ARSENAL have beaten Newcastle 2-0 in the Premier League in a spirited display at St James’ Park.
The Gunners weathered an early storm which saw Newcastle hit the post before being denied a penalty. But Martin Odegaard put them ahead with a long-range strike soon after.
And Fabian Schar’s own goal has made it 2-0 to Mikel Arteta’s side as they hung on to a crucial win in the title race.
- Kick off time: 4:30pm GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event/ Sky Sports Premier League
- Live stream: NOW
- Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn, Joelinton, Willock, Guimaraes, Murphy, Wilson, Isak
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Jorginho, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus
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Goodbye from St James’ Park
That’s all from us in the north-east – but Arsenal refuse to go away just yet.
By wining this captivating contest, the Gunners are determined to take their title race with Manchester City to the wire.
And even if Mikel Arteta’s exciting young team are unable to reel in Pep Guardiola’s superstars, they can at least take heart in their top-two finish – confirmed following today’s result.
They may yet be joined in the Champions League by Newcastle next season.
Despite defeat here, the Toon remain on course for their first top-four finish in 20 years, particularly with Manchester United currently one goal down to West Ham.
Thanks for joining us, and goodnight.
Extra! Read all about it!
Before we sign off for the evening, why not relive the action by enjoying Dave Kidd’s match report of Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Newcastle United?
All logic and reason dictated that the title race was over – but Arsenal laughed in the face of commonsense here. Mikel Arteta’s men kept the heat on Manchester City by inflicting only Newcastle’s second home defeat of the season with a performance of resilience, intelligence and class.
Dave Kidd
Gunners close the gap
Perhaps there’s still life in the title race after all.
Manchester City’s lead at the top is cut to one point following Arsenal’s win today, and next up for the league leaders – sandwich between two Champions League semi-finals with Real Madrid – is a visit to a desperate Everton.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s momentum has been halted and the Toon could slip to fourth by the end of the evening with Manchester United in action against West Ham now, but they still have Champions League football in their own hands.
By Jorg! What a performance
Discarded by Chelsea, Jorginho put in another quality display in the heart of the Arsenal midfield as his side pulled out a big win in their fight for the title.
The Italian picked up Sky Sports’ Man of the Match, and afterwards followed Martin Odegaard in praising the grit shown by his side.
“I’m really pleased to see that our team can play these kind of games, we understand sometimes that it’s not possible, it’s not easy to go through a game with just passes,” he said afterwards.
“Sometimes you need to fight. I’m very proud of the team and the way they fought until the end.”
Gunners claim Toon scalp
With victory over Newcastle this evening, Arsenal have now beaten 17 of the other 19 teams in this season’s Premier League.
The exceptions? Top of the table Manchester City (lost 3-1 and 4-1) and bottom of the table Southampton (drew 1-1 and 3-3).
Odegaard praises ‘ugly’ Arsenal
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard dragged his side through a difficult first 15 minutes at St James’ Park, scored the opening goal, and then led by example as he, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka put in impressive midfield performances.
To come here and win is not easy. We had to be very smart and to be ugly at times. It is a big step for a young team like ours to come here and do the things that we did. It shows we have come a long way.
Martin Odegaard
Match stats from St James’ Park
Newcastle racked up 12 shots – five of them on target – but couldn’t find a way past Aaron Ramsdale, who clocked up a tenth Premier League clean sheet of the season.
Full time – Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
A big, big win for Arsenal.
The Gunners overcame a buoyant and blistering Newcastle side, riding their luck in the opening exchanges, to land a vital blow in the title.
Martin Odegaard’s opener and Fabian Schar’s own-goal were the difference in an absorbing contest that was as fierce as it was frenetic.
The results means the Londoners close the gap on leaders Manchester City to one point, having now played a game more. To coin an old phrase around here, they’re still fighting for this title…
Newcastle, meanwhile, may have been beaten but shouldn’t be disheartened as they chase Champions League football. That goal still remains very much in their hands.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal – Schar and Nketiah yellow cards
90+5. Fabian Schar has a yellow card to add to his own goal and he’s been fooled into a melee by Nketiah down by the corner flag.
Some pushing and shoving eats up the final minute of the game, and the Arsenal substitute will happily take his caution alongside his opponent because it means his side are seconds away from victory.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
90+3. Saint-Maximin’s pace causes problems for Arsenal again down the left, but White stays alert and turns the subsequent cross behind for a corner.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
90+2. Saint-Maximin almost halves the deficit, coming in off the left and whipping a shot towards the far corner.
Down low to touch behind once again is Ramsdale.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
90. Six minutes of additional time are signalled by the fourth official.
Can Newcastle do the remarkable and rescue something here?
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
89. Fabian Schar goes close to making amends for his own goal with a crisp shot on the rise from 30 yards.
It beats Aaron Ramsdale – but beats the crossbar too.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal – Arsenal substitutions
87. A final two changes for the Gunners, who give Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus a well-earned rest.
On for the closing moments are Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
85. Some cheeky antics from Aaron Ramsdale as he goes down holding his face after colliding with Miguel Almiron.
The Arsenal goalkeeper holds his face as if injured, but in truth there is nothing wrong with him.
Newcastle do not like being confronted with their own antics.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
84. Anderson goes down in the box under pressure from Xhaka, but even Chris Kavanagh isn’t going to be fooled by that one despite the roars from the home fans.
No penalty.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
83. A rare spot of football breaks out with Anderson exciting down the right.
Two quick passes inside present Guimaraes with an opportunity, but out of nowhere Tierney gets a foot in to intercept.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal – Newcastle substitutions
81. And there’s more.
Elliott Anderson and Matt Targett are on. Joelinton and Dan Burn make way.
Couldn’t Newcastle have just made those with their other two four minutes ago?
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal – Arsenal substitutions
80. And we’re now in the stop-start multiple substitutions section of the game.
It’s now the turn of Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey to come on as Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli depart.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal – Newcastle substitutions
78. Hmmmm. Perhaps Eddie Howe has given up on this one.
What other reason could there be for the introduction of Anthony Gordon?
The former Everton man is joined by Allan Saint-Maximin in coming on for the final 12 minutes, the pair replacing Callum Wilson and Joe Willock.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
76. Into the final quarter of an hour, and now we’ll really see what Newcastle have got.
How about those Champions League credentials?
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal – Burn yellow card
74. The first yellow card of the game is finally shown by Chris Kavanagh – and it might yet be a red.
Dan Burn is cautioned for catching Saka on the ankle with a lunge, and VAR are checking it for serious foul play.
In fairness to the giant defender, it was more clumsy than malicious, and the decision ultimately comes through that the caution should stand.
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal
72. Nick Pope is undone at his near post again, and this time it proves crucial!
On the break, Gabriel Martinelli toys with Sven Botman, pausing twice, and then beating him for pace to the byline.
With a yard of space, the Brazilian slams over a low cross that Fabian Schar instinctively turns past his own goalkeeper and into the net.
In the St James’ Park heavens, the Arsenal fans celebrate. They are closing in on a big win.
An own goal!
Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
69. Those in attendance need two sets of eyes at the moment – one to watch the play, and the other to keep track on everything that is taking place off the ball.
In terms of the game, Pope makes hard work of a Jesus strike from an acute angle, pushing it behind for a corner when he should have really claimed it with both hands.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
