Arsenal v Newcastle LIVE: Result and reaction from Premier League as Saka scores in big Gunners win
Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle: The sublime Gunners tore the Magpies apart to close the gap to Liverpool at the top to just two points
Arsenal doled out another devastating Premier League defeat as they cruised past Newcastle to move two points off the top of the table. Having thrashed West Ham and Burnley away from home, the Gunners returned to the Emirates Stadium where they easily dispatched of Eddie Howe’s side, winning 4-1 in Saturday’s late kick-off.
A Sven Botman own goal set them on their way before goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior rounded off another fine display from Mikel Arteta’s men, although the returning Joe Willock’s late header ruined another clean sheet.
The win, coming on the back of a galling late loss in their Champions League last-16 clash with Porto on Wednesday, moves them to within two points of leaders Liverpool and just a point shy of Manchester City in second place.
Their recent run of free-scoring performances, winning their last three games at an aggregate of 15-1, also means Arsenal boast the best goal difference in the division.
Relive Arsenal vs Newcastle below:
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
31 mins: Champagne football from Arsenal. Intricate link-up play between Odegaard and Saka, including a backheel, and the latter stands up a cross from the byline.
Martinelli leaps but his header is a couple of feet over the bar. A shade too high for him to get over the top fo it but it’s gorgeous football from Arsenal.
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
30 mins: Guimaraes goes through the back of Jorginho and is lucky not to get a yellow card. His next booking is a two-match ban as it would be his 10th of the season.
CHANCE! Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
26 mins: Brilliant defending by Longstaff. It’s a clanger by Schar as he dallies in possession on the right edge of his own box and Odegaard blocks his attempted pass.
The cutback is about to be turned in by a waiting Havertz but Longstaff flicks the ball away for a corner. He saved a certain goal and Newcastle survive the corner.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle (Kai Havertz 24’)
And now it’s 2-0. A neat finish by Kai Havertz after great work by Martinelli.
The Brazilian makes a superb run across the box and Jorginho finds him with a defence-splitting pass. Martinelli cuts the ball back from the by-line and Havertz has made a superb run to the six-yard box where he sweeps home. Class by Arsenal.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
23 mins: White squares the ball after a great run forward, it comes to Martinelli but his piledriver is blocked by Schar.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle
21 mins: Newcastle can’t get their foot on the ball and the game is happening around them, it feels like. Arsenal looking so comfortable here.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle (Botman own goal17’)
And from that corner Arsenal do score! Gabriel is claiming this although it may be an own goal. Yes, it goes in off Sven Botman.
It’s frankly a ludicrous goal to concede. Gabriel heads Saka’s corner, it’s a good save by Karius but the ball is just in front of the line, Livramento swipes and misses the ball, it comes off Botman’s knee and just crosses the line before Karius can claw it away. Appalling defending but Arsenal won’t care!
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
16 mins: Rice playing more as a No 8 than a No 6 today and he’s picking the ball up in dangerous pockets. He’s helping Arsenal put in a much better performance than midweek at Porto already.
The Gunners probing and all the play is in the Newcastle half. Jorginho chips a ball into the area and Livramento can only put it behind for a corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
12 mins: Martinelli clips a ball into the box and Odegaard rises but it’s too high for him to get a proper connection on the header and the ball bounces harmlessly to Karius.
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