Arsenal disregard Newcastle as Howe suffers first loss

Mikel Arteta's facet saw their 10-fit unbeaten run in all competitions come to a painful lead to remaining weekend's 4-zero thrashing at Liverpool. But second half of dreams from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the Emirates Stadium made it 4 wins from their final five league games.

Written off after their negative start to the season, Arsenal are fifth, degree on factors with fourth located West Ham, as they chase a berth in subsequent season's Champions League. Rejoining the race for European locations represents massive development for Arteta, however few fighters can be quite as obliging as woeful Newcastle.

Howe changed into in charge in character for the primary time after lacking remaining weekend's three-3 draw in opposition to Brentford because of a fantastic coronavirus check. Hired by means of Newcastle's new proprietors to update the tons-maligned Steve Bruce, Howe will had been left below no illusions approximately the dimensions of the assignment facing him on Tyneside. It turned into bleak viewing for Newcastle co-proprietor Amanda Staveley, who sat huddled beneath a blanket in the administrators field on a bitterly cold afternoon in north London.

While the Saudi-led consortium that offered Newcastle have spoken about emulating the success of Manchester City and Paris Saint German beneath Middle Eastern possession, Howe's handiest focus is saving the Magpies from relegation. Former Bournemouth boss Howe will want to pull a great deal-progressed performances from his winless crew if they're to avoid a catastrophic slide into the Championship.

Already languishing five points from protection, backside of the desk Newcastle face crucial video games towards fellow strugglers Norwich and Burnley over the approaching week. They were in no way within the jogging towards Arsenal, who monopolised eighty percentage of the possession inside the first 1/2.

Saka went remaining to profitable that dominance while he stabbed simply extensive from Albert Sambi Lokonga's lofted long skip. Martin Odegaard's free-kick compelled a best keep from Martin Dubravka moments later as Arsenal pressed tough for the opener.

Newcastle sooner or later broke out to launch their first incisive raid, a flow that ended with Jonjo Shelvey's 20-backyard curler being tipped onto the bar with the aid of Aaron Ramsdale. When Emile Smith Rowe's close-variety header from Saka's pass changed into driven out via Dubravka, it seemed positive Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would in the end end Newcastle's resistence. But the Gabon ahead by hook or by crook side-footed towards the post from two yards in a candidate for leave out of the season.

Newcastle had failed to preserve a single easy-sheet inside the Premier League this season and Saka ensured that grim run extended to a thirteenth game within the 56th minute. Running onto Nuno Tavares's deft pass, Saka timed his surge from the left wing flawlessly as he smashed a low end beyond Dubravka into the far nook from 10 yards.

That become Saka's last contribution as the England global limped off injured soon after. Saka's replacement turned into Martinelli and the Brazilian made an immediate impact as he doubled Arsenal's lead in the 66th minute.