LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams second goal with teammate Gabriel Martinelli during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on February 24, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arsenal remain in touching distance to Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League title race after thrashing Newcastle United 4-1 on Saturday evening.
Premier League
Result: Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle United
Date: 24 February 2024
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Arsenal made only one change from their defeat against Porto in the UEFA Champions League, as Jorginho took the place of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus featured from the bench after he missed the last four matches.
The Gunners were heavily involved from the opening exchanges and they eventually went ahead on 18 minutes after Gabriel’s flick on from a corner was deflected home by Sven Botman.
Mikel Arteta’s charges were 2-0 up as quickly as six minutes later after tap-in by Kai Havertz from a square pass by Gabriel Martinelli.
The hosts were mesmerizing going forward as they continued to create opportunities but were not clinical.
Bukayo Saka nearly added a third goal just before the interval after a good reaction from a rebound but his shot was saved across goal by shot-stopper Loris Karius.
Newcastle got more on the ball in the closing phase of the first stanza but they could not threaten goalkeeper David Raya, as the Gunners took a two-goal lead to the interval.
Arsenal had a different approach coming from the break, as they were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure.
The Magpies took the initiative to attack but only came close to pulling a goal back on the hour-mark after Bruno Guimaraes had a strike in the box that sailed slightly over the crossbar.
Saka eventually put the game to bed for the Gunners on 65 minutes from a moment of individual brilliance after his raced through on goal, beat his marker on the byline and fired a shot into the bottom corner.
Everything that could go wrong went wrong for Newcastle, as they went 4-0 down four minutes later from a set-piece after Jakub Kiwior’s flicked header from a corner took a deflection off Lewis Miley and beat Karius in goal.
Arteta could afford to rest key players in the last 15 minutes, as Martin Odegaard, Saka and Kai Havertz were withdrawn and replaced by Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah.
United gained some control after that as Joe Willock found a consolation goal against his former side six minutes before time with a diving header in the box.
Arsenal remained in third spot on the log but reduced the deficit behind second-placed Manchester City to one point and two points behind leaders Liverpool.
