62 2GM Tuesday May 17 2022 | the times
SportPremier League
“Champions League?” enquired a
crowing Gallowgate of the dishevelled
visitors. “You’re having a laugh!” It was
no laughing matter for a shambolic
Arsenal, who looked weak physically
and mentally and on this pathetic evi-
dence have no right even to be in the
Champions League conversation.
As their dream of a return to the
European elite all but floated away
down the Tyne, Arsenal fans’ dismay
will have doubled at the reality that
their collapse has effectively guaran-
teed Tottenham Hotspur the final
ticket to ride Europe’s gravy train. Even
if Arsenal defeat Everton at home on
the final day of the season, Spurs need
only a point away to relegated Norwich
City because of their vastly superior
goal difference.
With a manager of Antonio Conte’s
quality, and players of the quality of
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, for
all their fans’ lingering “Spursy” fears,
Tottenham should close this situation
out. Arsenal have blown it. After four
wins on the spin, against Chelsea,
Manchester United, West Ham United
and Leeds United, they were so close
but they fell at the Tottenham Hotspur
Stadium last week and now here at St
James’ Park. Mind the gap? Arsenal
have fallen through it.
Amid all the sulphur in the situation,
and the shade being thrown at Mikel
Arteta, it needs emphasising that the
fans sang the manager’s name, that he is
rebuilding and that young players can
fade. Emile Smith Rowe was off the
pace and Eddie Nketiah was easily con-
trolled. Arteta can legitimately point to
injuries that led to Arsenal’s back line
being formed by Cédric Soares, Ben
White and Granit Xhaka as ignominy
engulfed them. But he was also let down
by Rob Holding’s foolish suspension for
repeatedly fouling Son last Thursday.
Arsenal’s board are right to show
patience with Arteta as he trims those
he doesn’t want but they have to grant
him more resources this summer to
strengthen, although the absence of
Champions League revenue may
restrict him.
His team froze just when they most
needed to be fearless. The sinew was
brittle when they needed it to be strong.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel all
walked from the fray injured. Thomas
Partey’s absence was considerable as
Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton ran
midfield. Matt Targett, Allan Saint-
Maximin and Callum Wilson also ex-
celled for Newcastle. Eddie Howe has
invested some of the new owners’ rich-
es but he has largely just transformed
the mood, making the players believe
more, encouraging them to express
themselves more. If anyone ever doubts
Howe’s management skills again they
should be directed to a video of Joelin-
ton before and after Howe’s arrival. He
has gone from anaemic centre forward
to commanding central midfielder.
The Saudi Arabian connection re-
mains disconcerting but try telling that
to the euphoric Geordies who were in
party mood before, during and after
this game, singing about going up the
Premier League and getting to Europe.
Next season promises much, especially
when the Newcastle fans generate such
atmosphere.
Arsenal arrived in the North East
knowing that only a win would do and
they ran into a storm in black and white
that didn’t abate. As Newcastle lined up,
there were plenty of smiles on theiroutstretched foot turned the ball past
Ramsdale.
Arteta had already made one change,
sending on Gabriel Martinelli for Smith
Rowe and then Alexandre Lacazette for
Nuno Tavares and switching to 3-5-2.
When Gabriel departed, Arsenal had
that unconvincing-looking back three,
Elneny anchored with the newly ar-
rived Nicolas Pépé on the right, Martin
Odegaard and Saka central, Martinelli
wide with Lacazette and Nketiah up-
front. It was a gamble. It was also a mess.
Howe made a couple of substitutions,
sending on Jacob Murphy and Ryan
Fraser for what could be a farewell to St
James’ Park. The pair combined but
Ramsdale saved Murphy’s effort. New-
castle fans sighed but were soon cheer-
ing again, enjoying the discomfort of
the visitors and loving the revitalised
nature of their own team. Pépé never
looked the answer to Arsenal’s prob-
lems and soon overhit a cross that
Martinelli would have needed a step-
ladder to reach. The Gallowgate then
almost dissolved in complete delight
when Wilson held off Elneny on the
halfway line and shot goalwards, the
ball clearing the backpedalling Rams-
dale but drifting wide. The second goal
they deserved arrived when Sean
Longstaff lifted the ball through to Wil-
son, Ramsdale saved but the rebound
fell to Guimarães who applied the likely
coup de grâce to Arsenal’s hopes.Newcastle (4-3-3): M Dubravka 7 — E Krafth 7,
F Schär 7 (J Lascelles 49min, 7), D Burn 7,
M Targett 7 — S Longstaff 8, B Guimarães 8,
Joelinton 8 — M Almirón 7 (J Murphy 76),
C Wilson 8 (D Gayle 90), A Saint-Maximin 8
(R Fraser 77).
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): A Ramsdale 6 — T Tomiyasu 4
(C Soares 39, 5), B White 6, Gabriel 6 (N Pépé 73),
N Tavares 5 (A Lacazette 62, 4)— M Elneny 5,
G Xhaka 5 — B Saka 6, M Odegaard 5, E Smith
Rowe 5 (G Martinelli 53, 4) — E Nketiah 4. Booked
White, Nketiah.
Referee D England.Newcastle United
White (og) 55, Guimarães 85Arsenal
2
0
Shambolic
Arsenal
are blown
off course
How they stand
P W D L F A GDPts
Man City............37 28 6 3 96 24 72 90
Liverpool...........36 26 8 2 89 24 65 86
Chelsea..............36 20 10 6 73 31 42 70
Tottenham........37 21 5 11 64 40 24 68
Arsenal...............37 21 3 13 56 47 9 66
Man United.......37 16 10 11 57 56 1 58
West Ham..........37 16 8 13 59 48 11 56
Wolves................37 15 6 16 37 40 -3 51
Leicester............36 13 9 14 57 57 0 48
Brighton.............37 11 15 11 39 43 -4 48
Brentford...........37 13 7 17 47 54 -7 46
Newcastle.........37 12 10 15 42 61 -19 46
Crystal Palace.36 10 15 11 47 43 4 45
Aston Villa........36 13 5 18 49 50 -1 44
Southampton.. 36 9 13 14 41 61 -20 40
Everton..............36 10 6 20 39 59 -20 36
Leeds.................. 37 8 11 18 40 78 -38 35
Burnley.............. 36 7 13 16 32 50 -18 34
Watford (R)....... 37 6 5 26 33 75 -42 23
Norwich (R)...... 37 5 7 25 23 79 -56 22Henry Winter
Chief Football
Writer
Final-week fixtures
Today
Southampton v Liverpool
(7.45pm; Sky Sports Main Event).
Thursday
Aston Villa v Burnley
(8pm; Sky Sports Main Event)
Chelsea v Leicester City (8pm)
Everton v Crystal Palace (7.45pm).
Sunday (4pm)
Arsenal v Everton
Brentford v Leeds
Brighton v West Ham
Burnley v Newcastle
Chelsea v Watford
Crystal Palace v Manchester United
Leicester v Southampton
Liverpool v Wolverhampton
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Norwich v Tottenham.faces and waves to the crowd but that
relaxed look disappeared the moment
the game started. It was almost as if it
were Newcastle battling for
Champions League qualification.
Newcastle twisted, turned and tested
Arsenal so much that Tomi-
yasu’s hamstring eventually
gave way. Tomiyasu was
at right back, imme-
diately being
examined by
Saint-Max-
imin, then
Targett.
Guimarães
graced midfield,
turning away from
Mohamed Elneny and
then switching play left to
Saint-Maximin. Howe and
his assistant manager
Jason Tindall kept gestur-
ing to Saint-Maximin to
stay high up the pitch, and
to run at Tomiyasu.
It made unnerving
viewing for the visiting
fans up in the gods. The
hordes of Arsenal sup-
porters had earlier set up
base camp over the road
from the railway station,
spilling off the pavement
outside the Victoria Comet,
a designated away pub,
before heading up to
St James’ Park also forti-
fied by the news that
White was returning
to play alongside Gabriel
in defence following his
hamstring trouble.The storm had immediately swirled
around him. White won two early
headers against Wilson but then
dragged down the No 9 and was
booked. Wilson’s acceleration and mus-
cularity brought such an important
extra dimension to Newcastle’s play.
Wilson was so committed he soon
needed running repairs on a
cut lip and a tooth
bent back.
Arsenal
briefly broke
out and Bukayo
Saka was denied by
Dan Burn’s block and
then Martin Dubravka’s save.
But the storm was blowing from
one direction and only Aaron
Ramsdale’s quick reactions
denied Saint-Maximin.
The interval brought the
surprise sight of Newcastle’s co-
owners, Amanda Staveley,
Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie
Reuben, strolling around the
pitch with the club’s new
under-9 team, saluting the fans
and taking the applause of the
Gallowgate.
The new half began with the
alarming sight of Fabian Schär
taking a painful challenge from
Nketiah, who was booked, as the
medics rushed on to attend to the
prostrate Newcastle centre back. He
eventually was able to get to his feet
and was replaced by Jamaal Lascelles.
But nothing could slow the Newcas-
tle storm, intensifying as they attacked
the Gallowgate.
After 56 minutes, Newcastle took a
deserved lead as Arsenal were opened
up. Targett found Saint-Maximin and
he immediately released Joelinton
down the left. His cross was fast and
hurtled towards Wilson. Gabriel
dived in. So did White, and his,
senal so much that Tomi-
su’s hamstring eventually
ve way. Tomiyasu was
right back, imme-
ately being
amined by
int-Max-
in, then
rgett.
uimarães
aced midfield,
rning away from
ohamed Elneny and
en switching play left to
int-Maximin. Howe and
s assistant manager
son Tindall kept gestur-
g to Saint-Maximin to
ay high up the pitch, and
run at Tomiyasu.
It made unnerving
ewing for the visiting
ns up in the gods. The
rdes of Arsenal sup-
rters had earlier set up
se camp over the road
om the railway station,
illing off the pavement
tside the Victoria Comet,
designated away pub,
fore heading up to
James’ Park also forti-
d by the news that
hite was returning
play alongside Gabriel
defence following his
mstring trouble.yg
extra dimension to Newcast
Wilson was so committed
needed running rep
cut lip and
bent bac
Arse
briefly
out and
Saka wasd
Dan Burn’s bl
then Martin Dubrav
But the storm was blow
one direction and on
Ramsdale’s quick
denied Saint-Maximin
The interval brou
surprise sight of Newca
owners, Amanda
Mehrdad Ghodoussi an
Reuben, strolling aro
pitch with the clu
under-9 team, saluting
and taking the applau
Gallowgate.
The new half began
alarming sight of Fabia
taking a painful challen
Nketiah, who was booke
medics rushed on to atte
prostrate Newcastle centre
eventually was able to gett
and was replaced by JamaalL
But nothing could slow the
tle storm, intensifying as they
the Gallowgate.
After 56 minutes, Newcast
deserved lead as Arsenal wer
up. Targett found Saint-Max
he immediately released J
down the left. His cross was
hurtled towards Wilson
dived in. So did WhiteGuimarães scored
the second goal to
put the match
beyond ArsenalWhite, second left,
beats Wilson to
the ball but only
manages to put it
into his own net714
Ben White’s own goal
ended a run of
714 minutes without a
goal for Newcastle in all
competitions against
Arsenal