If we are honest, all Arsenal fans would have to admit that we were all very worried about Newcastle destroying our last hope of pegging Man City back in the title race, considering their fantastic home form and with 50,000 Geordies screaming their heads off.
We needed a win there last season, and instead came home miserably with our tails between our legs, but this time around we fought tooth and nail to get revenge and to confirm our position in the Top Two in the table, and we came out with all guns blazing at the top of our game.
But was it our best performance of the season? Mikel Arteta was asked that question by Arsenal.com after the game, and he replied: “Today feels the best because the last one and the one before has gone. But we have won at difficult grounds this season – we’ve done it really consistently, but like you said in different ways. In this game, they managed something different compared to Stamford Bridge or playing against Spurs, but we did what the game demanded, and that was really smart from us.”
And when he was asked what was different from last season’s trip to the North East, he was equally gushing: “It was very different that’s for sure yes, it was needed. If not, you do not win here. They are a better team, they are very well coached, the atmosphere they created is incredible, so you know we needed a much better performance than any game we have played this season. I said to the players that to win today, you’re all going to have to individually put in the best performance of the season if not, you’re not going to win here.”
Obviously our win at Tottenham in the North London Derby was extremely satisfying on a personal level, but to be honest it was just a bit too easy, and we never felt threatened by our noisy neighbours, but at Newcastle it felt like a real old-fashoined battle to the death, and we came away fully deserving every credit given to the team.
So what’s your verdict? Was it our best performance of the season?
Mikel Arteta buzzing after Newcastle United 0-2 Arsenal – Revenge was very sweet..
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IMO, it was certainly our bravest and most determined perf of this season. As to whether it was ,overall, our most flowing football and most artistic perf , then I would suggest it was not. I would say it made me prouder of our team than anyothe resingle perf this seaon. possibly because even (just) prior to this game, I thinkwe fans and our players,in our heart of ,have known we have previously blown our title chances, barring a highly unlikelylate collapse by City.
THAT makes our perf all the more laudable.
“heart of hearts”
Well put, Jon
From a NUFC fan, I thought you were excellent on Sunday
A dogged, determined performance, yes. Best performance, not even close.
The timing of this game , Having venture deep in enemy territory and leaving with all the spoils , with a clean sheet intact will make this encounter on the surface appear to be the best performance so far, the quality of the opposition the form they are in and the position the Magpies presently sits will only add to it.
But in retrospect, history won’t be too kind to this fixture Newcastle vs Arsenal, the Beaumont game with us coming from two nill down that was decided in extra time will be a classic that will be remembered for Arsenal team performance more than the win against Newcastle.
We were better at etihad
*against city at emirates i mean*
A great question.
If one judges it on flowing footballing skills, then No.
If one judges it on grit, determination and game management, then Yes.
Whichever, it could just be the one that has put city under immense pressure, especially after their 1-1 draw with Madrid.
OT – interesting to see one of our ex players, not deemed good enough, scoring in the CL semi final.
I don’t the last time one of the pundits claimed that Arsenal didn’t beat the current top 4 teams away from home.
Saying that Chelsae and Tottenham where not at their form.
Its feel so sweet that we beat them at home.
You can’t easily win all games in the EPL, but when the heat was on in the last lap – the last say, 10 games, Arsenal gave away matches rather cheaply without a fight, that has been the disappointing. For me, it was essentially down to the manager not maximizing the utilization of subs timeously. To play away from home and have jorginho as a sub not utilized with his experience, and expose young Viera instead left me wondering what could have been
I think it’s the toughest fixture that we won – we’ve had some big wins and far more dominant performances this season, but going away to a top side in great form and getting the job done was immense, particularly when our form hasn’t been great recently. We went against the momentum and won.
The question is whether it is sustainable. Us and other teams have a great performance, but then drop off and can’t sustain that level of play.
Champions need that grit and will to overcome. We are better than last year, but not there yet; table doesn’t lie.
Key additions in the Summer and then we go again.
Our problem in most games is we only play well in one half, then rest our oars in the other half. This has simply cost us dearly.
The defence.was sound, the midfield superb but the front three were nowhere near as good as they have been this season, especially Saka.