It was a dominant first-half display from Arsenal at St. James’ Park. Newcastle came out flat and passive as the visitors took immediate control from the opening whistle.
Newcastle were set up once again in a 5-3-2 with the only change from last weekend being Callum Wilson in for Joelinton. The lads started the match sitting back with both wing-backs playing very deep and inviting pressure from the visitors.
Arsenal punished Newcastle in the 5th minute with a goal from Mohamed Elneny. Hector Bellerin was cleared down the right and whipped in a cross from the byline. Newcastle couldn’t clear the ball as it landed to Elneny just outside the area. The Egyptian’s shot got past Dubravka to give the early lead to the Gunners.
Fifteen minutes in and Newcastle still failed to react to going down. Arsenal were pulling the strings with Newcastle managing only a couple of jaunts into the opposition’s end.
Our first effort on target came in the 18th minute through Allan Saint-Maximin. The Frenchman drifted inside and took a shot which was deflected and forced Mathew Ryan into a diving save.
Martin Dubravka was called into action in the 28th minute to make his first big save of the match. The Gunners recycled possession in the Newcastle end with the ball ending up to Granit Xhaka. The stand-in left-back blasted a shot from just outside the area that Dubravka was able to make a diving save on. On the subsequent corner, Almiron cleared an Elneny header off the line.
Newcastle are fortunate to be down by just one goal as the Gunners have dominated all aspects of this match. We’ve been outshot 12 to 2 with Arsenal having the bulk of possession. The lads will have to improve significantly to get anything out of this one.
229 comments so far
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 2:51 PM
Comment #1Take Clark off, bring Anderson on
Go 4231
Longstaff Shelvey
Anderson Asm Almiron
Wilson
As someone pointed out, 3cbs against 1 striker, no wonder we can’t get out.
Tonyd3b54
May 2, 2021 at 2:53 PM
Comment #2Really annoyed at that half. No one except miggy, wilson and ASM getting forward and classic brucie stand off defense. Best point was when we pressed for 10 mins and annoyingly that was when the protest happened so could barely see it.
Also think this ref is playing into arsenals hands. They get to hammer at ASM at will but when miggy barely nicks someone it’s a yellow.
boss hoggs atm
May 2, 2021 at 2:53 PM
Comment #3What a lifting half of non football from us, Shelvey without doubt the laziest footballer I’ve ever seen.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 2:53 PM
Comment #4Sorry, take Ritchie off, put Dummet LB.
Bring Anderson on.
4231.
davetoon
May 2, 2021 at 2:54 PM
Comment #5The good news is we can’t play any worse in second half. Don’t understand why we sit back so far. Should be more pressure up the field
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 2:55 PM
Comment #6Jesus manure fan’s going for it 😳
Bills Son Is Back
May 2, 2021 at 2:55 PM
Comment #7Another low shot that Dubs hasn’t and should have, saved.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 2:56 PM
Comment #8The formation is the main problem, its a ridiculous way to set up against Arsenal.
It’s completely infective, we’re passengers in the game.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 2:57 PM
Comment #9Bills
I’m not convinced he’s been better than Darlow.
RToon
May 2, 2021 at 2:57 PM
Comment #10Again our lack of tactics is playing against us.
Go to a back 4 and bring on joe.
Adamn_92
May 2, 2021 at 2:57 PM
Comment #11Usual tactic of look for asm when attacking, if he’s free then give it to him and hope he can do something. If he isn’t free, go backwards or hoof it long. Our build up play is non-existent. If a team marks asm out of the game then we have nothing. Need a change of ideas, this formation isn’t working today and we need to hold onto the ball when we get it for longer than 10 seconds. It’s ok to build an attack slowly sometimes, don’t need to try and get it to their box as quickly as we can.
Zele
May 2, 2021 at 2:57 PM
Comment #12We are losing it in midfield.
Our strikers are being starved of the ball.
Arsenal are controlling the game.
Take Almiron off and put Anderson or Longstaff on to beef up our midfield.
Essex Geordie Bill
May 2, 2021 at 2:57 PM
Comment #13Get AC on give them someone to rough em up a bit.
ASM needs to get a few runs at Xhaka there’s another definite yellow in him.
onmeedsun
May 2, 2021 at 2:58 PM
Comment #14Look on the bright side. If Bruce does lose his last 5 games and take us down, there would really be no hiding place for him or excuses. It would be his finest failure and a fitting way to sign off on his stellar mgt career!
AnyToon in Indiana
May 2, 2021 at 2:58 PM
Comment #15I might bring Joelinton on but for Longstaff and Anderson for Shelvey and the formation needs to change…push Wilson as lone man up top…Anderson and ASM out wide with Joe and Miggy supporting Wilson and pushing more forward as at least they hustle to cover on defense.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 2:58 PM
Comment #16If there was anyone on our wings, Xhaka would have seen red by now.
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 2:58 PM
Comment #17EGB
Yeah , can’t care why they haven’t gone at Xhaka ?
He’s definitely a red card waiting to happen !
Essex Geordie Bill
May 2, 2021 at 2:59 PM
Comment #18We’ll be better in 2nd half.
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 2:59 PM
Comment #19Nobody busting a gut to help Wilson, he has 3 men on him every time, Miggy playing too far back, probably to help the pedestrian Uncle Fester out
My prediction is up in smoke if it doesn`t change 2nd half
magscar
May 2, 2021 at 2:59 PM
Comment #20davetoon
we can’t play any worse – maybe not but can we play better?
Too many players off their game and on seeing replay of goal ( nmissed first 10 minutes) both CM didn’t pick up but Lobby turns away from shot!
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 2:59 PM
Comment #21Care ?
AnyToon in Indiana
May 2, 2021 at 2:59 PM
Comment #22Yeah….here in the US NBCSports interrupted the match for about 10-15 with a split screen of the ManU protest…was much more entertaining and also with guts and heart.
Ron Knee
May 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Comment #23“Couldn’t get much worse…”
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Comment #24I still fancy us for a point.
Bills Son Is Back
May 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Comment #25Longstaff is just a waste of a shirt currently, runs around but hardly ever gets a tackle or block in, easily dispossessed and does nowt positive on the rare occasions when he has possession.
We need to get him off, get ASM and Almiron out wide, get Jo in the 10 position and move Ritchie into CM.
Rotonda heights
May 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Comment #26I know sitting in 17th we should be used to this total domination by the opposition but playing at home against a team ”resting” players is still a hard watch.
As the commentator said Xhaka on a yellow and we’ve only had one run at him.
Mister Tuff
May 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Comment #27crap play. back to reality.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 2, 2021 at 3:01 PM
Comment #28Its games like this where Bruce displays his lack of ability as a top coach
Xhaka is out of position we should be putting him under constant pressure with ASM and Murphy hardly did it all game so dumb do your research on the weakness
Longstaff and Shelvey outnumbered and outpaced who knows where Almiron is meant to be playing well its not effective and hasn’t been for weeks hes essentially playing as a defensive midfielder
We are so lucky that Fulham and West Brom are poor we should really be relegated
TomaKaThor
May 2, 2021 at 3:01 PM
Comment #29Get Almiron off before he’s sent off, and go to 4 at the back
Bills Son Is Back
May 2, 2021 at 3:01 PM
Comment #30OP
I fancy us for two if Bruce follows my instructions 🙂
Zele
May 2, 2021 at 3:02 PM
Comment #31Those ManU fans should be arrested as they are not social distancing.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:02 PM
Comment #32Wheres Jones?
Thought he had some idea.
Even Pardew could work out what’s wrong here.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 2, 2021 at 3:03 PM
Comment #33So is this Bonna’s setup or Bruce’s setup?
cyprus
May 2, 2021 at 3:03 PM
Comment #34So, as per usual, we give the opposition an early advantage.
Dubravka should save those if he’s to be our greatest keeper ever, as chronicle suggests.
We can give them no more than a four goal advantage if we’re to get anything out of this.
jon.c
May 2, 2021 at 3:03 PM
Comment #35S hould you wish to slim just support newcastle utd
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:03 PM
Comment #36Bills
How’d you get 2 😉
Rotonda heights
May 2, 2021 at 3:03 PM
Comment #37I hate how long dubs or darlow hang on to the ball with nobody wanting to receive and nobody supporting the man with the ball
Pottsclock
May 2, 2021 at 3:03 PM
Comment #38Hard though it is to say, Joe has to come on for Miggy before we’re down to 10 men. Arsenal are falling over with the slightest touch
coming home
May 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM
Comment #39Onmeeedsun
Fulham have only won 5 games all season and you think there capable of winning 3 of next 5 ?
They haven’t become a top side all of the sudden they are gone mate caput
jane
May 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM
Comment #40fans entering Old Trafford reminded me of Trump’s supporters walking into the Capitol building.