Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe delivered a candid assessment of his team’s 4-1 defeat against Arsenal, acknowledging Arsenal’s strong performance while admitting his side’s shortcomings. The match saw Tino Livramento inadvertently score an own goal off his teammate Sven Botman in the early stages, indicative of Arsenal’s dominant start. Kai Havertz extended Arsenal’s lead before halftime, with Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior adding to the scoreline in the second half to seal the comprehensive victory for the hosts.
Jorginho elevates Arsenal
Arteta faces limited selection dilemmas each weekend, but Jorginho stands out as one of the few players capable of breaking into the starting lineup.
In Arsenal’s recent match against Porto, the 32-year-old initially began on the bench, leading to tactical adjustments with Ben White shifting to full-back. However, Jorginho’s introduction in the final 20 minutes failed to fully impact the game’s rhythm. Nonetheless, his pivotal role from the outset has been evident throughout the season.
With a knack for maintaining composure amidst pressing opposition, Jorginho’s influence in midfield has been mesmerizing. This was notably showcased in Arsenal’s commanding victory over Liverpool earlier this month, where his presence at the base of midfield allowed Declan Rice to advance higher up the pitch.
By assuming a deep-lying midfield role, Jorginho enables Rice to cover more ground closer to the goal, facilitating Arsenal’s aggressive pressing game. In fact, in the first half alone against Newcastle, Arsenal successfully regained possession in the final third on 11 occasions.
While Jorginho may not feature in every fixture at this stage of his career, his ability to deliver impactful performances when called upon has not escaped Arteta’s attention. As the Arsenal manager aptly noted, “He was magnificent today, again.”
Bukayo Saka stands out as an exceptional talent.
Tino Livramento can certainly attest to Saka’s enduring quality on the pitch. Manager Eddie Howe succumbed to mounting pressure to replace the struggling Dan Burn after a series of challenging performances. However, the younger and faster Livramento found himself in a daunting task trying to mark Saka, akin to being tossed about in a tumble dryer.
Following the winter break, which allowed Arteta to give his star pupil a well-deserved rest, the 22-year-old has burst into the new year with renewed vigor. Saka’s precise strike to seal the game after a brief resurgence from Newcastle at the beginning of the second half marked his seventh goal in five games. Notably, the last Englishman to achieve such a feat for the Gunners was Ian Wright in 1994 – seven years before Saka was born.
Saka’s recent success has been underpinned by a slightly more refined and direct approach – fewer flashy moves, and more goal attempts. Livramento endured 72 minutes of torment from Saka before Howe opted to bring on Burn to spare the youngster further anguish.
Top defence plays an important role
Arsenal’s remarkable offensive output at the start of the new year has been turning heads. With 25 league goals scored in 2024, the Gunners have caught the attention, especially when compared to Manchester United’s total of just 36 goals throughout the entire campaign.
Equally impressive has been their steadfast defensive resolve, a key factor in their success. Against Newcastle, Arsenal held firm, preventing their opponents from registering a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes – a feat not seen from the Magpies in a decade.
This defensive solidity has been consistent. In 2024 alone, Arsenal has only conceded chances worth a combined 2.2 expected goals (xG) across six games. For context, City, with the next-best defensive record in the division during this period, have conceded 7.0 xG (according to UnderStat).
With a strong defence providing a solid foundation, Arsenal has the confidence to push forward in search of crucial goals. Against Newcastle, they managed to break the deadlock from yet another set-piece opportunity. Remarkably, since the beginning of 2022, Arsenal has lost just one Premier League game after taking the lead.