Geordie Assured
1-0 to the Arsenal. A far from vintage performance but a valuable three points away from home against a team bang in form is not to be sniffed at. Having beaten Chelsea, United, Spurs and taken a point against Liverpool already this season, Pardew’s team were always likely to pose a serious threat to our attempts to regain our place at the top of the table.
With the exception of a 3-1 win for us when they were relegated in 2009 and the ridiculous 4-4 draw two years later, neither side has been able to score more than one goal in this corresponding fixture at St James’ Park in the league since 2002. This match followed the same formula as Giroud’s 65th minute header was the only difference between the sides in a typically tight encounter.
Giroud awakening
After a phenomenal start to campaign, the weight of goalscoring responsibility as Arsenal’s main/lone striker has proven too much for Olivier Giroud to carry in recent weeks. A seven game barren run has left many fans asking questions of him and his ability to lead the line for team with title aspirations for an entire season. His continued failure to find the back of the net recently and a disappointing conversion rate would suggest people are right to query his status. However, against Newcastle the Frenchman was able to stop the rot as his second half header secured three valuable points. Fresh off his two goal starring role in East London last week, Theo Walcott turned provider as he floated a free kick into the box that Giroud merely needed to lightly graze his finely coiffed Barnet against to beat a scrambling Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal.
The goal would have provided much in the way of belief for both the striker and the fans. A welcome return to goal-scoring form, right? Unfortunately, he was soon guilty of fluffing a chance to double his tally when he failed to make any significant connection when he volleyed Walcott’s cleared effort out and away for a throw-in.
Much has been made of Giroud’s failure to score outside London for Arsenal. In fact, his only other goal this season away from the capital also came in the North East. It’s an unenviable record for a striker to have, particularly having featured in every away game so far this season. As it stands, Giroud remains Arsenal’s only option up front and if the manager either cant or refuses to strengthen in this area next month, then it is imperative the French striker steps up his game, particularly on the road, and gives people less reason to doubt his credentials.
Paid the Kos to be the Boss
Almost as much as Giroud’s goal, Arsenal’s resolute, if at times desperate, defensive display was a key factor in securing those three precious points. Returning to the starting line-up after two games on the sideline was Laurent Koscielny who seamlessly slotted back in alongside Per Mertesacker at central back. In the second half, as the defence around them seemed to morph and change shape constantly, the two held their nerve, reorganised and ultimately stood firm to deny the Magpies a would-be equaliser, managing a combined 29 clearances between them. Another stat flying round after the game was that Arsenal haven’t lost a league game when the two have been paired (Per-ed?) together for 23 months. Admittedly, I don’t know how many matches that actually amounts to but on the face of it, it looks mightily impressive and the kind of run you pray can continue for some time to come.
Rosick Solid
When Arsene Wenger first arrived in England, his Arsenal teams were (in)famous for their toughness and as such earned an unfair reputation for being ‘dirty’ due to the sheer amount of bookings and red cards they seemed to amass on a weekly basis. As time went on, things almost went the other way and the criticism was that, for all the beautiful football being played, Arsenal were something of a soft touch. While it might be an overreaction to suggest that a perfect balance has been found, it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that the current crop find themselves somewhere in between the two extremes. Two players who seem to be the embodiment of this are Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere who both showed against Newcastle that they could play the creative role while also not being afraid to get stuck in. Jack made more successful passes than any Arsenal player but also claimed the most ball recoveries of anyone in red. Rosicky meanwhile, was only second to Cazorla in terms of passes in the attacking third but was also adjudged to have committed the most fouls and showed he is not afraid to take the odd booking now and again. I know it’s probably best not to encourage this sort of behaviour for fear of an imminent suspension but I have to say I’m a big fan of this new attitude from the Czech midfielder.
Substandard
The boss might have still been full of Christmas cheer because some of the tactical decisions towards the end of the game were baffling. Moving Flamini out of midfield to left back and then replacing Walcott with Jenkinson certainly disrupted the shape of the team and perhaps contributed to Newcastle’s late onslaught. Thankfully, they were unable to capitalise as Arsenal kept them at bay – a further testament to the apparent newfound maturity and resilience of the team.
Shotgun
One thing I noticed during the first half was the players taking more shots from outside the penalty area. Checking the stats afterwards, it turns out that 7 of our 11 goal attempts came from long distance. This signals something of a sea-change from the usual strategy of trying to work the ball through/around opposition defences. Despite none of them coming off on this occasion, we know full well we have players who are more than capable of striking the ball from range. Whether this match is a one off remains to be seen but if we start seeing playing willing to take more chances like this, we may soon no longer have to hear the sometimes valid criticism of always trying to “walk the ball” into the back of the net.
Front Gunners
So, as Lee Probert blew the whistle to end the game, Arsenal could almost celebrate almost as much as the last trip to St. James’ Park. On that day last May, fourth place was secured. Now, I’m pleased to say, the upshot of beating Newcastle was to end the year on top of the Premier League. As 2013 draws to a close, it could well prove to be a quite significant year as far as future ambitions are concerned. The year began miserably with a draw against Southampton and back to back defeats against Chelsea and Man City. By March, we almost looked out of the race for a top four finish following a defeat to them up the road. However, a shock win over the eventual European champions kick-started a run that saw Arsenal eventually leapfrog Spurs to return to the Champions League. The transfer window saw the arrival of Mesut
Özil and sparkling sequence of results in the league that has culminated in our current lofty position. Also, not that it matters a great deal, but if the league table was compiled simply of games played over the Calendar year, Arsenal would top that too. It scarcely needs mentioning that this needs to be consolidated and continue in 2014. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking it’s a much better feeling looking down the league rather than up.
Most stats above came from FourFourTwo Stats Zone.
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