LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his players’ mentality after an impressive response to their last-gasp Champions League defeat at Porto, as they blew away Newcastle United in the English Premier League on Feb 24.
The Gunners scored twice in each half of their 4-1 home victory to record a sixth straight league win, a run in which they have racked up an aggregate scoreline of 25-3.
The performance kept the pressure on the Premier League’s top two of Liverpool and Manchester City. Arsenal are on 58 points, one behind City, who beat Bournemouth 1-0 on Feb 24, and two behind the Reds. All three have played 26 matches, with 12 more to go.
“I think we had a great performance. Big credit to the boys after two days and just half a day to prepare the game,” said Arteta.
“The way we executed everything, the intensity, the commitment, the determination, the aggression and progression in everything that we were doing with the ball.
“We played with a lot of courage and we got rewarded.”
Arsenal’s prowess from set pieces forced an own goal from Sven Botman before Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior from another corner killed off Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium.
Stand-in goalkeeper Loris Karius was unfortunate for the opening goal as he parried Gabriel Magalhaes’ powerful header, but the ball ricocheted back off Botman and crept over the line.
Arsenal have now scored 19 times from set pieces in the Premier League this season.
If there was a hint of fortune about the opener, the hosts’ second was a thing of beauty.
Jorginho’s ball over the top picked out the run of Gabriel Martinelli, who turned the ball perfectly into the path of Havertz for his sixth league goal of the season.
The German international was involved in the third goal as from his pass, Saka jinked inside and fired into the far corner for his 13th EPL strike this term.
Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been credited with Arsenal’s lethal threat from dead balls.
The Frenchman had more cause to celebrate 21 minutes from time when Kiwior’s header from Declan Rice’s corner deflected in off Lewis Miley.
Newcastle did at least muster a consolation six minutes from time when former Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock looped in a header off the post.
Arteta was particularly pleased with his side’s reaction to their midweek loss in Portugal.
“We showed how much we want it... I could sense it from the moment we were in Porto that we were ready for the game,” he said.
“In sport, things happen for a reason, you have to learn from that. We have to understand why that happened and be better.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand agreed, saying on the BBC: “They look like a team really upset with the midweek performance. Their press and intensity were great – immediately on the front foot.
“The key is making sure they don’t let fear creep in, that would be easy. But there is no sign of that at the moment.”
Former Gunner Ian Wright added: “It is looking good. They are learning from last season...
“Arsenal this year feel different, and I think they will go all the way and push Liverpool and Manchester City.
“It will be one of the best title races for a long time.”
Arteta, however, was still keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“We could have scored many more today,” he said. “We have to continue to do that, keep developing, all the things that we can still do better.”
Defeat is another blow to Newcastle’s aspiration of European football next season.
The Magpies have slipped to ninth spot, 15 points adrift of the top four after conceding 23 goals in their last eight league games.
“We were off in most aspects of our game. We didn’t do the basics right,” said manager Eddie Howe.
“Sometimes away from home you have those spells in the game and you have to weather the storm. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that and we conceded some bad goals.” REUTERS, AFP
