Arsenal won their 4th game in a row with a remarkable 7-3 win over Newcastle at the Emirates this evening.
There was one change from the team which beat Wigan. Per Mertesacker fell ill this morning and was replaced by Laurent Koscielny, other than that it was the same starting XI with Theo Walcott retaining his place as the central striker.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had Arsenal’s first attempt of the game in the opening minute, dragging a shot wide after an early break from Jack Wilshere. And the Gunners looked busy in the early stages with crosses from Sagna and Cazorla having to be dealt with.
The game then settled down into familiar tedium, Arsenal struggled to find space and did little with it when they did. Newcastle had the best chance when Ba headed over the Ba (hah) from a corner. It was not a sign of things to come.
But in the 20th minute Arsenal went head. Lukas Podolski sent a lovely pass down the inside left channel for Theo Walcott to run onto. He drove forward into the box and in a manner very reminscent of Thierry Henry passed it into the net to the open the scoring. 1-0.
It wasn’t a half of much action, and it was Arsenal who had the next chance in the 37th minute. Again Walcott was set up by Podolski, he rode a challenge into the area but on his left foot couldn’t find a finish with just the keeper to beat and Krul saved easily.
Chiek Tiote then troubled Szczesny with a shot from distance which the Polish keeper bashed away for a corner,
and Arsenal should have gone further ahead when they cleared it and Theo Walcott broke. With just one Newcastle defender in front of him, and well into the Newcastle half, he just had to play in Cazorla, but the pass was terrible, behind the Spaniard and Newcastle got it clear.
We were punished for that a couple of moments later when Newcastle were awarded a free kick just outside the box, Demba Ba took it, it deflected off Jack Wilshere’s head (he really should have just headed it away, not his finest moment), and past Wojciech Szczesny. 1-1. And the vistors could have gone in ahead when Ba again got a free header from a corner but put it over the bar.
Arsenal had the first chance of the second half. After a bright move we worked it from right to left, Podolski played in Gibbs, he shot from a tight angle but Krul stood up well and saved.
And in the 50th minute we went ahead. Lukas Podolski won a header from a Newcastle throw, Santi Cazorla played it across goal to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and his low shot back across the keeper nestled into the bottom corner. 2-1.
Theo Walcott wasted another good chance to create something. Having won the ball in midfield he had options, particularly Podolski who was free, but he greedily took it on and rolled a tame shot wide. And just like in the first half, Arsenal were immediately punished when Marveaux tapped in Obertan’s low cross at the back post to make it 2-2.
Although Kieran Gibbs will be blamed, we were outnumbered in the box, Jack Wilshere could see the overlap, looked directly at Marveaux and didn’t do anything to get back to cover.
But a few minutes later, the England man then made up for his howlers with a great run into the box and a chipped cross which came back to Lukas Podolski to head home from close range. 3-2.
The lead lasted just as long as you would expect as Arsenal target Demba Ba stole in at the back post to sidefoot home. Again Arsenal’s defending was poor, this time Gibbs to blame as he allowed the Newcastle man to get ahead of him as Marveaux’s cross came in. 3-3.
Amazingly, Arsenal were ahead just 4 minutes later. More good play saw Gibbs get into the box and although Podolski missed his cut back, it came to Walcott who swiveled and smashed it into the top corner to make it 4-3.
Arsenal brought on Giroud for Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ramsey for Podolski before Theo Walcott had a chance to get his hat-trick but his shot was deflected just inches wide. He then turned provider for Oliver Giroud, firing in a great cross from the right hand side which the Frenchman headed home from close range. 5-3.
It wasn’t over yet though, the Frenchman latched onto a loose ball after a Walcott run, took it outside and smashed it home with his right foot to make it 6-3. And just moments later Walcott got his hat-trick with quick feet in the box, lifting it past Krul to make it 7-3.
“Sign him up, sign him up”, sang the Arsenal fans about Walcott. If only were that simple!
A remarkable game, in all aspects, and three great points. I’m knackered even watching it.
Have a good one, Gooners.
Originally Posted by Terry Tuffnutz
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