Matt Ritchie the hero as Newcastle add to Arsenal's away day woes
Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal: The Scot struck with 20 minutes to go to leave the Gunners still without a point on the road in 2018
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Your support makes all the difference.It felt like a real moment of celebration; one by one Newcastle players marching to salute their support at the Gallowgate End of St James’ Park after another raucous victory.
There were roars and individual cheers and Rafa Benitez was once more serenaded by a city that has taken him to its heart.
In defeating Arsenal, Newcastle moved a step nearer towards finding a top ten finish in the Premier League. If there are ever bemused moments for Arsene Wenger, then a visit to Tyneside, will be them. Here, bit by bit, they are learning to cherish every step, every collective movement taken by a young team.
This was his first loss at the stadium for 13 years, but it felt symbolic, of Newcastle’s dramatic change in trajectory and the faltering form of Arsenal, who are not just three points clear of Burnley, in seventh.
Wenger’s side led, and edged the first half, leading through Alexandre Lacazette but once Ayoze Perez swept in an excellent reply, before the half hour mark, Tyneside believed, and that can be a powerful force.
The second half was theirs, charging towards the Gallowgate End, Matt Ritchie smashing their winner and a corner flag he was forced to repair. In that moment, when a city seemed alive, Benitez, with his hands in his pockets, turned and walked towards his bench, emotionless and chewing gum.
He has become the calm among a black and white storm that has now yielded 16 point from a possible 21 and four victories in succession. For Arsenal there has yet to be a league victory on their travels this year. The Europa League becomes more vital with each failure.
Their opening goal, in the 14th minute, was laced with genuine quality. Shkodran Mustafi fed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the Arsenal left, he crossed first time into the middle and stretching to his right, Alexandre Lacazett volleyed past Martin Dubravka at the Gallowgate End of St James’ Park, the first goal the Slovakian goalkeeper has conceded at the stadium.
It was the signal for Arsenal pressure, Aubameyang cut back in and saw a shot deflected over the Newcastle crossbar and then Alex Iwobi tried to poke a shot through a crowd of bodies that was comfortable for Dubravka.
The dynamics of the game would change dramatically, however, just before the half hour mark. Like Arsenal’s opening goal, it was a fine strike, all about the pace and movement that has become such a feature of Newcastle’s revival.
Jonjo Shelvey struck a fine, 40 yards pass from inside his own half to the edge of the visitors’ penalty area. Dwight Gayle took a touch and then laid the ball to his right, to where DeAndre Yedline clipped a low, right-footed cross into the path of Ayoze Perez. There was still much to do, despite the speed of the move, and the Spanish forward edged ahead of Mustafi and clipped an excellent, right footed finish, from a tight angled beyond Petr Cech. It was Perez’s third goal in his last three games, and this time it gave the home side the confidence to play.
Before the half had finished there were still opportunities for Arsenal to establish their lead. In the 39th minute Mustafi crossed from the left after a free-kick had not been fully cleared and Callum Chambers sent a half volley wide with the goal at his mercy.
The defender then headed over a Granit Xhaka corner, and then Joe Willock completely missed his kick when sent through on his Premier League debut by Lacazette.
In reply Matt Ritchie had seen a low shot saved by Cech and his 25 yard drive that flew over in the 66th minute signalled a period of pressure from the home side that would be enough for victory.
Nacho Monreal’s header on the edge of his own penalty area was weak and fell to the Newcastle substitute Islam Slimani, who powerfully headed to his right, Perez dummied and the ball carried to Ritchie, who had the time to take a touch and then smash a right footed shot past Cech from 10 yards.
With 15 minutes later Kenedy broke through and his deflected shot looped up and clipped the Arsenal crossbar with Cech again beaten.
Shortly after Kenedy fed Slimani, he found Perez and at the second attempted he struck into the side netting. It told you Arsenal had gone and Tyneside rejoiced.
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Shelvey, Diame; Ritchie (Murphy 86), Perez (Joselu 77), Kenedy; Gayle (Slimani 63).
Arsenal (4-3-3): Cech; Chambers (Maitland-Niles 78), Mustafi, Holding, Montreal; Elneny, Xhaka, Willock (Welbeck 68); Iwobi (Nketiah 86), Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Ref: Mr Anthony Taylor
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