ARSENAL made it six Premier League wins on the spin with a thumping 4-1 victory at home to Newcastle on Saturday night.
Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior all found the net while Sven Botman also scored an own goal before Joe Willock grabbed a consolation for the Toon.
GettyArsenal cruised to a 4-1 win over Newcastle[/caption]
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are well and truly in the title race against Manchester City and current leaders Liverpool with 12 games remaining.
Here are five things you may have missed from the Emirates at the weekend, and what it means for their next clash away at Sheffield United in seven days’ time.
MIKEL ARTETA’S BIG SCREEN INFLUENCE
For the second time this season, Mikel Arteta was involved in putting together a motivational pre-match video on the Emirates big screens against Newcastle.
GettyMikel Arteta helped put together a motivational video for the match[/caption]
Alongside members of the club hierarchy, Arteta wanted to rev up the home crowd for the evening kick-off, and it worked a treat, as well as a flag and light show in the seating area.
The video consisted of throwback clips of their greatest moments in their history, before delving into images of the current side with an Arteta vocal soundtrack as a backing.
Arteta feels the Emirates still needs a few more tweaks to make it one of the most intimidating grounds in the country, and these videos are part of that.
A VERY EARLY KAI HAVERTZ IMPACT
The German international netted his sixth Prem goal of the campaign in to make it 2-0 against Newcastle with a simple tap-in.
AlamyKai Havertz scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season[/caption]
He now has two in two in the league and is hitting form at the right time, beginning to silence those wrong doubted his £65m move from Chelsea last summer.
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With him in the side, Arsenal can vary up their game, and did so inside the first 15 seconds as David Raya’s long ball from kick-off was beautifully controlled by Havertz on the edge of the box before winning a corner.
It set the tone, and Havertz continued to be a nuisance aerially as well as producing several cute touches for his teammates, including an assist for Bukayo Saka’s second half strike.
BUKAYO SAKA FEELING THE HEAT
Newcastle left-back Tino Livramento has received a lot of praise as a young left-back making his name in the Prem, but he had a torrid evening trying to contain Saka.
ReutersBukayo Saka started the game wearing a thermal under-shirt[/caption]
GettyThe winger took it off during a break in play[/caption]
The Three Lions star had Livramento in the palm of his hand with numerous darting runs in behind before Eddie Howe’s men wised up and filled that space with more cover.
But by then, Saka was so exhausted from his constant attacking that he took off his thermal under-top during a break in play.
After the break, Saka turned Livramento inside and out yet again to grab his goal – scoring for the fifth Prem game in a row making it 13 Prem goals for the campaign.
BEN WHITE GETTING REVENGE OVER ANTHONY GORDON
There is no love lost between Arsenal and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, the man who scored that controversial VAR-themed winner in the reverse fixture at St James’ Park back in November – one that got Arteta into hot water with the FA over his “disgrace” comments.
AFPBen White got the better of Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon[/caption]
And so, it was a surprise to see Gordon go on the offensive in North London. Frustrated with the lack of ball as Arsenal dominated early on, the winger took a swipe at Ben White that was missed by referee Paul Tierney.
White did well not to react, but decided to get his revenge with not one but two off-the-ball collisions that left Gordon on the floor in some pain.
Gordon had little to no impact in the game after that, while White continued to show why he is one of Arteta’s most valuable players as an inverted right-back, a role that was initially forced on him with the recent injury to Oleksandr Zinchenko.
DECLAN RICE’S TUNNEL TALES
Declan Rice was one of the first Arsenal players showered, changed and down the tunnel after the match as he caught up with some friends near the main entrance.
GettyDeclan Rice was quick to praise Arsenal’s performance at full-time[/caption]
It was there that he was overheard gushing about his own side’s display, including his awe at Arsenal’s press this season and the impact on their ability to win the ball back quickly.
Not only has Arsenal’s intensity off the ball seen them score 62 goals in the Prem – one less than leaders Liverpool – but also conceded the fewest in the division with 23 in 26 outings.
Rice plays a huge part in triggering Arteta’s beloved press, and the England midfielder has had more freedom to do so with Jorginho behind him as cover as of late.