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
John Tudor
May 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM
Comment #41Bruce is an ignorant dumbass dinosaur
jane
May 2, 2021 at 3:05 PM
Comment #42“We can give them no more than a four goal advantage if we’re to get anything out of this.”
lol
chancel be a fine thing
May 2, 2021 at 3:05 PM
Comment #43Usual kind of performance. There seems to be no organisation in our play, just left to individuals to make a difference, in both attack and defence.
davetoon
May 2, 2021 at 3:06 PM
Comment #44@magscar we can put in a lot more effort. No pressing at all in that first half, gave arsenal all the space they wanted.
TomaKaThor
May 2, 2021 at 3:07 PM
Comment #45Bruce changes not a thing at half time…I’m shocked
AnyToon in Indiana
May 2, 2021 at 3:07 PM
Comment #46oh fun….more protesters on the field
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:08 PM
Comment #47Changed his slippers
TomaKaThor
May 2, 2021 at 3:08 PM
Comment #48It’s so ridiculously obvious after 1 minute of this half that our midfield is hugely out numbered..no pass on to our midfielders from the defence
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:08 PM
Comment #49No way, soft
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:09 PM
Comment #50No way he should have fell over!
Should have let Wilson go
davetoon
May 2, 2021 at 3:09 PM
Comment #51Arsenal ballerinas. I wish refs would stop paying these soft free kicks
chancel be a fine thing
May 2, 2021 at 3:09 PM
Comment #52We miss Joelinton’s ability to link defence and attack.l
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 2, 2021 at 3:09 PM
Comment #53Well done Man Utd fans this is how you properly protest
Toon fans take note!!
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:10 PM
Comment #54Hope co co the clown isn’t injured.
Hes a poor man’s Collicini and I’m being generous.
jane
May 2, 2021 at 3:10 PM
Comment #55“oh fun….more protesters on the field”
our players?
TomaKaThor
May 2, 2021 at 3:10 PM
Comment #56This ref has been a joke..numerous poor decisions
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:11 PM
Comment #57I always expect a mistake when he’s on, shame he’s injured
jane
May 2, 2021 at 3:11 PM
Comment #58“Well done Man Utd fans this is how you properly protest”
except they didn’t sit down and stay.
Bills Son Is Back
May 2, 2021 at 3:11 PM
Comment #59OP
🙂 🙂 🙂
AnyToon in Indiana
May 2, 2021 at 3:12 PM
Comment #60@Jane….no humans with heart and passion trying to make a difference
WLtoon
May 2, 2021 at 3:12 PM
Comment #61Well that`s the liability going off so it looks as though we will have to play 11 men the whole again, 🙁
davetoon
May 2, 2021 at 3:13 PM
Comment #62Great cross Ritchie
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:13 PM
Comment #63People complain about Longstaff but he’s like a Gazelle compared to Shelvey.
I don’t rate either highly in the squad.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 2, 2021 at 3:13 PM
Comment #64@Jane
The mission has been achieved massive worldwide publicity against Man United!
“protests don’t make a difference blah blah blah” should have done this to Ashley years ago
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 2, 2021 at 3:14 PM
Comment #65Longstaff looked great playing with Hayden he struggles like everyone else who plays with Shelvey you have to do the work of 2 midfielders while playing in a formation where you are always outnumbered anyway….
Even Kante would struggle in that environment
Toon67
May 2, 2021 at 3:15 PM
Comment #66Xhaka should be bloody off!
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:15 PM
Comment #67To many protesting against the protests for them to work here!
davetoon
May 2, 2021 at 3:15 PM
Comment #68Mike Dean is a fckin useless ref
TomaKaThor
May 2, 2021 at 3:16 PM
Comment #69Should be off ffs…also why bring back play if you ain’t giving him a card ..mediocre ref
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:16 PM
Comment #70Shelvey has as much urgency as bar staff have for getting back to work after lockdown.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:17 PM
Comment #71Shelvey must do the Greggs run.
JP...from The Rock
May 2, 2021 at 3:17 PM
Comment #72Where’s the ref and VAR for Xsaka probable sexond yellow against Longstaff there!??
The EPL is CORRUPT!!!!
Romford mag
May 2, 2021 at 3:18 PM
Comment #73Shelvey doesn’t do runs !
SholaShow
May 2, 2021 at 3:19 PM
Comment #74ASM nowhere near as fast as when he arrived. Sad.
SholaShow
May 2, 2021 at 3:19 PM
Comment #75Same as what’s happened to Almiron.
SholaShow
May 2, 2021 at 3:20 PM
Comment #76That’s the consequence of having so many days off and injuries.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:20 PM
Comment #77Right about now Bruce is asking Jones where Wilock is.
Optimistic prime
May 2, 2021 at 3:21 PM
Comment #78Change it you cabbage headed dosser
coming home
May 2, 2021 at 3:21 PM
Comment #79Wilson is not his usual self think I’d hoy Joe on
JP...from The Rock
May 2, 2021 at 3:21 PM
Comment #80ASM what was that!? You clearly should have passed it to the right not to Wilson or even keep driving forward.