Arsenal Secure The Champions League Spot Against Newcastle
Arsenal defeated Newcastle United 1-0 at the Emirates to secure their place in Champions League next season. Declan Rice broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from outside the box to give Arsenal the lead.
Arsenal have not been able to beat Newcastle United this season in any competition. The Gunners were kicked off by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi finals. It looked as though this might end up to be another frustrating outing for Arsenal against the Toons. However, Rice provided a stunning finish from out of the box after receiving the ball from Martin Odegaard.
This fixture had a lot at stake considering Newcastle could have overtaken Arsenal with a win in the League table. However, a win for Arsenal means now they are certain to finish second due to their better goal difference.
This match could very easily have had a different outcome. The Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made a series of brilliant saves to keep Newcastle out in the first half. Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento both had their attempts saved by the Spaniard. However, his best moment was an astonishing double save from Dan Burn and Sven Botman from a corner kick.
Newcastle United definitely had their task cut out with Alexander Isak missing out due to a groin issue. Meanwhile, Arsenal just like against Liverpool picked up the tempo in the second half after a slow start. The Gunners took advantage of the possession lost by Anthony Gordon and Rice slotted his ninth goal of the season. This proved to be enough for Arsenal as they managed the rest of the game without facing much trouble.
What Next For Arsenal and Newcastle
Arsenal and Newcastle have both had contrasting seasons relative to their expectations. Arsenal were supposed to be the title winners had Manchester City slipped up. However, much to their disappointment, Liverpool seemed to come out of nowhere and snatch the title away from them. Meanwhile, Newcastle United have had one of their most memorable seasons in their recent history. They are still favourites to secure the Champions League next season. They have topped this season off with a Carabao Cup trophy, their first silverware in over 50 years.
Arsenal are now eagerly waiting for the transfer window to make amends for the mistakes made last summer. The Gunners reportedly have already struck a deal with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. Arsenal also need reinforcements in their attacking department. They are heavily linked with the Sporting striker Gyokeres and Real Madrid galáctico Rodrygo in the transfer window.
For Newcastle, this defeat means that they are not yet a certainty for the Champions League next season. Looking ahead, the Toons must be looking to make their own reinforcements in the transfer window. They had already suffered from a lack of squad depth when they last qualified for Europe two years ago. However, their first priority is to keep Isak at the club amid interest from various top clubs.
Authors Opinion
Declan Rice and David Raya being the best players on the day when Arsenal secured the Champions League is very poetic. Both of them are player of the season contenders for Arsenal. Rice and Raya both had amazing European campaigns on an individual level. Rice has been exceptional as a box-to-box midfielder for the Gunners. Meanwhile, Raya has definitely shaken off the initial turbulences in his Arsenal career and is now a reliable figure.
Mikel Arteta has been continuously defending his team’s below-par season. He insisted that any team would struggle far more than Arsenal with the number of injuries that they have suffered. However, next season Arteta is going to be under immense pressure to bring silverware to the club. His project has been building for the last five years, and it is high time that it delivers some success.
Arsenal have appointed their new sporting director, Andrea Berta. This shows that the Gunners mean business in the upcoming transfer window. Arteta would prefer to sign his targets early so that they get the required time to embed into the team. However, he also has to adhere to the on-pitch issues as well. Arsenal’s football is not as free-flowing as it used to two seasons ago, and it looks very rigid.
Arteta must devise a strategy to instill fluidity back in his playing style. It would certainly help someone like Martin Odegaard to rediscover his mojo. The Arsenal board and the fans are both backing Arteta to deliver the goods next season. He must handle the pressure well and make sure his team does not capitulate under the pressure.
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