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BUKAYO SAKA and Gabriel Martinelli hauled Arsenal back to winning ways – leaving Mikel Arteta purring and Eddie Howe moaning.
England winger Saka’s deadly finish soon after the break cracked Newcastle’s resistance – and an equally stunning second from his replacement Martinelli slammed the door on Howe’s prospects of a first win as Toon manager.
Gunners boss Arteta was thrilled by his side’s response to last weekend’s hammering at Liverpool – and the silky nature of this lunchtime success.
The Spaniard acknowledged: “It was such an important win to bounce back like that.
“You have to trust your players and give them confidence after a difficult moment.
“I thought they needed another chance. They showed how they were hurt during the week.
“Bukayo’s goal was excellent – a great passing move.
“And Gab’s technique is so impressive. When the ball is flying over your head, to keep it down and have that quality of finish is so hard.”
This was Arsenal’s 11th straight home win over Newcastle, who remain rock-bottom on six points, and without a win in 13 attempts this campaign.
New Toon chief Howe was not happy – especially with the officials who had waved away penalty appeals from hitman Callum Wilson just moments before Martinelli struck.
Howe, in the dugout for the first time after a rapid recovery from Covid, groaned: “I am not seeking any controversy here but, yes, I felt the 50-50 calls went against us.
“The penalty is the one we’re most aggrieved with.
“I haven’t seen it again but I don’t think Callum goes down in that situation unless fouled. That’s the key moment. It could be 1-1 but ends up 2-0.”
If the omens from past years did not bode well for the visitors, recent form must surely have only compounded fears of another setback here.
The Gunners had fallen apart at Liverpool seven days earlier, losing 4-0 to end a 10-game unbeaten run – but that was against one of the country’s best sides.
Indeed, Arteta was feeling confident enough pre-match to even talk of Arsene Wenger returning in an upstairs role.
Howe (left), meanwhile, spent the week proving he was Covid-free and able to make his belated touchline debut.
Having managed that, he set up his strugglers, who face Norwich next, in a double-defensive blockade designed to frustrate.
It worked a treat for the opening 45 minutes, dominated possession-wise by the Gunners
Saka had the first of their three first-half chances, stabbing Albert Sambi Lokonga’s 16th-minute chip wide, before Martin Odegaard’s free-kick forced recalled Martin Dubravka to save sharply. That was pretty much it from the hosts – aside from PierreEmerick Aubameyang’s appalling miss with four minutes of the period left.
The skipper hung his head in shame as he hit the post from three yards after Emile Smith Rowe’s header was parried into his path.
Almost the entire stadium sighed with him, because the visitors had gone just as close. Jonjo Shelvey can divide opinion, but when he lets one rip from distance – as he did after 29 minutes – his ability is indisputable.
The Magpies midfielder’s curling piledriver was destined for the net until Aaron Ramsdale, given his chance at Bournemouth by Howe, somehow tipped it onto the bar. T came at the perf Arsenal – and th from it a complet proposition.
What a breathta move it was that p 56th-minute concluded by Nu exquisite return b who positively ri with the left foot.
Had Wilson’s tu box under Tavares’ minutes later led to a penalt would have been back in the
But instead, as Howe appe his Toon defence switch Martinelli – on for injured S the points with a sensation effort taken on the run.