TOP GUN FINALLY HITS AUBA DRIVE
ARSENAL swaggered around the Emirates like a team who have had a substantial weight lifted off their shoulders. Around £350,000-per-week’s worth.
Of course, Mesut Ozil wouldn’t have featured in this win over Newcastle — his time as an Arsenal footballer ended way before the deal to terminate his contract last week allowing him to sign for Fenerbahce was struck.
But for the avoidance of any doubt, Arsenal proved emphatically here that there will be life without Ozil.
Newcastle were so vastly inferior here that the Gunners didn’t really need to shift out of second gear as they extended their unbeaten run to five games.
Whether that says more about how far the Magpies have fallen under Steve Bruce or if Arsenal can mount a challenge for European football when just weeks ago they were being touted as relegation candidates will become clearer in the weeks ahead.
But what is clear is that Arsenal are finally upwardly mobile. Newcastle are plummeting with no sign of recovery.
Arsenal’s start was slick, bursting with intent and positivity — a far cry from their performance here on Thursday as they laboured to a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
Mikel Arteta blamed fatigue for that lacklustre display, but there were no signs of tiredness from his team in the opening 45 minutes here. Perhaps it was the three changes, most notably Thomas Partey returning to the starting XI for the first time since the north London derby loss on December 6, that provided the Gunners with the impetus.
Quite how Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to hit the post, albeit from a tight angle, when the goal was gaping after Bukayo Saka saw his effort saved by Karl Darlow, appeared to be beyond his manager early on.
Had Arsenal taken the early lead, it would not have been harsh on Newcastle. There appeared little attacking intent from the visitors and one goal in their previous six games tells a sorry story. The fact Bruce made eight changes — including a start for Andy Carroll — from the side that lost 1-0 to Sheffield United smacked of desperation.
His side were fighting to stay in the game. Aubameyang missed another glorious opportunity in the 25th minute, firing wildly over the bar from a threatening position following excellent work from the improving Emile Smith Rowe.
In the build-up to this clash Arteta backed Aubameyang, who had scored just three Premier League goals so far, to regain his best form sooner rather than later.
But he missed another chance in the 41st minute, firing wide after isolating Emil Krafth down the left when he should have at least made Darlow work.
The chances kept coming. David Luiz, who was unmarked, headed Saka’s corner wide with virtually the final kick of the half. Somehow Newcastle had held on, but another 45 minutes like the last and surely they would fold.
Arsenal had looked significantly more threatening with Partey back from injury.
They started the second half how they finished the first, creating chances. Alexandre Lacazette’s crisp strike that was arrowing inside the back post was saved by Darlow inside two minutes of the restart.
Soon after, Arsenal were finally ahead. Inevitably, Partey was at the centre of it, his searching pass out to Aubameyang setting the striker away. The Gunners captain still had plenty to do — but finally he showed why he now holds the position as the club’s highest earner following Ozil’s departure.
Krafth looked petrified as Aubameyang had him isolated again — and this time the Arsenal skipper made no mistake, firing a fierce effort past Darlow in the 50th minute.
Arteta hailed his striker, saying: ‘I thought Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had two or three really big chances in the first half which he didn’t score. But his goals today will give him good confidence, so that’s good for the team.’
Ten minutes later, Arsenal had doubled their lead. Saka took the accolades, firing ruthlessly past Darlow from eight yards — but Smith Rowe deserves his fair share of the plaudits, the youngster terrorising Krafth, who was having an evening to forget, before putting the ball on a plate for his team-mate.
Aubameyang added a third for good measure 13 minutes from time to put a much fairer complexion on the scoreline.
Arsenal were excellent. The less said about Newcastle the better.