Last Wednesday, we faced off against Newcastle United at home in a fiesty and fiery match of football. We headed into this match knowing that it was going to be a very difficult test and indeed it was as we had to settle for an all-goalless draw in the end. However, let it be noted that we really mounted the pressure on the Magpies.
Martinelli, being in the form that he is right now went on from a kickoff transition play to quickly begin the Gunner's search for a goal, sprinting fast across that left wing. The Newcastle defence stood firm and there was a bit of a scramble in the Newcastle's penalty area as they desperately tried to clear the ball and only when Odegaard sent the ball flying way over the post via a volley did the attack end.
Martinelli once again led yet another attack, this time round being a quick counter-attack, as he tried to provide Xhaka with the ball in the Newcastle's penalty area but again this proved unfruitful as Xhaka wasn't able to get the shot on target as the angle at which the ball came to him was very much against him.
Newcastle, being no pushovers themselves, mounted several attacks themselves, one of them coming from an Arsenal error, as Ramsdale failed to quickly clear the ball from his box. Thankfully, Arsenal quickly recovered the scare by hastily moving into a defensive position and also a hint of luck saved us from catastrophe as Wilson failed to connect Almiron's through ball that went straight across Ramsdale's penalty area.
In the latter stages of the match, Newcastle's keeper and the current top form goalkeeper in Fantasy, Nick Pope, denied Eddie Nketiah a chance to score the winner with an absolutely insane save, making his Fantasy Managers very happy but us Arsenal fans very angry. There were some controversies in the match, with Arsenal players and manager fuming at not being given a penalty as they claimed that a Newcastle player handled the ball with his hand in the penalty area.
And so, we began the new year with a draw against Newcastle United. As a truly devoted Arsenal fan, I just have to say that this isn't the worst result. As seen with how the match played out, both Newcastle and Arsenal had massive opportunities to score and due to either luck or pure skill, both teams weren't able to find the net.
We are still top of the table though but after City scrapped off 3 points from The Blues by beating them by a single goal at the Stamford Bridge, they closed off the gap to a mere 5 points. As their main striker said, "Arsenal...we have to hunt them." And indeed they are hunting us.
We have to believe in the process, believe in Arteta and believe in the boys, especially in the next coming weeks as we are to face both Tottenham and Manchester United in back-to-back Gameweeks, before beginning February with an away match at Goodison Park and a home-match against The Bees a week after. After this is when the title contenders will meet for the first time this season as we face City on the 15th of February in what will surely be an exciting match. (Who remembers the dreadful feeling of that late winning Rodri goal last year? Time for some sweet revenge.)
However, the boyz focus now shift to the F.A Cup as we are to face Oxford United in their homeground at Kassam Stadium tomorrow. If all things go well, we are to see Emile Smith-Rowe return to action after being sidelined since the beginning of the season due to injury. His recovery has proceeded well and he has been seen at Colney doing training sessions with the first team. This will surely be a welcoming sight to us fans as Smith-Rowe is a really fantastic player who definitely will add a much-needed boost in the attacking options.
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