Arsenal’s German midfielder Mesut Ozil (R) scores his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north-east England on September 15, 2018. Lindsey PARNABY / AFP
New-era Arsenal continues to be a work in progress, but they made it three straight Premier League wins under Unai Emery with a 2-1 victory at struggling Newcastle United on Saturday.
It was far from pretty from the visitors, who were forced to weather an early storm from their winless hosts.
But once Rafa Benitez’s side quickly ran out of attacking ideas and intent, the Gunners took an increasingly firm stranglehold to post their best run of league results for more than five months thanks to goals from Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil in the space of nine minutes early in the second half.
It was another tough 90 minutes to endure for Spanish manager Benitez, whose side remain in the bottom three with a single point, equalling their lowest tally after five games of a Premier League season.
But England manager Gareth Southgate would have been equally frustrated watching two international hopefuls at St James’ Park, as midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was an unused substitute after his recent injury layoff, while center-back Jamaal Lascelles failed to reappear for the second half after sustaining a thigh problem.
Share your thoughts