Arsenal, if anything, took their domestic form up yet another notch with a totally dominant victory over Newcastle United on Saturday night. Mikel Arteta had requested it loud, and following a 20-day gap since the previous home league game we were certainly up for it from long before the first whistle. The light show, the flags and North London Forever set the scene as Arsenal tore into Newcastle from kick-off.
Revenge was, of course, in the air. This wasn't just about putting right Wednesday's wrongs, but about putting straight the feelings of injustice from the reverse fixture; you remember, of course, a goal that could/should have been disallowed for any of three reasons being allowed to stand! Martin Odegaard touched on this post-match, but it was clear that Arsenal were going to have an extra edge against a club against whom there is extra recent antipathy. The very sight of the baby-faced (don't let that fool you!) Eddie Howe and his demon sidekick Tindall are enough to set me off, I can tell you!
And then, of course, there's Bruno Guimaraes. An unpleasant presence in Newcastle's midfield; always up for a snidey or over-the-top challenge. Should have taken an early bath on the reverse fixture following an assault on Jorginho. And, by the way, he attempted a 'reducer' on the same player early on during Saturday's game; what a scumbag!
And here's a thing; it's well-known that Arsenal were interested in him before he signed for Newcastle, but I've put 2 and 2 together after listening (back) to Edu's pre-game interview on TNT Sport, when he referenced that it's as much about the character of the individual as his ability when it comes to signing players to add to this particular group. Because Bruno, by the way that he conducts himself, doesn't strike me as somebody who would fit in with the current group; in the same way as the likes of Moises Caicedo may well have fallen by the wayside too (by the way, didn't the club dodge some bullets when they were unable - for whatever reason - to sign Caicedo or Mudryk, judging on their pitiful showings in the Carabao Cup Final!).
I for one was concerned about the mental scars from Wednesday - as well as the physical effects compared to Newcastle, who'd had all week to rest and prepare for this match - but Arsenal came flying out of the blocks from the first whistle, and pushed Newcastle back throughout a high intensity initial half hour where it was clear that Newcastle had no response whatsoever. In the first half hour, over 50% of the game had been played in Newcastle's final third; let alone half!
Arsenal were simply irresistible. With Odegaard, Havertz and Rice leading the press and blocking the out balls, the unpredictable movement of Saka and Martinelli, the high starting points of both full backs, and Jorginho oiling the wheels, Newcastle were reeling. That the first goal should have come from a corner, however, can be no surprise on current form. Gabriel's powerful flick from Saka's flat delivery had the away side at 6s and 7s - one almost felt sorry for poor Karius in the Newcastle goal; what a venue to play your first PL game for 6 years! - and at some point the ball/pinball crossed the goal line for an own goal.
Some of the combination play being put together was sublime. Odegaard and Saka have a wonderful mutual understanding, the movement all over the pitch was superb, and once Jorginho's clever vertical passing is added to the mix I defy any side to cope. Chances were being created at will, and the second goal was a work of art. Jorginho's lobbed ball the meet Martinelli's clever and somewhat unexpected and unusual run into the right-hand channel, an intelligent pull back into the 6-yard box, and Kai Havertz, showing great anticipation, was there to pass the ball into the almost unguarded net. Beautiful.
Newcastle were all over the shop. Whatever plans they'd had, Arsenal had blown them out of the water. They looked jittery in possession, and lost it continually; even arguing amongst themselves. Only when Arsenal eased up a little - taking a breather - before half time did they manage to get any sort of foothold in the game. But they went in at the break without having had a single shot on Raya's goal.
Early in the second half we saw the other side of Kai Havertz, and following a sweeping move that started with David Raya and ended with a really clever reverse pass from Martinelli, the German contrived to drag the ball wide from 15 yards with only Karius to beat. I had been up in an act of premature celebration; I'd have been embarrassed, but I was hardly alone. Despite all the goals that are raining in, I still feel that Arsenal need to be even more clinical.
Whilst Jorginho rightly took the Man of the Match plaudits, I have to spare a few words for Starboy. His form has gone up a few more notches over the past few weeks, terrorising full backs and showing not only great strength and skill, but unpredictability. Add to that his phenomenal recent scoring form and we have a player in the form of his young life. Goodness knows how much more there may be to come from him, but I don't want to hear any more of this 'He's not World Class' nonsense. I keep casting my mind forward to the summer, by the way, and can't wait to see what an England side that includes Saka, Rice, Bellingham, TAA, Foden and Harry Kane might achieve at the Euros.
And it was Saka who single-handedly put the result beyond doubt, when at the end of an incisive move he first tormented Livramento before finding some extra space and curling the ball into the far corner of Karius's net. Glorious.
And this photograph sums his relationship with the club and the fans up perfectly.
Moments later, another corner. And this time it was Kivior on the end of Rice's near post delivery to bury the ball, via a deflection, in the back of the net for 4-0. Well-deserved, from a young man who has really grown into an unfamiliar left back role from rocky beginnings. True, Arteta has simplified what he wants from the Pole compared to what he expects of Zinchenko; but he's done a superb job over the past few weeks.
Some sloppy and perhaps slightly tired defending allowed former Arsenal player Joe Willock to claw a consolation goal back late on. But there was still time for an ESR shot to be cleared off the line by substitute - and I'll give him his full name here - Big Dan Burn At The Back. 4-1 will do very nicely, and we maintain the pressure on our rivals. In fact, with the fixtures falling as they do it's likely that by the time that Liverpool and City face off against each other in a couple of weeks, Arsenal will be above them. Nothing less than their scintillating form deserves, as more Premier League records fall to the mighty Arsenal. 12. More. Games.
A quick word about the Carabao Cup before I go. And whilst it was VVD who, by force of his presence and personality won the cup for Liverpool, I have to say that I completely agree with Gary Neville's assessment of Chelsea. Faced in extra time by a Liverpool side with 4 teenagers and a 20-year-old, their over-priced and over-rated bunch of misfits disappeared further and further into their shells; unable to impose themselves. They're an absolute joke of a club at the moment; badly run, badly coached and with little apparent pride or motivation. An absolute laughing stock. Long may it continue.
As for Liverpool; well done - you've won the Carabao Cup; now get down the tunnel! Or, in Klopp's final season, keep going in the cups until late on, maybe win another one, but fade out of title contention please. With the number of injuries they currently have, that's a highly likely scenario.
And so to Monday evening, when no scenario that I can think of lends itself to anything but a thumping win for Arsenal at bottom of the table Sheffield United. COYG!
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