Arsenal exhibit crucial change in Newcastle win that could prove difference in title race

Arsenal got back to winning ways after an improved performance against Newcastle (Reuters)

For so long, the trip to Manchester City was weighing on Arsenal’s mind. The fear of the worst-case scenario was torturing their psyche: that their nine-point advantage would be wiped out in a matter of 11 days. That’s exactly what transpired - and suddenly, Arsenal are playing with a semblance of freedom again.

Arsenal came into their clash with Newcastle - one of five potentially title-deciding outings remaining in their Premier League season - knocked off the top of the table after a 200-day stint. Mikel Arteta denied there was any psychological impact to being second, but it didn’t seem that way.

Both on the pitch and in the stands, anxiety at the first whistle had eased, perhaps taking a liking to the growing perception that they are now the underdogs in this title race. The worst had happened - now it was their job to stage a fightback.

Gabriel and David Raya celebrate Arsenal’s win over Newcastle (Reuters)

By the final whistle, that anxiety had admittedly returned in droves - but crucially, for the first time in over a month, Arsenal had won on English soil. They were back on top and their performance was worthy of that outcome.

From the outset, Arsenal played with vigour and intent against a side who themselves are in the throws of a rough period. Eddie Howe may have seen an Arsenal side without a domestic win in four as an opportunity to win back positive sentiment, yet it quickly became apparent of their gulf in quality regardless of blips.

In the London sunshine without a cloud in the sky, the Gunners were feeling themselves. They showcased creativity and spark that wasn’t apparent in their last home game, an uneasy goalless draw with Sporting that saw them just scrape through to the Champions League last-four. It wasn’t long until they reaped the fruits of their labour, and in slightly unfamiliar means.

A team who have been lamented for their reliance on set pieces that harness “anti-football” this season, such as crowding the goalkeeper and dumping the ball on his head, Arsenal had actually gone over a month without a goal via set play - their last coming against Chelsea on 1 March. Maybe that’s why the hosts went refreshingly creative from the corner, Noni Madueke feeding a low ball into the feet of Kai Havertz, who laid it back for Eberechi Eze to fire a rocket into the top-left corner and break the deadlock on nine minutes.

Eberechi Eze scored a rocket to break the deadlock (Getty)

His first league goal not against Tottenham since October, Eze has been showing signs of becoming a real difference-maker for Arsenal after a difficult start to his career in N17. His stunner against the Magpies followed an excellent performance against Man City, despite defeat. Such an upturn in form made later events all the more cruel, with the Englishman being forced off with an ankle injury soon after half-time.

He followed Havertz, his provider, down the tunnel, who looked dejected as he suffered yet another injury setback in the first half. On a day when Arsenal were joyous at the return of Bukayo Saka, who came off the bench for his first appearance since the Carabao Cup final, Arteta was left with another pounding injury headache.

Kai Havertz was dealt yet another injury setback (Reuters)

Arsenal remained free-flowing in spite of their casualties, though after failing to make good on their good play before the break, the nerves began to creep back in. That was first exhibited by David Raya, who has been susceptible to an error of late, who completely misjudged the flight of Sandro Tonali’s effort from range and had to readjust sharply to keep out what should have been a simple save down the middle.

Up the other end, conviction was slipping slip. Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi both had good shooting opportunities that were snuffed out by Newcastle bodies.

The hosts entered the final quarter-hour with their advantage still only a goal, but they felt it should’ve also included a man after Nick Pope, showing shades of his red card against Liverpool in 2023, wiped out Viktor Gyokeres after venturing way out of his goal to deal with a loose ball, only to miss it completely. With Malick Thiaw covering and Gyokeres still with a third of the pitch to cover, Pope escaped with a yellow. He was fortunate.

Nick Pope was perhaps fortunate not to be sent off for taking out Viktor Gyokeres (PA)

Newcastle got away with one, but it wasn’t long until Arsenal were left counting their blessings. Nick Woltemade dinked one over the Arsenal back line for substitute strike partner Yoane Wissa, only for the Congolese to blaze his volley from 10 yards well over. For a combined £124m, Howe would’ve expected a lot more, both in that moment and the season as a whole.

Such a close call led to Arteta finally bringing Saka into the game on 81 minutes. But it was another Magpies chance that came and went, with Dan Burn coming in at the back post but heading only straight at Raya. Arsenal survived in a way they haven’t in recent times.

While the quality of play had grown clumsy and desperate as the clock ran deep into seven minutes of added time, Arteta simply will not have care when the whistle was put to the referee’s mouth. The superstitious among you will say some sort of curse has been broken. With a Champions League semi-final trip to Atletico Madrid to come, there is once again belief that the Gunners have two trophies to win rather than lose.