Arsenal came through a frenetic contest on Tyneside to keep their Premier League title hopes alive, beating Newcastle 2-0.
After an electric start from Eddie Howe’s men, the travelling Londoners weathered the early onslaught to open the scoring through Martin Odegaard — who joined Cesc Fabregas as Arsenal’s highest scoring midfielder for a single Premier League campaign (15 goals) — before a Fabian Schar own goal wrapped the game up in the second half.
Here is how the players rated at St. James’ Park:
Newcastle
Nick Pope – 7 – Made three crucial saves in the first half to deny Odegaard at the death, as well as stopping two one-v-ones on Martinelli and Saka. The England stopper conceded twice, but it could have much worse were it not for his dexterity and flexibility.
Kieran Trippier – 6 – Howe’s most creative force going forward, the buccaneering full-back surged in his typical fashion and had a solid battle against Martinelli. The Brazilian had the last laugh in the end, but Trippier kept his form going forward.
Kieran Trippier is the first player in Europe's top five divisions to create 100 chances in the league in 2022/23. ? pic.twitter.com/KwFpZ42Di9
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 7, 2023
Fabian Schar – 4 – Missed an absolute sitter in the 49th minute that should have brought Newcastle level. To describe it as a ‘gilt-edged chance’ would be an understatement. Either side of Ramsdale and it’s 1-1. Instead his woes were exacerbated by knocking the ball into his own net 20 minutes from time to confirm Arsenal’s win.
Sven Botman – 5 – More sturdy than his centre-back partner, but Newcastle’s defence was anything but watertight this afternoon as Arsenal found consistent openings through the middle
Dan Burn – 5 – Caught in an entertaining battle with Saka, the towering, unorthodox full-back held his own at times, but the slippery Arsenal winger grew into the game and started to rattle Newcastle’s No. 33, which resulted in a caution 73 minutes in.
Bruno Guimaraes – 5 – “He struggled in the first half. It was a difficult 45 minutes,” Neville commented during his punditry work for Sky Sports. And that pattern of play spilled over to the second half. The metronomic livewire put in the hard yards and looked to set the tempo but one too many iffy moments blemished his game.
Joelinton – 6 – Manned the engine room well enough to keep Newcastle’s press persistent, but like Guimaraes, he was also wasteful in possession at times.
Joe Willock – 6 – Found openings and cropped up in dangerous areas of the pitch, but his shooting boots definitely eluded him this afternoon as he missed two glaring opportunities.
Jacob Murphy – 7 – Newcastle’s biggest threat during his time on the pitch. The Wembley-born winger rattled the post in the opening phase of play before nearly setting up Wilson with an inviting cross. He carried that form into the second half after teeing up Isak with a deft cross, who then also battered the woodwork. Done what was asked of him from an attacking perspective.
Alexander Isak – 6 – The Swede had his moments of success and nearly restored parity after his header smashed against the woodwork, but ultimately not enough to breach through Ramsdale.
Callum Wilson – 5 – Produced a few neat touches and battled hard against Xhaka and Arsenal’s backline, but he just lacked that bit of potency and cutting edge to really threaten a William Saliba-less defence.
Substitutes:
Miguel Almiron (for Murphy 64′) – 6 – Showed some nice touches and injected some pace for the final phase of play.
Allan Saint-Maximin (for Willock 77′) – 6 – Similar to Almiron, the French winger showed flashes of quality, but it was too little too late.
Anthony Gordon (for Wilson 77′) – 6 – Again, the tricky wide-man showed some flair and gusto but by that point Arsenal were in command.
Elliot Anderson (for Joelinton 81′) – N/A – Came on for the final 10 minutes.
Matt Targett (for Matt Targett 81′) – N/A – Came on for the final 10 minutes.
Arsenal
Aaron Ramsdale – 8 – A beacon of assurance between the sticks, Ramsdale made some absolutely crucial saves in this game, not least his reflex dive on Schar from close range.
Ben White – 7 – Held his own at right-back and kept hold of the ball in claustrophobic spaces when Newcastle pressed forward. He certainly wasn’t afraid to get forward either.
Jakub Kiwior – 7 – A supreme showing in a game of such aggression and energy. It felt as though Newcastle were out to target the Pole, but he stood to the task well and showed some real composure and slickness with his distribution.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 7 – Fortified the backline. Newcastle found openings and had chances, but Arsenal’s backline refused to yield and ultimately kept hold of a vital clean sheet.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 5 – Really struggled against Murphy on the left, with the English winger finding room very easy on the flank. He tucked in-field well as an inverted full-back, but defensively he was a weak link for the Gunners this afternoon.
Jorginho – 8 – Amid the frantic tempo of the contest and Newcastle’s persistent press, Jorginho was the embodiment of calm and composure. Functioning as a checkpoint player in the centre of the pitch, when his team-mates needed an way out, he offered one.
Granit Xhaka – 8 – Got stuck in a put his body on the line in typical Xhaka fashion. His ball through to Saka in the first half nearly doubled Arsenal’s advantage, while a last-ditch challenge on Joelinton in the 38th minute denied Newcastle getting back into the game. Another match-saving tackle on Willock near the hour mark encapsulated his grit and determination. A real warrior’s performance.
Martin Odegaard – 8 – Absolutely ran the show for Arsenal, the ethereal Norwegian danced on the pitch and made St. James’ Park his playground. His creative instinct was head and shoulders above anyone on the turf as he sprayed passes with the accuracy of a knife-wielding surgeon — and certainly don’t forget his first-half strike, uncorking from range to evade Pope in the far corner.
Most goals scored by an Arsenal midfielder in a single Premier League campaign:
✅ 15 – Cesc Fàbregas (09/10)
? 15 – Martin Ødegaard (22/23)Øne more for the record. ??
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) May 7, 2023
Bukayo Saka – 7 – He took some time to get into the game, but once he was involved he offered a real threat on the flank for the Gunners. From there, the menacing winger kept Burn on his toes and attacked with a real edge.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7 – A real thorn in Newcastle’s side, the fleet-footed Brazilian tore hither and thither down the flank, and nearly doubled Arsenal’s lead in the first half, before hitting the bar just after the restart. He was architect for Arsenal’s second as he sprinted down the touchline and delivered a fizzing cross.
Gabriel Jesus – 7 – Held his own very well up top. When Arteta’s men needed a bit of respite in the final third, Jesus’ control and link-up play kept them ticking over. Against such a formidable centre-back partnership of Schar and Botman, Jesus was superb.
Substitutes:
Kieran Tierney (for Zinchenko 60′) – 7 – Battled valiantly and injected some real bite and grit down the flank.
Leandro Trossard (for Martinelli 80′) – N/A – Came on for the final 10 minutes.
Thomas Partey (for Odegaard 80′) – N/A – Came on for the final 10 minutes.
Reiss Nelson (for Saka 81′) – N/A – Came on in the final few minutes
Eddie Nketiah (for Jesus 81′) – N/A – Came on in the final few minutes