Arsenal saved the strain on Manchester City within the Premier League 2023 title race by beating Newcastle 2-0 in an enormous check of their character and credentials on Sunday. Martin Odegaard’s first-half strike and Fabian Schar’s own-goal, mixed with some breathtaking saves by Aaron Ramsdale, noticed Arsenal come by the hardest of its closing 4 video games with a uncommon win for a visiting crew at St. James’ Park.
Arsenal moved again to 1 level behind City, which has a sport in hand however some probably tough matches to complete the season as Pep Guardiola’s crew goes for a 3rd straight title. “It shows our mentality and how far we have come,” Odegaard mentioned.
The Norway captain slammed residence a low shot from outdoors the realm to present Arsenal the lead within the 14th minute in opposition to the run of play, with third-place Newcastle having already struck the put up by Jacob Murphy and had the awarding of a penalty overturned after a VAR verify. Before Schar’s own-goal within the 71st, Ramsdale saved brilliantly off Joe Willock and Schar from point-blank vary whereas Alexander Isak headed in opposition to the put up as Newcastle piled ahead in waves.
Winning away – collectively __
Catch all one of the best motion from an ideal afternoon on Tyneside _ pic.twitter.com/4psGLlaI0o
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 7, 2023
The second objective modified the environment and Arsenal in the end eased residence to change into simply the second visiting crew — after Liverpool — to win at St. James’ Park this season. It was a case of redemption for Arsenal, which was overwhelmed in a 2-0 loss at Newcastle on the finish of final season on its method to lacking out on a Champions League qualification place.
The crew is made from sterner stuff this season, with Arsenal’s gamers coping with some tough tackling by Newcastle and being streetwise in slowing the sport down at instances — a lot to the annoyance of the house followers. “We know we can’t win every game playing beautiful football,” Arsenal midfielder Jorginho mentioned.
Ramsdale mentioned earlier than making the journey to the stadium from the crew lodge, Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta confirmed his gamers some video clips from final season’s painful loss to Newcastle. “We had that burning desire as soon as we left the hotel to do what we did today,” Ramsdale mentioned.
Arsenal was not with out its personal probabilities in a breathless match, with Gabriel Martinelli – whose cross was deflected in by Schar for the second objective – curling in opposition to the crossbar and Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope saving effectively in one-on-one conditions with Bukayo Saka and Odegaard. Arsenal’s remaining matches are at residence to Brighton, at Nottingham Forest and at residence to Wolverhampton. City’s are harder on paper — away to Everton, at residence to Chelsea, then journeys to Brighton and Brentford.
Arsenal is bidding for its first league title since 2004. “We’ll be going as hard as we can for three games,” Ramsdale mentioned. “We’ll be pushing every step of the way and hopefully, if they slip up, we’ll be there to pick up the pieces.”
Newcastle stayed three factors forward of fifth-place Liverpool and has performed one sport much less within the race for Champions League qualification.
