GUNNERS ARE FOUR LOSERS
Toon deliver a kick in teeth to Arteta’s hopes of Champions League
CALLUM WILSON was left grinning after he suffered through a dental emergency to spoil toothless Arsenal’s Champions League bid.
The Gunners went into the game knowing they would need all three points to keep their top-four destiny in their own hands, as the sat two behind rivals Spurs before kick-off.
But Wilson proved he was up for the fight – opting to play on despite a blow to the Newcastle striker’s face leaving him with his front tooth hanging on – and eventually helped bag the 56th-minute opener.
Ben White beat Wilson to the final touch for an own goal from Joelinto’s cross and that was followed by Bruno Guimaraes’ strike as the Magpies sealed another three points.
But it was frustration for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who said: “Newcastle deserved to win and were much better than us. We had nothing in the game.
“They were much better in every department and we were poor with the ball. A lot of things happened during the game, like subs for injuries, but it’s not an excuse because they were much better than us.
“It’s so disappointing, Newcastle were 100 times better. The performance was nowhere near the level we need to be if we want to play in the Champions League.
“It’s a very painful one. It was in our hands and today it’s not in our hands. We have to beat Everton and wait for Norwich to beat Spurs. There’s always a tiny chance in football.”
Wilson was making a long awaited return to the starting line-up, having spent the last five months on the sidelines with a calf injury that was expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.
But having come off the bench against Manchester City last time out, he was handed a start against the Gunners.
Wilson was heavily involved in much of the first half but midway through the first 45 minutes, the Magpies striker was spotted on the sidelines with his front tooth seconds from falling out altogether.
Rather than come off, Wilson was quickly back into the thick of the action.
The home side took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Joelinton crossed for Wilson at the near post, although replays showed the ball went in off White.
Guimaraes sealed it with five minutes left when he followed up Wilson’s saved effort.
Wilson said: “Early on in the season everyone wrote us off, that we were ‘relegated by Christmas’ but we’ve dug deep and proved everybody wrong.”
Fuming Gunners ace Granit Xhaka blasted team-mates and said: “It doesn’t matter your age. If you’re nervous, stay on the bench or stay at home. You need people to have the balls to come here and play. I don’t know why we’re not doing what the coach is asking for us.”
NEWCASTLE ...... 2 ARSENAL ....... 0