Match Reports

Newcastle v Arsenal Match Report – Most Complete Tactics, Stats and Analysis

Newcastle v Arsenal Match Report

Newcastle United 0 Arsenal 1 Sunday 29 December 1.30pm

Going into a showdown against league leaders Arsenal was never going to be an easy task but Newcastle United looked to have as much chance as anyone going in to the lunchtime kick-off on Sunday.

The Magpies were one of the form sides in the Premier League alongside Manchester City and were at St James’s Park, where they have only been beaten once this season (by Hull City in September). Arsenal were also to be without star summer signing Mesut Ozil and goalscoring machine Aaron Ramsey, while Oliver Giroud’s continued goal drought was a worry for the Gunners.

FORMATIONS

Cheick Tiote was always going to walk back into the starting 11 and, as expected, it was the brilliant if unpredictable Hatem Ben Arfa making way with manager Alan Pardew returning to the same eleven that won against Manchester United, with Vurnon Anita in midfield once more and Shola Ameobi on the bench.

After the partnership of Moussa Sissoko and Anita in the middle of midfield failed in the opening third against Stoke City (until the Potters went down to nine men) Pardew will have been glad to have Tiote and Anita back together protecting the back four. Tiote is the bull in a China shop to Anita’s more composed reading of the game – not that the latter is afraid of getting stuck in.

Arsenal were, as previously mentioned, without two of their star midfielders and in Yohan Cabaye were facing off against one who could have ended up in their ranks but for Pardew’s stubbornness. Still the Gunners had a strong midfield of Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott.

Wenger’s 4-2-3-1 saw Flamini and Wilshere protect the back four with Rosicky given the coveted number 10 role in support of Giroud.

ARSENAL CONTROL PLAY

Early in the game, although Newcastle attempted to press Arsenal high up the pitch, the Gunners’ slick passing was too good. On frequent occasions they passed around the pressure of either Sissoko, Cabaye or Yoan Gouffran and found themselves in space but were either wasteful with possession or well marshalled by Anita and Tiote. The latter of the defensive duo was lucky not to get a yellow card, never mind concede a free kick, when an attempted Walcott one-two with Giroud was stopped thanks to a body check.

In the early stages Newcastle failed to get anything meaningful going forward with Flamini demonstrating exactly why he has been one of the signings of the season with his positional play and tenacity. The Magpies best attacking outlet in the early stages was Mathieu Debuchy.

The right back once again demonstrated his willingness to go forward and but for a few inches could have scored in the 12th minute when a lofted through ball only just evaded his toes. Minutes later Debuchy (once again latching onto a through ball) should have won a corner in one of many errors made by officials on the day.

Debuchy’s runs sparked off a good run of possession by the home side who chalked up 72-28% in the 10-20 minute spell but they failed to produce anything from it with key passes going astray or Arsenal shutting down any space well (Flamini was particularly troublesome for the home attack with four tackles, three interceptions and 95% pass completion).

NEWCASTLE LACK LEFT

For all the attempted work by Debuchy on the right side, Newcastle’s left wasn’t nearly as effective. For all his defensive effort, Gouffran was anonymous as an attacking force in the first half, his sole contribution winning a foul.

Left back Davide Santon may excel at left back defensively but going forward his continued persistence to cut inside meant Newcastle lacked any real width with a cross inward much easier to be dealt with by the defence than an outswinger. By the end of the game Newcastle had attacked a massive 47% down the right and only 24% down the left with Arsenal’s figures largely mirroring that (Debuchy, despite getting forward so often, had the diminutive Cazorla in his pocket for much of the match).

Introducing the left footed Massadio Haidara earlier in the game may well have seen Newcastle able to vary their attacking direction more often but Pardew decided until the 79th minute with Santon doing a very respectable defensive job stifling Walcott’s pace. When he came off, the Italian had managed just one tackle but didn’t give away a single foul, won five headed duels and made 10 effective clearances, the most in the Newcastle side.

SMASH AND GRAB

Pardew will lament the conceding of the free kick which led to Arsenal’s soft goal but he will be pleased by his team’s response with the Magpies dominating large swathes of the game afterward and unlucky not to see their hard work rewarded with a point.

Newcastle may have lost the possession battle (47% to Arsenal’s 53%) but some more accurate shooting (both managed 11 shots although that includes Ben Arfa’s infuriating final attempt) could have seen the men in black and white grab a point.

After going a goal up Arsene Wenger looked happy to settle for a 1-0 win (bar a goal line block by Debuchy) with all his substitutes defensive in nature.

In the 70th minute Kieran Gibbs was replaced by Mikel Arteta and Flamini filled in at left back. Newcastle, however, failed to test his defensive credentials with Ben Arfa initially failing to get on the ball enough after his introduction in the 62nd minute.

Flamini, wary of Ben Arfa one on one, clattered into his fellow Frenchman with a crunching tackle in the 75th minute and earned himself a yellow card. Wenger quickly reshuffled his deck and brought on Karl Jenkinson for Walcott in the 80th minute and Newcastle’s chance was gone.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Pardew’s most drastic change was one of his favourites, withdrawing the technical Anita (who turned in a tidy if unspectacular performance with two tackles, 84% pass completion and three interceptions) for battering ram Shola Ameobi as the team goes 4-4-2 and very direct.

As the game drew on (specifically after the Ameobi change) Cabaye played deeper as he is seen as the creator (how much creating goes into thumping the ball into the box is another matter). Newcastle had failed to get any real creativity out of either of their wingers (Sissoko & Gouffran) as both turned in unimpressive offensive numbers (four fouls, one shot and just 64 touches between them is not a satisfactory return, especially at home)

STAR PLAYER

In one of the easiest decisions in recent weeks, Debuchy earns the Toon star player award. Building on some solid performances the right back has gone from strength to strength this season and his good form shows no sign of disappearing.

The right back won three aerial duels (100% of them), made five tackles (level with Tiote), three interceptions, four effective clearances, blocked one shot and won two turnovers. Not to mention his block on the line which stopped Arsenal putting the game to bed.

Debuchy’s workrate is phenomenal with his performances making him arguably the form right back in the league (with Pablo Zabaleta currently out injured). The price Newcastle pay with his adventurous attacking is perhaps that he can never be fielded in tandem with Ben Arfa on right wing (at least against competent opposition) with Ben Arfa not completing half the defensive work of a Sissoko or Gouffran.

CONCLUSION

Arsenal carved out the better chances but the rub of the green with several decisions by the officials certainly helped their cause. Newcastle suffered from poor decision making in the final third and didn’t get themselves there too often with Per Mertesaker and Lorient Koscielny a far too competent defensive duo for long balls (even if they did cause some confusion).

Away to West Bromwich Albion will certainly present a different challenge as Newcastle look to bounce back from the disappointing but not necessarily demoralizing defeat. Remy is far from thriving while playing as a lone front man (90 minutes without a single shot is a damning statistic) and Pardew will need to find a way to get the ball at his front man’s feet while facing goal.

Newcastle: Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Sissoko (Haidara 79), Tiote, Anita (Shola 74), Cabaye, Gouffran (Ben Arfa 62), Remy

Unused Subs: Elliot, Haidara, Mapou, Sammy Ameobim Cisse

Ref: Lee Probert

Crowd: 52,161 (3,150 Away)

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