by such minutiae. After a tricky start to his career on Tyneside, he has now provided four goals and two assists in 10 Premier League appearances this season.
Competition in the wide forward positions is fierce but with England already assured of a place at next summer’s Euros, Gareth Southgate might be inclined to have a look at Gordon during this month’s international break.
"How much does that goal mean to Anthony Gordon?"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 4, 2023
A long VAR check but Newcastle lead!pic.twitter.com/kEZoPkMMtx
Now onto the aggro that defined the contest. Martin Odegaard’s injury enforced absence presented another opportunity for Kai Havertz to grow into an Arsenal shirt that has so far weighed heavy since a £65m move from Chelsea.
Havertz’s languid style invariably attracts criticism, particularly when goals and assists aren’t forthcoming, but there was nothing relaxed about the German’s uncharacteristically wild lunge on Sean Longstaff that sparked a touchline melee and resulted in four players, including the aggressor and his victim, being booked.
“It’s a stupid, stupid challenge,” said Gary Neville on Sky Sports, before commending him for getting Longstaff, Gordon and Fabian Schar cautioned for their complaints. It was the first time since 2016 that three players from the same side had been yellow carded for dissent in a Premier League fixture. And all in the space of 60 seconds.
You’ll be surprised to hear that Eddie Howe’s shrinking assistant Jason Tindall got involved, rushing from the dugout to jab a finger in Havertz’s direction.
Those types of incidents tend to inject energy into a game lacking it and so it proved. It galvanised Newcastle but not exactly in a positive way; Bruno Guimaraes gave the officials something else to think about when he performed an awkward-looking forearm smash on the back of Jorginho’s head.
Perhaps with the Havertz incident still in mind, the officials erred on the side of leniency again.
Havertz was then lucky to avoid a second yellow after half time with a needless slide challenge that wiped out Callum Wilson by the halfway line. The German isn’t exactly known for his tackling; now we know why.
Even before it descended into a mass brawl it was an eminently watchable contest despite the lack of goalscoring chances. Declan Rice dominated the early stages by making the loping runs from one box to another that are fast becoming his trademark. Jorginho may be an acquired taste, but his presence at the base of Arsenal’s midfield grants freedom for Rice to roam about the pitch to great effect.
Wilson missed the best opportunity of the first-half, lashing over the bar after the ball had bundled into his path after taking a nick off Rice, but it wasn’t until the second minute of added time that either keeper had a save to make, Nick Pope dealing with a straightforward Gabriel Martinelli effort.
Right decision?
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 4, 2023pic.twitter.com/E6khizoFX5
The second period was much the same, absorbing without being action packed, until the breakthrough came.
The three significant parts that culminated in Gordon tapping Newcastle in front were all contentious; depending on which horse you had in the race you could have conceivably concluded that each of them were lawful, unlawful, or a mishmash of the two.
What isn’t up for debate is that David Raya made a mess of it. Raya was caught out by Willock’s scooped cross to the far post that sailed over his head and his flailed attempt to intercept left Gabriel unsighted. It was unconvincing goalkeeping from Raya and not for the first time since his summer move from Brentford.
Arteta has frequently talked up the quality of both of his goalkeepers, but with Aaron Ramsdale enduring a disheartening evening at West Ham in midweek, both players seem to be low on confidence. Added competition doesn’t appear to be helping either.
While Arsenal will feel aggrieved by the manner in which their unbeaten run went up in smoke, they didn’t do enough to win the game, and a depleted Newcastle hit by injuries and betting bans proved they will be right in the mix for the Champions League spots once more.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/wclv0GO
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