3 Talking Points From Arsenal’s Dominating Win vs Newcastle United

Arsenal continued their impressive home record that has seen lose just once in their last 25 home League games thanks to a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. A brace from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla moved the Gunners within two points off fourth place. For the visitors, it was another miserable afternoon at the Emirates, where they have now conceded 14 goals in their last three visits.

Here are the major talking points from the game.

1. Arsenal show plenty of drive and determination

One of the most disappointing aspects of Arsenal’s performance last weekend against Stoke was their distinct lack of belief. Against Newcastle, the Gunners started with a renewed vim and vigour that almost produced a goal inside the opening minute. From then onwards, the home side swarmed forward in attack and displayed a ruthlessness in front of goal that has often been missing at the Emirates.

Whether it was Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Santi Cazorla, everyone was  pressing high up the pitch and the home side started like a team who desperately needed the win. They got it too, thanks to their determination to not just win the ball high up, but also make effective use of it. Although they had just four shots on goal, they converted all of them into goals and put in a performance that brought the home fans back on Arsene Wenger’s side.

2. Newcastle unable to live with Arsenal’s pace

Arsenal started the game with just Mathieu Flamini as the sole defensive midfielder. Although Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla were to play in front of the Frenchman, neither of them are central midfielders and are players who love to attack. What this meant was that there might be a distinct possibility that the home side could be overrun in midfield.

But Arsenal’s high pressing ensured that didn’t happen and instead it was the visitors who were exposed thanks to the home side’s lightning quick attack. With Sanchez and Welbeck playing either side of Giroud and Oxlade-Chamberlain bombing forward at every opportunity, what it meant was that the Magpie always had one or two players running at them at full pelt. This was a concern not only on the counter attack, but also when the visitors had the ball as they were under pressure so quickly. Although the young keeper Jak Alnick didn’t do too wrong, the defence in front of him were under constant pressure the pace of the home side’s attack and that in the end, made all the difference.

3. Bellerin repays Wenger’s faith

If there is one person that will be incredibly pleased with the 4-1 win over Newcastle, it is not Wenger or Giroud, but one Hector Bellerin. Although Wenger got the crowd off his back thanks to a convincing win and Giroud continued his love affair with the visitors as he scored his sixth goal in five games, it is the 19-year-old Spanish right back Bellerin, who will be most pleased with his day’s work.

Having been hauled off at half-time at Stoke last weekend, the Spaniard had to put in a good performance to show the manager that he should keep his place next week. The task was going to be particularly difficult with the return of Mathieu Debuchy, but the teenager, who is regarded as the fastest footballer in Arsenal at the moment, showed just why he can cut it as a top-class full back. Bellerin’s enthusiasm and energy on the right flank lifted the club’s spirits and he showed on more than one occasion, his blistering pace which gave the visitors all sorts of problems. Whether it was a picking out a teammate with a cross, pinching the ball off the forwards or slaloming past opposing defenders, Bellerin put in a performance that is sure to keep him in the Starting XI for the game against Liverpool next Sunday.