Controversial 60-second spell helps Arsenal sink battling Newcastle
Arsenal saw off bottom-of-the-table Newcastle 2-0 after a 60 seconds of drama swung the game in the hosts’ favour on Saturday.
Arsenal leading 1-0 through Bukayo Saka’s precise finish made it 2-0 on 66 minutes after sub Gabriel Martinelli volleyed home. But not before Newcastle had vociferous claims for a penalty turned away by Stuart Attwell. Callum Wilson appeared to be shoved over in the box, but Newcastle got nothing and Martinelli made them pay.
Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe all started as Arsenal hosted Newcastle in Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League kick-off.
The Gunners were bidding to hit back from their 4-0 humbling at Liverpool last weekend.
Newcastle made three changes from their 3-3 draw with Brentford, with Martin Dubravka, Ryan Fraser and Emil Krafth all starting as Eddie Howe took charge in person for the first time since arriving at the club.
Arsenal dominated possession from the off at The Emirates.
And the fashioned their first chance after 17 minutes. Saka got on the end of a ball from Albert Sambi Lokonga floated over the top but his sliding attempt was off target.
Minutes later Martin Odegaard curled a free-kick around the wall, bur Martin Dubravka pushed the ball away.
But it was Newcastle who almost broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark.
Jonjo Shelvey latched on to a loose ball following a clearance from a cross and fired goalwards, but Aaron Ramsdale somehow managed to tip the ball over.
MARTINELLI THAT'S FANTASTIC!
Incredible volleyed finish over Dubravka ????
Impact sub!
pic.twitter.com/tuxkgGDXh4
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 27, 2021
Takehiro Tomiyasu then cut inside and fired just wide from range, as the Gunners responded.
And they should have been ahead five minutes before the break.
Nuno Tavares’ chipped cross found Emile Smith Rowe, whose close-range header was repelled by Dubravka. But the ball fell to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just a few yards out only for the striker to somehow side-foot the ball onto the post.
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Arsenal breakthrough
Arsenal did break through 10 minutes after half-time.
Smith Rowe and Tavares combined to get Saka in down the left and he fired across Dubravka and into the corner.
On 65 minutes Newcastle had claims for a penalty. Callum Wilson went down in the box under pressure from Garbiel, chasing a Shelvey long ball.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe wanted a penalty, but the referee wasn’t interested. And just a minute later the visitors were 2-0 down.
Sub Gabriel Martinelli had been on the pitch for a minute when he was found in space by Tomiyasu. His finish from the looping cross was perfect as he side-footed a volley past Dubravka.
Shelvey then saw Ramsdale catch one of his long distance strikes.
Newcastle then broke forward with Murph crossing to the back post, but the ball tricked wide.
Aubamenyang then latched onto a through ball from Smith Rowe and tried to flick an effort over the on-rushing Dubravka, but the keeper blocked the strike.
On 87 minutes Lacazette tried to round Dubravka, but he lost control and allowed the Newcastle keeper to smother the ball.
And at the other end Allan Saint-Maximin surged into the left-inside channel and cut back on to his right foot to fire at goal, only for Ramsdale to dive and save the strike.
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