EPL News: Full Time Report: Arsenal vs. Newcastle – Another goal keeping error costs Arsenal three crucial points
Arsenal went into the game with Newcastle at the back of a two goal to one defeat during midweek in the Champions League. However, the main reason for Arsenal failing to perform in the midweek clash was down to the fact that most of the key players in the
side, namely being Cesc Fabregas and Alexandre Song were not at their usual starriness.
Both the players have time and time proven to be the driving force behind the Arsenal team and were expected to do the same in the game but their lack lustrous performance cost them some important points.
Arsenal had previously faced Newcastle in the English Cup competition and had beaten them by four goals to nil. With that in mind Newcastle had a lot to prove in the game, where as Arsenal also had to prove that they were some serious title contenders. There
was some good news for the Arsenal faithful as Robin Van Persie was finally featured on the Arsenal bench and the home fans loved the sight of the local Flying Dutch man, after nearly two months of the player being injured this season.
The match kicked off with Newcastle taking a surprise hold on the game. The away team was actually dominated possession against Arsenal which seemed to be rather bizarre and weird to most of the people watching. However soon after the tides finally turned
a lazy Arsenal got back into first gear and started to create their chance of attacks. Hence forth Arsenal nearly scored on two occasions in the first half.
The first chance came of a Fabregas free kick that took a wicked deflection and then managed to bounce of the post. The next chance came after some intricate passing from Arsenal, the ball fell to the feet of Nasri who curled in a brilliant first time shot.
However the players shot was blocked away brilliantly by the Newcastle keeper.
Just when things seemed to come to an end in the first half, Newcastle were awarded a free kick. Barton whipped in a ball into the box, which was in no real area of danger. However Fabianski, who had been brilliant so far this season, proved once again that
it’s an Arsenal keeper thing to try and reach for a ball that they don't need to. With the keeper well off his line, Andy Carroll had the simple task of nodding the ball into an empty net after leaping over the on rushing keeper.
Arsenal took to the field in the second half, with a sense of purpose and a drive to go on and score. Theo Walcott came the closest as his brilliant shot from inside the box struck the upright. However that shot was a sign of things to come in the game.
In essence Arsenal failed to really create any real chances and were often outplayed by Newcastle.
Just when it looked like things couldn't get any worse for Arsenal, Koscielny was shown a red card for a tackle on the Newcastle forward. The commentators credited the tackle and said that the most it should have gotten was a yellow but the referee thought
otherwise. The game finally ended to Arsenal's dismal with the score line reading one goal to nil in favour of the visiting Newcastle.
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