Sports

Arsenal Title Charge Suffer Minor Setback with Newcastle Stalemate 


Arsenal dropped two crucial points and missed the chance to go 10 points clear of the EPL after a goalless draw in a top of the table clash with the resilient third place Newcastle.

Arsenal had a late penalty appeal after the ball appears to strike Jacob Murphy’s arm, but centre referee, Andrew Madley decided not to give it, a decision that infuriated Gunners’ manager, Mikel Arteta.

-Advertisement- Place Your Advert Here

In a game the home side was hoping to extend their lead at the top against the team with the best defensive record in the league this season, it was poised to be a hard fought battle with tackles flying in from all angles.

Madley issued a total of nine yellow cards, with five coming in the first half alone, as tempers flared.

Both teams produced an entertaining but cagey first half devoid of clearcut goal scoring chances, with Arsenal failing to convert their early opportunities after a promising start.

Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli who had a quiet night all failed to convert their chances for the Gunners.

-Advertisement- Place Your Advert Here

The Magpies’ best chance came in first half stoppage time, but Joelinton failed to bring his header down at the far post with an open goal at his mercy.

Mikel Arteta’s men were more in control of the game in the second half as they threw everything at the visitors but could not break the deadlock.

Eddie Howe’s side looked more contented with leaving the Emirates with a draw as they sat back and hoped to catch the attacking Arsenal team on a counter.

Eddie Nketiah who had found the back of the net in his last two games saw a late chance saved by Nick Pope in the 87th minute as Arsenal failed to score for the first time in the league this season.

-Advertisement- Place Your Advert Here

Speaking after the game, Arteta told SkySports: “Extremely proud of my players. The way we played, dominated the game, tried and continued to control the game. We needed that spark in the final third. We had so many situations. And we had two scandalous penalties”.

ALSO READ -  Fitness: Customs Boss Leads Officers On 5 Kilometers Marathon Exercise

Manchester City travel to Chelsea on Thursday and a victory for them would see Arsenal’s lead cut to five points.



Ismail Aniemu

Ismail Aniemu, Publisher of JournalNG and ghost writer, is a maritime journalist of over two decades' of practice with multidisciplinary background. He holds a masters degree in Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH) with bias for logistics. He is also an alumnus of the Times Journalism Institute where he obtained a post graduate diploma in Journalism. Email: ismail.aniemu@aol.com

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Back to top button