Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners secure top-two finish
FROM ST JAMES' PARK - Arsenal secured a top-two Premier League finish with a hard fought 2-0 win over Newcastle United.
After VAR denied Newcastle a penalty 15-minutes in, Arsenal opened the scoring against the run of play thanks to a world-class finish from their captain Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal's second came in the 71st minute when Swiss defender Fabian Schar deflected the ball into his own net after a brilliant run from Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank.
Both England goalkeepers Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale were kept busy and both produced some outstanding stops, but the latter was not to be beaten as Arsenal earned a win which means they will, at the very least, finish second in the Premier League this season - their best finish since 2016.
Newcastle, who remain on course for third, had started brightly. Just two minutes in they could, and should, have been ahead. Good work on the left from Joe Willock led to Jacob Murphy being found in the box, and while he beat Aaron Ramsdale which his strike, the ball would subsequently crash off of the post.
Controversy arrived 10 minutes in when referee Chris Kavanagh awarded Newcastle a penalty after a Bruno Guimaraes shot was blocked by Jakub Kiwior. After a lengthy VAR checked, the ball was deemed to have hit the defender's thigh and not his arm.
Newcastle's bench were angered by the decision and their mood worsened just minutes later when Arsenal took the lead.
Odegaard picked up the ball 25-yards out and was given all the time in the world to set himself up before unleashing a fantastic low effort beyond Nick Pope for his 15th goal of the season.
Nick Pope then kept Newcastle in the game with a brilliant double save. Odegaard slipped Gabriel Martinelli into space and Pope was out quickly to deny him. The England number two then stood up and pushed Odegaard effort wide of his post as he tried to curl the ball into his far corner.
Arsenal continued to dominate and Pope once again came to Newcastle's rescue. Martinelli turned creator this time as he sent Bukayo Saka clear but he could not beat Pope who saved with his chest.
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On the half hour mark Newcastle had an excellent chance to level. Bruno fired the ball into Callum Wilson, who then fed Willock, but the ex-Arsenal man couldn't beat Ramsdale with his shot on goal.
On the stroke of half-time Pope kept Newcastle in the game once again. Nice football from Arsenal saw Martinelli feed Odegaard, who dummied the last defender but could not beat Pope who stuck out a foot to deny the Gunners' captain.
Newcastle started the second-half in similar vein to the first - by hitting the post. This time Isak's close-range header cannon off the upright. From a corner moments later, Ramsdale then made a brilliant save to deny Schar from five-yards out.
Arsenal responded and soon they hit the woodwork as Martinelli cut inside and clipped the bar with his curling effort.
With little over 20-minutes left on the clock, Martinelli finally found a way to put the game to bed for Arsenal.
The Brazilian picked up the ball just inside the Newcastle half before driving into the penatly and drilling a low cross along the six-yard box. Unluckily for Schar, he was on hand to deflect the ball into his own net.
Newcastle United player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Nick Pope - 8/10 - Beaten by a qualify finish but produced a string of great saves to keep Arsenal at bay.
RB: Kieran Trippier (C) - 5/10 - Didn't offer enough going forward and was dominated by Martinelli for large periods.
CB: Sven Botman - 7/10 - Marshalled Gabriel Jesus and made some crucial blocks.
CB: Fabian Schar - 5/10 - Tried to help with Martinelli when he could. Should have scored with his close-range header before he did score...in his own net.
LB: Dan Burn - 7/10 - Coped well with Saka. Good performance.
CM: Joelinton - 6/10 - Some jaunts forward but needs to offer more the other way too.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes - 6/10 - Tried his best to get Newcastle going, and was at the heart of most good things they did. Ultimately outclassed by Odegaard though.
CM: Joe Willock - 7/10 - Really dangerous in the first-half, created a couple of good chances and could have scored.
RW: Jacob Murphy - 7/10 - Hit the post in the opening minutes and worked hard throughout, created some good chances.
CF: Callum Wilson - 6/10 - Worked hard but barely had a sniff of a goal.
LW: Alexander Isak - 7/10 - Put a good shift in, was a constant threat and came so close to scoring just after the break.
Substitutes
Miguel Almiron (65' for Murphy) - N/A
Anthony Gordon (78' for Willock) - N/A
Allan Saint-Maximin (78' for Murphy) - N/A
Matt Targett (82' for Burn) - N/A
Elliot Anderson (82' for Joelinton) - N/A
Subs not used: Martin Dubravka, Paul Dummett, Jamal Lewis, Javier Manquillo
Manager
Eddie Howe - 6/10 - Questionable decision to take off Murphy who was one of his better players. Left his changes too late.
Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Aaron Ramsdale - 9/10 - Some wonderful saves, the best being from point-blank range to keep out Schar's header.
RB: Ben White - 5/10 - Not his best game and struggled at times with Isak.
CB: Jakub Kiwior - 7/10 - Solid display from the young Pole. Did well against Wilson.
CB: Gabriel - 7/10 - Marshalled the back-line well, and made some big blocks at crucial times.
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6/10 - Did ok, but didn't have a huge impact on the game.
CM: Granit Xhaka - 7/10 - Worked hard and made one brilliant challenge on Wilson.
CM: Martin Odegaard (C) - 9/10 - Not many players give Bruno the run-around, but the Norwegian did. Outstanding.
CM: Jorginho - 7/10 - Kept the ball well throughout.
RW: Bukayo Saka - 5/10 - Not great from the England man as he rarely got the better of Burn.
CF: Gabriel Jesus - 5/10 - Never really got into the game and could not get away from Botman and Schar.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli - 8/10 - Excellent showing.
Substitutes
Kieran Tierney (60' for Zinchenko) - 6/10.
Thomas Partey (80' for Odegaard) - N/A
Leandro Trossard (80' for Martinelli) - N/A
Reiss Nelson (87' for Saka) - N/A
Eddie Nketiah (87' for Jesus) - N/A
Subs not used: Matt Turner, Emile Smith Rowe, Rob Holding, Fabio Viera
Manager
Mikel Arteta - 8/10 - Only one change but it was a big one with Gabriel Martinelli proving to be decisive for his side.