Newcastle defeated Arsenal 0 in the match on Saturday afternoon.
Before every game, we ask one of our writers to list three things that went well and three things that went wrong.
There’s a lot to discuss following this one.
It’s The Armchair Fan this time around:
POSITIVES
What an outcome!
With just one victory in the last six league games, Toon was desperate for another, and what a manner to earn it!
Our confidence will suffer greatly if we defeat a title challenger with something left over.
Victories over Chelsea and Arsenal could be the ideal way to get our season back on track.
Our next three games against Forest, West Ham, and Palace will provide various difficulties, but there’s no reason why we can’t look to take maximum points and climb up the league table.
Outstanding performance
Throughout the game, the entire team performed admirably, with each member performing their assigned duties.
Newcastle’s tactics were excellent, and they won every single battle.
Joelinton was back to terrorizing the opposition, Isak scored a thunderous header, Gordon and Willock were dangerous moving forward, and Hall and Livramento were also in the running for man of the match.
A superb team effort that left the Gunners with very few genuine opportunities. It was well deserved that we won.
Excellent goal
I would love to see us consistently score that kind of goal.
It was amazing how the ball was worked out of center midfield and onto the wing before being whipped into the danger zone and smashed past the defenseless goalie with a header! Gordon’s flawless portrayal of Gillespie in Asprilla vs. Barcelona is reminiscent.
After a challenging start to the season, Isak is suddenly finding form after scoring three goals in three games. My favorite goal of the season thus far was that one, and I want to see more of it the following week.
NEGATIVES
This is when it gets tricky! I truly don’t have anything to complain about after a game like that. Instead, may I list three additional positives? No, all right, let’s get started:
Kickoff early
We start at 12.30, which I detest. For several reasons, it is the worst kickoff time available.
It shouldn’t be necessary to shift matches for live TV in this day of online streaming. Since the technology is more than capable of enabling it, every Premier League game ought to be lawfully available for purchase.
The prohibition on live coverage on Saturdays at 3 p.m. is no longer appropriate and should be repealed right away.
Long-distance supporters have never been treated fairly by an early kickoff, and in my experience, the mood is always impacted by the absence of pre-match drinks.
Positively, there was plenty of time to celebrate the Toon’s outstanding performance.
League table
Despite moving up to tenth place in the Premier League, NUFC is only three points outside of the top four (if Chelsea defeats Manchester United).
It’s difficult not to consider the five points we ought to have earned in our most recent games against Brighton and Everton, which would have put us in a strong position to compete for a Champions League spot.
A strong run of form is crucial because there are only six points separating third-place Nottingham Forest and Brentford in eleventh place at the moment.
If we can avoid giving up pointless points, especially in games where we are the superior team, European football is undoubtedly within our grasp this season.
It might have been more
I can’t help but watch through my fingers with a sick sensation in the pit of my stomach whenever the Toon win a crucial game by just one goal.
If Isak had been able to put us ahead two goals after his effort was saved, or if Joe Willock had scored either of his chances at the beginning of the second half, it would have greatly reduced my blood pressure.
At the conclusion of injury time, Declan Rice headed barely wide for Arsenal, and I was expecting for the net to bulge with anticipation. Fortunately, he put his header over the post to give United the win and three points.