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- Arteta’s Upset After Eddie's Perfect Game Plan 😢
Arteta’s Upset After Eddie's Perfect Game Plan 😢
PLUS: Longstaff speaks out on criticism after a standout performance 🗣️
👋 Mikel, there’s no need to be upset! After a fairly drastic change of line up, Newcastle have delivered one of their most impressive performances of the season, with a second successive home win over Arsenal - let’s talk about it.
In today’s NUFC Pitch Notes 👇
🎯 How Eddie executed the perfect game plan against the Gunners.
📊 The game by numbers: Key stats that defined our victory.
🗣️ Longstaff speaks out on criticism after a standout performance.
🗓️ ON THIS DAY
On this day in 2023, Newcastle secured a “controversial” 1-0 victory over Arsenal at St James' Park, ending the Gunners' unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
The match's decisive moment came in the 64th minute when Gordon scored after a lengthy VAR review, which examined whether the ball had stayed in play when Willock retrieved it near the touchline before crossing.
📋 THE MATCH REPORT
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal: A Statement Win on Tyneside 💪
St. James' Park witnessed what might have been Newcastle’s best performance of the season so far as we made it back to back home wins against Arteta’s Arsenal.
Howe’s change of setup, which saw Anthony Gordon take up the right-wing, Joelinton link up with Joe Willock down the left and Longstaff disrupting the midfield, displayed a balance we’ve been lacking over the last few games
The game’s decisive moment came in the 12th minute, thanks to a stunning first time cross from Gordon that found a perfectly positioned Isak to send a rare bullet header into the top corner.
Despite Arsenal dominating possession, they seemed rattled, lacking their usual composure in front of goal, with Nick Pope barely tested.
The midfield was an absolute battleground, and each player seemed to bring something unique to the pitch - Guimarães with his visionary playmaking, Willock with relentless attacking drive, and Longstaff with his quiet yet seemingly crucial defensive work.
Together, they ensured that Arsenal found no easy routes through the centre, disrupting their rhythm and preventing them from establishing any dominance.
The Newcastle back line also deserves immense credit for maintaining their composure against arsenals star studded attack - Livramento and Hall put in excellent performances, which kept Saka and Martinelli out of the game.
“We got dragged into the game Newcastle wanted and not the one we wanted. But you have to be at your best in every game to give you a chance to win.”
The closing stages saw a familiar pattern: Newcastle defending deep and breaking up play with smart time management, and Arteta visibly frustrated on the touchline.
Overall, it was a top draw performance from the Magpies following some much needed tactical changes - once again proving that on our day, we can outplay any team in the league.
“It’s irrelevant to me what anyone says, really, apart from my team. That’s how we’ve always looked at it because there’s always outside noise wherever that comes from.
We just try to do what we do to to try to win games on a consistent basis. Generally the last few games, our performance level has definitely increased and we’ve been consistent with it.“
Performance Score - 8.5 🔥
🤔 WHO AM I?
“I joined Newcastle in January 2011 after a successful stint in the Belgian league. I scored 29 goals in my first full season with the Magpies, helping the team secure a top-five finish in the Premier League.
After two successful years at Newcastle, I moved to Chelsea, where I continued to make an impact in the Premier League.”
💯 MAG OF THE MATCH
One of Hall’s Best Performances So Far – 9 🔥
Lewis Hall put in a monumental performance, arguably his best yet in a Newcastle shirt. His defensive awareness was on full display with two critical blocks that almost certainly saved goals.
Hall also demonstrated composure on the ball, reading the game well and distributing with accuracy, which helped Newcastle maintain control throughout the game.
Notable mentions 💪
Bruno Guimarães – 8
After a recent spell on the side-lines, Bruno bounced back with a high-energy performance that reminded everyone of his quality, controlling the midfield with authority.
Tino Livramento – 8
Although he made a couple of early mistakes, he grew into the game, handling the threat of Martinelli with impressive composure, using his pace and positioning to keep the winger at bay.
Sean Longstaff – 8
Longstaff delivered a workhorse display, covering immense ground and doing the gritty, essential work in midfield. His positioning and knack for closing down opponents proved invaluable against Arsenal’s fast-paced style.
“Some people think I should play, some people think I should be nowhere near it and can’t play a 2 yard pass! Whenever I play, you know what you’re gonna get.
For what the manager has done for me, I’ll always be a good teammate – I’ll always be good around his dressing room whether I’m playing or not.”
📊 GAME BY NUMBERS
⚽️ Despite his slow start, Isak has now scored 12 goals in as many games at St James' Park.
🧤 Nick Pope made a grand total of zero saves, thanks to an excellent defensive display.
💪 Bruno took a beating in midfield, drawing 7 fouls from Arsenal players.
🛡️ Hall, Livramento & Longstaff each made 3 successful tackles, the most of any other players on the pitch.
⚖️ Arsenal controlled possession with 64% but failed to create more than 1 big chance all game.
👑 THE LASSES
Newcastle United Women 2-0 Birmingham City Women: Hayles and Sibley Strike to Secure Victory 🎉
The Magpies opened the scoring in the first half through star forward Hayles, who coolly converted from the centre of the box after Beth Lumsden created space on the right and found her in perfect position.
Newcastle kept the pressure on, but Birmingham responded well with multiple close attempts, forcing keeper Claudia Moan to make some crucial saves.
After a second-half surge from Birmingham, hitting the woodwork three times, United’s substitute Freya Sibley seized her moment.
She pounced on a loose ball after Lumsden’s powerful strike rebounded off the bar, firing it past the last defender to secure the lead.
Despite Birmingham’s relentless efforts, Newcastle’s backline held strong to secure an impressive 2-0 victory.
👋 Thats all for this week but if you want to catch up on anything you might have missed, you can read more over on our website.
P.S. The answer to “who am I” is the prolific Demba Ba.