Player rankings as Gunners safe top-two end

FROM ST JAMES’ PARK – Arsenal secured a top-two Premier League end with a tough fought 2-0 win over Newcastle United.

After VAR denied Newcastle a penalty 15-minutes in, Arsenal opened the scoring in opposition to the run of play because of a world-class end from their captain Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal’s second got here within the 71st minute when Swiss defender Fabian Schar deflected the ball into his personal internet after a superb run from Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank.

Both England goalkeepers Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale have been stored busy and each produced some excellent stops, however the latter was to not be crushed as Arsenal earned a win which suggests they’ll, on the very least, end second within the Premier League this season – their finest end since 2016.

Newcastle, who stay on track for third, had began brightly. Just two minutes in they may, and may, have been forward. Good work on the left from Joe Willock led to Jacob Murphy being discovered within the field, and whereas he beat Aaron Ramsdale which his strike, the ball would subsequently crash off of the publish.

Controversy arrived 10 minutes in when referee Chris Kavanagh awarded Newcastle a penalty after a Bruno Guimaraes shot was blocked by Jakub Kiwior. After a prolonged VAR checked, the ball was deemed to have hit the defender’s thigh and never his arm.

Newcastle’s bench have been angered by the choice and their temper worsened simply minutes later when Arsenal took the lead.

Odegaard picked up the ball 25-yards out and was given on a regular basis on the planet to set himself up earlier than unleashing a incredible low effort past Nick Pope for his fifteenth objective of the season.

Nick Pope then stored Newcastle within the sport with a superb double save. Odegaard slipped Gabriel Martinelli into house and Pope was out rapidly to disclaim him. The England quantity two then stood up and pushed Odegaard effort huge of his publish as he tried to twist the ball into his far nook.

Arsenal continued to dominate and Pope as soon as once more got here to Newcastle’s rescue. Martinelli turned creator this time as he despatched Bukayo Saka clear however he couldn’t beat Pope who saved along with his chest.

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On the half hour mark Newcastle had a superb opportunity to degree. Bruno fired the ball into Callum Wilson, who then fed Willock, however the ex-Arsenal man could not beat Ramsdale along with his shot on objective.

On the stroke of half-time Pope stored Newcastle within the sport as soon as once more. Nice soccer from Arsenal noticed Martinelli feed Odegaard, who dummied the final defender however couldn’t beat Pope who caught out a foot to disclaim the Gunners’ captain.

Newcastle began the second-half in related vein to the primary – by hitting the publish. This time Isak’s close-range header cannon off the upright. From a nook moments later, Ramsdale then made a superb save to disclaim Schar from five-yards out.

Arsenal responded and shortly they hit the woodwork as Martinelli reduce inside and clipped the bar along with his curling effort.

With little over 20-minutes left on the clock, Martinelli lastly discovered a solution to put the sport to mattress for Arsenal.

The Brazilian picked up the ball simply contained in the Newcastle half earlier than driving into the penatly and drilling a low cross alongside the six-yard field. Unluckily for Schar, he was available to deflect the ball into his personal internet.

GK: Nick Pope – 8/10 – Beaten by a qualify end however produced a string of nice saves to maintain Arsenal at bay.

RB: Kieran Trippier (C) – 5/10 – Didn’t supply sufficient going ahead and was dominated by Martinelli for big intervals.

CB: Sven Botman – 7/10 – Marshalled Gabriel Jesus and made some essential blocks.

CB: Fabian Schar – 5/10 – Tried to assist with Martinelli when he may. Should have scored along with his close-range header earlier than he did rating…in his personal internet.

LB: Dan Burn – 7/10 – Coped properly with Saka. Good efficiency.

CM: Joelinton – 6/10 – Some jaunts ahead however wants to supply extra the opposite manner too.

CM: Bruno Guimaraes – 6/10 – Tried his finest to get Newcastle going, and was on the coronary heart of most good issues they did. Ultimately outclassed by Odegaard although.

CM: Joe Willock – 7/10 – Really harmful within the first-half, created a few good probabilities and will have scored.

RW: Jacob Murphy – 7/10 – Hit the publish within the opening minutes and labored laborious all through, created some good probabilities.

CF: Callum Wilson – 6/10 – Worked laborious however barely had a sniff of a objective.

LW: Alexander Isak – 7/10 – Put a very good shift in, was a continuing menace and got here so near scoring simply after the break.

Substitutes

Miguel Almiron (65′ for Murphy) – N/A

Anthony Gordon (78′ for Willock) – N/A

Allan Saint-Maximin (78′ for Murphy) – N/A

Matt Targett (82′ for Burn) – N/A

Elliot Anderson (82′ for Joelinton) – N/A

Subs not used: Martin Dubravka, Paul Dummett, Jamal Lewis, Javier Manquillo

Manager

Eddie Howe – 6/10 – Questionable resolution to take off Murphy who was considered one of his higher gamers. Left his adjustments too late.

GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 9/10 – Some fantastic saves, the very best being from point-blank vary to maintain out Schar’s header.

RB: Ben White – 5/10 – Not his finest sport and struggled at instances with Isak.

CB: Jakub Kiwior – 7/10 – Solid show from the younger Pole. Did properly in opposition to Wilson.

CB: Gabriel – 7/10 – Marshalled the back-line properly, and made some large blocks at essential instances.

LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6/10 – Did okay, however did not have a huge effect on the sport.

CM: Granit Xhaka – 7/10 – Worked laborious and made one sensible problem on Wilson.

CM: Martin Odegaard (C) – 9/10 – Not many gamers give Bruno the run-around, however the Norwegian did. Outstanding.

CM: Jorginho – 7/10 – Kept the ball properly all through.

RW: Bukayo Saka – 5/10 – Not nice from the England man as he not often bought the higher of Burn.

CF: Gabriel Jesus – 5/10 – Never actually bought into the sport and couldn’t get away from Botman and Schar.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 8/10 – Excellent exhibiting.

Substitutes

Kieran Tierney (60′ for Zinchenko) – 6/10.

Thomas Partey (80′ for Odegaard) – N/A

Leandro Trossard (80′ for Martinelli) – N/A

Reiss Nelson (87′ for Saka) – N/A

Eddie Nketiah (87′ for Jesus) – N/A

Subs not used: Matt Turner, Emile Smith Rowe, Rob Holding, Fabio Viera

Manager

Mikel Arteta – 8/10 – Only one change nevertheless it was a giant one with Gabriel Martinelli proving to be decisive for his aspect.

Player of the Match – Maritn Odegaard (Arsenal)