ARSENAL reached the fourth round of the FA Cup with a nerve-wracking 2-0 win over Newcastle at extra-time thanks to goals from Emile Smith-Rowe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The game was a drab affair throughout, but the youngsters late volley and Auba’s tap in secured the Gunners a ball number for the fourth round.
- RESULT: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle AET
- TV/Live stream: BBC One/BBC iPlayer
- Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, David Luiz, Mari, Tierney, Elneny, Willock, Pepe, Willian, Nelson, Aubameyang
- Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Longstaff, Hendrick, Almiron, Joelinton, Andy Carroll
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THAT’S ALL FOLKS!
Well well well. After 120 minutes of football, the game was finally decided thanks to extra time goals from Emile Smith-Rowe and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
Both teams started off the first half well but apart from an Aubameyang sliced effort, not many chances were created.
Newcastle had the upper hand for the first 10 minutes of the second half until the introduction of Emile Smith-Rowe, Saka and Xhaka came on to change the game.
The Gunners then grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck but it was an Andy Carroll squandered opportunity which was the best chance of the half.
Emile Smith-Rowe saw a red card for a reckless challenge but it was rescinded after Chris Kavanagh realised the tackle wasn’t as bad as it seemed.
The youngster then found himself in the perfect position to put his side 1-0 up deep into extra time.
Newcastle had no time to reply and then to add insult to injury, Aubameyang wrapped up the tie with a tap in from close range.
Thank you for tuning in family, this was a long one.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
MATCH REPORT
If you want to find out who got the highest ratings in today’s hard fought encounter between Arsenal and Newcastle.
CLICK HERE FOR THE MATCH REPORT
STEVE BRUCE’S VIEWS
The Magpies head coach dwelling on the missed opportunities to win the game but still praising Carroll’s overall performance.
Bruce said: “The one thing you have to do is take your chances when they come along and there’s not going to be lots and lots of them of course.
“As for a cup tie, it could have went either way but we just rue the missed chances that we had but as I said when you come here, you don’t get a lot of them.
“I thought Andy did fantastically well and of course he would have topped it off by scoring a goal.
“It would have been good for him especially after scoring last week.”
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
Now take a look at the goal which sealed Newcastle’s fate and officially put Arsenal through to the fourth round.
DEADLOCK BROKEN
After 115 minutes of football Emile Smith-Rowe saved the day.
SMITH-ROWE’S ANALYSIS
Man of the match, Emile Smith-Rowe discussing his eventful evening, Newcastle being tough opponents and the change in direction of Arsenal.
He said:“Yeah I was really happy. A bit of a relief for me because obviously like you said the incident before wasn’t ideal and it definitely wasn’t intentional, so I’m happy to get the goal and happy to go through to the next round.
“We knew coming into the game how tough it was going to be. We know that they are a strong opponent so it was just about breaking them down and in the end we got there.
“From a young kid I have always dreamt of playing for this club. All the young players it is good for us to get opportunities so yeah I am really happy to be playing for this club.
“I think it shows how together we are. We’ve been working off the pitch to get closer as a group and it’s starting to show on the pitch and as a group we are so happy to keep winning games.”
PROGRESSION
Only Nottingham Forest in 2018 have stopped the Gunners from progressing to the fourth round in the FA Cup.
That’s 24 out of 25!
FULL TIME STATS
The stats doesn’t tell the whole story but Arsenal did deserve it in the end.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
GAME, SET AND MATCH!
FT: ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE
PIERRE IS HERE
Aubameyang wraps up the tie.
Training ground stuff.
Xhaka through ball to Tierney, Tierney squared it to Aubameyang and you know the rest.
Arsenal are certainly heading through to the next round.
ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE
GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
AUBAMEYANG SEALS ITTTTT!
ROWE ROWE ROWE YA BOAT
Fantastic finish from the youngster.
The ball was played up to Lacazette who guided it expertly into the path of Emile Smith-Rowe and to be fair to the youngster, still had a lot to do.
ESR was then able to bring it down on his chest and hit a left foot half-volley past Dubravka.
ARSENAL 1-0 NEWCASTLE
GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
THE MAN WHO THOUGHT HE GOT SENT OFF!
HAS PUT ARSENAL IN FRONT!
EMILE SMITH-ROWE!!!!
ARSENAL 0-0 NEWCASTLE
ET 16. The last chance for one of the players to make themselves a hero.
Or will it come down to penalties?
This is getting very interesting.
PEEEEEEEEEP!
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
THE LAST 15 MINUTES OF THE TIE!
PEEEEEEEEP!
STILL NO BREAKTHROUGH!
REF BLOWS FOR THE END OF THE FIRST HALF OF EXTRA-TIME!
ARSENAL 0-0 NEWCASTLE
ET 12. Arsenal are really knokcing on the door.
Mari played a superb pass to Pepe who brought it down on his chest and eventually got a shot off.
But a superb block from Ritchie spared Newcastle’s blushes.
ARSENAL 0-0 NEWCASTLE
ET 7. OOOO WAS THAT A PENALTY?
Aubameyang seemed to be clipped by the right boot of Clark but the Gabon international went down far too easily.
VAR did do their checks but nothing was given.
LUCKY ESCAPE
Emile-Smith Rowe sees red but the referee changed his mind. Who said VAR was a bad thing?
ARSENAL 0-0 NEWCASTLE
ET 4. WHAT A SAVE DUBRAVKA!
Granit Xhaka caught the ball cleanly on the volley but the Newcastle goalkeeper managed to get a hand to get fingertips to it.
ARSENAL 0-0 NEWCASTLE
ET 2. So another 120 minutes of this game to go.
Will someone win it or will we need penalties to decide the match?
PEEEEEEEEP!
QUICK TURN-AROUND FOLKS!
THE REF BLOWS FOR THE START OF EXTRA-TIME!
PEEEEEEEP!
REF BLOWS FOR FULL TIME!
EXTRA-TIME HERE WE COME!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
