Ozil’s gamble pays off for Arsenal
There are certain noises to which one becomes accustomed to hearing at football matches. The collective sigh of exasperation at a missed chance, for example, or the muted cheer that greets an opposition yellow card.
And then there are the more unusual sounds, those lesser-heard grunts like the one that followed the brutal Mesut Ozil volley which eventually secured three points for Arsenal against a limited Newcastle United side.
There was none of the German’s usual subtlety, none of his guile. Instead there was raw, unchecked power. When the replay of Ozil’s strike was shown on the big screens, it prompted a guttural exhalation of breath from the 60,000 spectators inside the Emirates. It was almost a collective wince at how cleanly he had struck the ball and how powerfully it had seared into the roof of the net.
At the time, it also felt like it was just the start. Arsenal were flowing, and Rafael Benitez’s struggling side are so dewhose void of belief that it was hard to envisage any way in which they could recover.
But, while Arsenal continued to swarm and slice through the Newcastle midfield, there were to be no more finishes as ruthless as Ozil’s.
Gradually, as opportunity after opportunity was spurned, the visitors caught the scent of a potential upset. And by the end Arsenal could perhaps consider themselves fortunate to record a clean sheet.
Much like they were in their goalless draw against West Ham United on Wednesday, Arsene Wenger’s side were in a creative but wasteful mood. Alexis Sanchez, Alex Iwobi, Jack Wilshere and Alexandre Lacazette all missed clear chances, while there were countless other attacks that fell apart because of a poor decision at the crucial moment.
“We had plenty of chances that we didn’t take,” said Wenger. “We wanted sometimes to force the decision. I would have loved it to be a bit more comfortable on the scoreline. But we have played three games in six days and the third game is a bit more difficult physically.”
It all contributed to an atmosphere of unrest in the Emirates, but the unease at least turned to relief at the final whistle.
“Finishing is cyclical,” said Wenger, side ended a run of three games without a victory. “Sometimes you score three or four and sometimes, like today, you have six or seven chances and you score only one. I know that people are not happy with it, but it’s part of the game.”
For Newcastle, it was a painful continuation of a run of form that has left them with just a single point from their last nine league games. With speculation still swirling about a potential takeover, Newcastle remain a club debilitated by uncertainty off the pitch and inability on it.
“You cannot complain about the attitude and the work rate,” said Benitez. “We are where we are and we have what we have.”
It will at least be a source of encouragement for Newcastle that it took a goal of this quality to breach their defence. Little more than 20 minutes had passed when Florian Lejeune’s looping defensive header floated towards Ozil, who watched the ball drop on to his left foot before lasering it into the top corner.
“It was superb,” said Wenger. “It is important to take the risk to do what he did. Usually, he is the guy who 99 per cent of the time in this position, controls the ball and gives it someone else. I am happy he took the gamble.”
If Ozil is to leave the club, whether that it is in January or the summer, it is arguably these sorts of matches in which he will be missed the most.
It was one of those afternoons where Arsenal, for much of the game, simply had to find a way to break through against a side that had come to defend.
It is in matches like these that the likes of Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have thrived in recent months, until defeat by Manchester United ended a 12-match winning streak in the league at the Emirates. That loss has clearly
Newcastle are without a win in nine Premier League games (drawn one, lost eight), their longest winless run in league football since May 2015 (10).
Rafa Benitez, the Newcaslte manager, has not recorded a league victory at Arsenal in the in seven attemtpts.
Arsenal have won each of their past 10 League games against Newcastle, a run stretching back to March 2012.
Mesut Ozil has had a hand in three goals in his three top-flight games against Newcastle (two goals, one assist). had an impact, with subsequent draws against Southampton and West Ham showing a noticeable loss of assurance.
If Benitez’s attackers had a bit more luck, or Ayoze Perez had kept his composure, then Arsenal’s confidence could have taken another hit. As it is, the biggest worry will be those missed chances.
Hector Bellerin and Sanchez both had shots blocked before 10 minutes had passed, while young Ainsley Maitland-Niles nearly scored a tremendous goal after surging past three Newcastle challenges. Efforts from Bellerin and Granit Xhaka also missed the target, while Jack Wilshere and Lacazette both failed to convert after half-time.
It left Newcastle with a burgeoning sense of hope, particularly when a late Joselu effort squirmed just wide of a post. The biggest opportunities, though, fell to Perez, who fired over the bar with first a shot and then a header.
“Where we are at the moment could be expected,” Benitez said. “The main thing is to stay calm. We have a young team that is working every week.”
Captain fantastic: Sol Bamba’s second-half header earned Cardiff victory to maintain pressure on Wolves Championship football.
Despite Cardiff ’s early possession, it was Hull who looked more dangerous in front of goal.
Jon Toral had an opportunity to break the deadlock after Neil Etheridge spilled a Kamil Grosicki free-kick but he could only stab the ball wide.
Another golden opportunity fell the visitors’ way moments later when Cardiff switched off to let Nouha Dicko sneak behind the rearguard. The striker latched onto the throw and stabbed the ball against the post.
Cardiff began to find their spark through Lee Tomlin, who tested Allan McGregor after linking up with Junior Hoilett down the left flank. He was at it again after 42 minutes when he nutmegged Ola Aina but shot over.
Tomlin played a key role as Cardiff finally broke the deadlock after 57 minutes. He whipped the ball towards the six-yard box after creating space. His cross was met by a flick from Pilkington, and captain Bamba was there to head the ball home.
Cardiff had won all 11 matches when they had scored first and they never looked like surrendering their hardfought advantage to maintain their march towards the Premier League.