London. They say the table never lies.
In what order Arsenal and Newcastle end up, the future will tell.
That they deserve their place at the top, among the best, is beyond doubt.
On this rainy Tuesday evening in North London, emotions flooded both the field and the sidelines.
Slaps were thrown, cards were welcomed, and Mikel Arteta, assistant coach Jason Tyndall, gave rivals the evil eye more than once. The arena was like a pressure cooker that was pushed to the limit and never reached its full peak as it ended scoreless.
But the intensity on the turf was refreshing and the importance of the match was evident. Both teams are imbued with tremendous confidence and a desire to exceed expectations more than they already have.
Not entirely unexpectedly, the fight culminated in a serious handball brawl in the Newcastle penalty area that ended with substitute Jacob Murphy being released. Nobody, including Arteta, broke the rhythm until the final whistle and it was 0-0 for real.
There were boos from the stands, but it was most likely directed at the refereeing team rather than the special team.
Hao better than legends
Whether Arteta or Eddie Howe is the 2022 Manager of the Year is all set. When Tottenham beat Newcastle 5-1 in April, the club’s road to becoming Champions League favorites seemed a very long one.
right Now? Retrained Jolinton and reborn Miguel Almiron are two reasons why the magpies are suddenly flying. The beacon towers in the back protect the goal better than any other line of defense in the entire league. Howe’s brilliant score surpasses even such legends as Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson.
So Newcastle’s visit to the Emirates became a match of epic proportions. A real pinnacle in the pursuit of the Premier League title.
Who would have thought that in August?
Forced to fall deeper
It all started with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale dodging Newcastle’s toxic pressing and pulling the ball over to Oleksandr Zintenko. Most of the time the left-back has been positioned in the middle, but he has now moved wide and Arsenal have begun a period of intense pressure towards the Nick Pope goal on the other side.
When referee Andy Madley declared the end of the first half after a sweaty half (not least for him), Joelinton of the away team had headed the ball wide of the woodwork. This spree is not over yet.
Normally Dan Byrne manages to keep most of them in the pocket, but Bukayo Saka kept getting away. Something Arsenal should have used more, at least until Joelinton stepped down as a prop. Howe realized that Newcastle needed to stand a little deeper to close in behind, making it more difficult for the home team to break through.
It’s time to take it seriously
With another offensive threat on the bench to throw, it might have ended differently. Arsenal made more finishes overall but it cannot be said other than that the game was enjoyable. One point each? Why not, those involved might think. It’s better than nothing, though the home team should be more disappointed.
On this gray January evening, spring seems incredibly far away. Everyone understands that there is a lot of time to happen before the buds burst before May. Priceless Thomas Partey may explode. Almiron’s form could definitely slow (woe and awe, he didn’t even score today!).
But dismiss Newcastle as a blindfolded Champions League contender. Or write off Arsenal’s chances of winning the title, for that matter. With Manchester City eight points (and one more game) behind, it’s time to take the schedule seriously. This game, these players but above all their situation can last much longer than many want to realize.