Facing Newcastle on Saturday night looked a tough assignment for Arsenal on paper after their UEFA Champions League setback at Porto, but a ruthless first half from Mikel Arteta’s side saw them blow away their visitors and keep up their title challenge. A Sven Botman own goal got the hosts up and running, and then Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior all notched in a ruthless display.
Arsenal coasted to a sixth straight Premier League victory to close the gap on leaders Liverpool to two points by demolishing Newcastle United 4-1 at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s energised side – who lost 1-0 to FC Porto in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 match on Wednesday – swarmed all over a listless visiting team, who did not manage a touch inside the Arsenal penalty area in the opening 25 minutes.
Sven Botman turned the ball into his own net on 18 minutes after keeper Loris Karius made a brilliant stop from Gabriel’s header via Bukayo Saka’s corner, with Kai Havertz adding the second six minutes later by tucking home Gabriel Martinelli’s cross.
Saka showed some lovely dribbling skills before slamming home a third on 65 minutes, with Jakub Kiwior’s header completing the rout from Declan Rice’s corner four minutes later.
Substitute Joe Willock nodded a consolation on 84 minutes from a night in which Eddie Howe’s side were fortunate to ship only four.
Arsenal remain third in the table with 58 points from 26 games, but are only two points behind Liverpool and one behind champions Manchester City, who are second after a 1-0 win at Bournemouth.
Newcastle are eighth with 37 points from 26 outings after a lamentable evening in which they failed to register a shot at goal in the first half of a Premier League fixture for the first time in a decade.
Twenty years of hurt never stopped them dreaming, but there seems to be a real feeling among jubilant Arsenal fans that their side could be on the brink of winning a first Premier League title since 2004 courtesy of Mikel Arteta’s class of 2024.
With 12 games of the season remaining, the Gunners are dominating sides and scoring goals for fun having never before managed to start a calendar year with six straight wins.
Only two points separate the top three in the Premier League, but it is also interesting to note that Arsenal suddenly have a better goal difference than Liverpool and City which could yet be crucial if the title race goes right to the wire.
Creative, clinical and committed, the outstanding Saka makes the difference for this Arsenal side in the final third with his finishing and assists a key component of their success story. Netted a superb third goal in celebrating scoring for a fifth straight Premier League match.
“We’ve been working hard on the training pitch,” he told TNT Sports. “We have a lot of quality going forward. I feel like it is just starting to click now. We are playing with a lot of confidence. The chemistry is building too. We just need to continue that.”
Arsenal: Raya 7, White 8, Saliba 8, Gabriel 8, Kiwior 8, Odegaard 7, Rice 8, Jorginho 8, Havertz 7, Saka 9, Martinelli 7 Subs: Smith Rowe 6, Nketiah 6, Trossard 6, Elneny 6
Newcastle Utd: Karius 8,Trippier 5, Schar 5, Botman 5, Livramento 5, Longstaff 5, Guimaraes 5, Miley 5, Gordon 6, Almiron 5, Isak 6 Subs: Barnes 6, Willock 7, Burn 7, Lascelles 6, Murphy 6
18′ GOAL! (BOTMAN OG) ARSENAL 1-0 NEWCASTLE Saka with the delightful corner, met by Gabriel’s head three yards out and a brilliant stop by Karius, but breaks off Botman who ends up turning it into his net via his knee. Couldn’t react quickly enough to clear danger and the home side are ahead.
24′ GOAL! (HAVERTZ) ARSENAL 2-0 NEWCASTLE Lovely, lovely play by Mikel Arteta’s side. How good a team goal is that? Martinelli runs onto the ball from Jorginho before Havertz arrives to tuck the ball into the net from his cross. So easy. Two goals in six minutes.
65′ GOAL! (SAKA) ARSENAL 3-0 NEWCASTLE Saka scores for a fifth straight Premier League match as he twists and turns before burying the shot into the corner of net. Havertz with the pass. Game, set and match. They lead 3-0.
69′ GOAL! (KIWIOR) ARSENAL 4-0 NEWCASTLE Lewis Miley sees the ball fly into the net off him via the Kiwior header from the Rice corner. That looks like an own goal, but Premier League are giving it to Kiwior. And Newcastle fall four goals down. Arsenal worthy of this lead.
84′ GOAL! ARSENAL 4-1 NEWCASTLE (WILLOCK) Newcastle’s best move of the evening ends with substitute Willock arriving to nod home an excellent Burn cross after a strong driving run. Fine goal. Back to 4-1 behind. Comeback is on.
