Posted by 4-2-3-1 the whole way through, with a lot of money on the bench. Sead Kolasinac and Mesut Ozil didn’t travel with the team due to their ongoing security-related issues, with Joe Willock and Nacho Monreal starting in their places. They may have started anyways.
The second half substitutions didn’t change formation in any meaningful way, but Ceballos was more apt to retreat farther into midfield defensively than Willock during his time on the pitch.
Substitutions
Dani Ceballos ➡️ (64′) ⬅️ Joe Willock
Nicolas Pépé ➡️ (71′) ⬅️ Reiss Nelson
Gabriel Martinelli ➡️ (84′) ⬅️ Henrikh Mkhitaryan
| First Half | ||||
| Time | Primary Player | Attack/Defense | Formation | Score |
| 0:15 | Chambers | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Chambers (+1) plays a first time ball 40 yards into Aubameyang’s (+1) path. He flicks it back to Willock, but the return pass sees Aubameyang drift offside. | ||||
| 1:27 | Chambers | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Almiron tries a nifty flick and spin around Chambers (+1), but the defender does well to shield the ball out for a goal kick | ||||
| 1:53 | Xhaka | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| The goal kick is played short, eventually finding Xhaka (-1). His pass into midfield is inaccurate, and Newcastle intercept to start their break. | ||||
| 2:09 | Aubameyang | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| A bouncing 50/50 ball is eventually picked up by Nelson (+1), who plays a terrific cross field pass to Aubameyang (-1). His initial pass is blocked back to him, then his second attempt goes right to Newcastle. | ||||
| 3:20 | Leno | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| The long ball is played through, but Leno (+1) is alert to come out and sweeper-keeper the ball out for a throw. | ||||
| 5:18 | Mkhitaryan | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| The ball is played long by Chambers, and the ensuing header bounces around before making its way to Mkhitaryan(-1). He tries a stepover near the sideline but leaves the ball behind, and Newcastle come away with it. Nelson (+1) ducks in to intercept the pass across to win it back for Arsenal. | ||||
| 8:14 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Arsenal keep the ball for nearly two minutes before Mkhitaryan (-1) passes straight to Newcastle. | ||||
| 9:15 | Maitland-Niles | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1) attempted throw into Aubameyang is intercepted. | ||||
| 10:03 | Maitland-Niles | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1) picks up the ball on the right wing and attempts to go 1v3 to the endline. Predictably, he’s not successful. Chambers (+1) smartly steps in front of Joelinton to win back the outlet pass. | ||||
| 10:30 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Willock (-1) nestles nicely into a pocket of space, but his attempted one-touch pass out is intercepted. Xhaka (+1) cleans up and Arsenal keep the ball. | ||||
| 10:45 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles plays the ball up the right into Mkhitaryan (-1). His control is poor and the ball is turned over. | ||||
| 12:19 | Xhaka | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Mirror image of the previous goal kick. Arsenal play short into Xhaka (-1), his attempted pass into midfield is cut out and Newcastle break towards the Arsenal goal. | ||||
| 12:30 | Monreal/Willock | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Monreal (+1) baits Manquillo into showing too much of the ball, steals it, then sends Willock (+1) on his way down the left. Willock’s pace gets him beyond Shelvey, but not Schar, who bundles him over. Free kick to Arsenal. | ||||
| 13:25 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles sends the ball up to Willock (-1) on the right side. His initial poor touch forces him to shield, then the ball gets knocked out of bounces off him. He’s adament it was off Shelvey, but Newcastle ball nonetheless. | ||||
| 14:09 | Aubameyang | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles cuts out Newcastle’s (poor) attempted service into the box. He quickly plays into Mkhitaryan, who first-times it to Nelson. Nelson carries the ball across midfield creating a 2v3, then plays Aubameyang (-1), but Auba’s touch is just too far and Manquillo is able to clear for Newcastle. | ||||
| 14:50 | Maitland-Niles | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (+2) receives the ball 45 yards from goal and bursts past Shelvey, then pushes it past Ritchie to the endline. He winds up as if to cross sending Ritchie sliding past, before slotting back to Nelson. His attempted flick misses Willock. | ||||
| 15:43 | Half the team | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Dubravka’s clearances goes to midfield, where Joelinton does well to hold off Xhaka (-1) and Guendouzi (-1). Guendouzi doesn’t recognize the danger in midfield, and while Xhaka does, he takes two false steps to his right while Almiron is already starting to go to his left. Willock (-1) fails to get enough depth to his drop and Almiron is off to the races. Monreal (-1) and Sokratis both step to apply pressure, but Monreal’s choice allows Manquillo space to receive and cross from the wing, barely missing Joelinton. Leno (+1) claims. | ||||
| 15:58 | Mkhitaryan | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Leno rolls to Guendouzi, who passes to Mkhitaryan (-1/-1). His attempted return pass is a poor one, and again intercepted by Newcastle. He compounds the error defensively by failing to get close enough to Ritchie, and his cross is headed just wide by Joelinton. | ||||
| 16:48 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| The camera cuts back late, but in time to see Mkhitaryan (-1) losing possession again, this time on the edge of his own box. A poor Newcastle pass is cleared by Chambers. | ||||
| 17:00 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Newcastle attack down their right. Guendouzi (-1) and Willock (-1) point at Almiron, who’s shifted over into the pocket, but neither moves to cover him and as a result Almiron is able to receive the ball and turn. He attempts to cut between Monreal and Xhaka in the box, falls over, and is carded for diving. | ||||
| 17:53 | Xhaka | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (-1) carries the ball towards midfield, then plays a poor pass to Mkhitaryan on the right that’s behind him. Mkhitaryan (+1) does well to win the ball back, then play Aubameyang in a pocket of space. Auba’s layoff allows Willock to shoot, hitting the post, but Aubameyang has been whistled offside. | ||||
| 18:42 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Dubravka hits the ball long and Joelinton outjumps Guendouzi to flick the header on. Maitland-Niles (-1) and Chambers (-1) are caught flat-footed, and Almiron beats them both to the ball before slotting back to the penalty spot. Xhaka (+1) is alert and clears for a throw in. | ||||
| 19:05 | Willock | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Arsenal switch off and are almost punished. Newcastle have a simple throw in from the left side, and Willock (-1) doesn’t get goal-side of Shelvey, allowing him to turn on the edge of the box. He outmuscles the Arsenal midfielder and smashes it against the post. On second viewing, Nelson (+1) got over to get a foot in and deflect, otherside it might have gone inside the post instead of outside of it. | ||||
| 19:55 | Monreal | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Monreal (-1) gets beaten for pace by Manquillo down the right on a ball over the top, but no Newcastle player is there to meet the cross and Leno (+1) corrales. | ||||
| 20:04 | Xhaka | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (+2) plays a 40 yard ball between five Newcastle defenders, but Aubameyang lets the ball roll under his foot. | ||||
| 21:34 | Sokratis | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Sokratis (+1) bravely wins the Newcastle corner. | ||||
| 22:38 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (+2) finds Monreal (+1) down the left channel, who cuts it back to Mkhitaryan (-2) at the penalty spot unmarked. He blasts it out of the stadium with half the goal open. | ||||
| 23:18 | Monreal | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Monreal (+1) plays a pass between two Newcastle defenders to Willock, who can turn and run into the box. His cross is blocked. | ||||
| 23:45 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Mkhitaryan’s (-1) bad day continues. He’s dispossessed on the right wing, but Chambers recovers well to stop the pass into Joelinton. | ||||
| 24:25 | Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Nelson (-1) and Aubameyang combine nicely on the left, but Nelson’s attempted pass to Willock is instead right at Schar. Nelson chops down the Newcastle defender and earns himself a yellow card. | ||||
| 25:30 | 3+ | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Newcastle create a chance out of nothing. Guendouzi (-1) does well enough initially to win the long ball from Dubravka out of the air, but it bounces to Hayden instead of anyone in yellow. Xhaka (-1) leaves Joelinton and aimlessly wanders towards the ball, and when the ball gets played back across him Joelinton is 1v2 on the edge of the box because Guendouzi hasn’t dropped quickly enough. He’s erased. Sokratis (-1) steps up, then goes to ground and is easily swept past. Chambers (-1) tries to recover but doesn’t get there in time. The ball is shot right at Leno (+1) from the penalty spot. Saved. | ||||
| 26:25 | Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Arsenal work the ball out of the corner through a hopeful clearance by Monreal that Nelson (+2) does well to bring out of the air and turn, all in a single touch. He sprays wide to Aubameyang (+1), who has four yards to make up. No problem. He drives down the right wing before Dummett slides in to knock the ball out for a corner | ||||
| 28:36 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Chambers (+1) clears/passes (I’m not sure which) right into Willock (+1), who’s bodied off Lascelles, which isn’t an easy task. His first touch sends him on his way, but he’s dragged back by the jersey. Free kick to Arsenal. | ||||
| 29:59 | Monreal | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| A long sequence here, split into two plays. Dubravka’s goal kick is won by Xhaka but right to Almiron. Monreal (-1) is a step slow and the ball is flicked over him. Xhaka goes into a tackle on the right wing forcing Almiron to go down, but too easy for the referee and Monreal is able to send the ball to Willock. | ||||
| 30:13 | 3+ | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Willock (+2) is bodied over on the left wing; it’s probably a foul, but no call. He gets on with it, and sprints to win the ball back, sliding and knocking it to Xhaka. Xhaka plays to Nelson, who gives to Mkhitaryan (+2), who puts the ball right onto Aubameyang (+1) over the top inside the box. Aubameyang settles well and smashes it, but right at Dubravka who saves. Nelson (-1) sends the ensuing corner over everyone out for a throw. | ||||
| 32:25 | Guendouzi | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| A sustained period of Arsenal possession ends when Guendouzi (-1) gives the ball away. | ||||
| 32:43 | Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Monreal (+1), Xhaka (+1), and Nelson (+2) combine on a series of bouncing balls on the left to get out of pressure, then Nelson beats his man 1v1 down the left. | ||||
| 33:48 | Nelson | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Nelson tries a first-time turn but miscontrols and Newcastle pick up possession. Their attempted crossfield pass is intercepted by Maitland-Niles (+1), who gets fouled and Arsenal keep the ball. Maitland-Niles needs a bit of treament but can carry on. | ||||
| 35:46 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| A poor pass backwards is pounced on by Mkhitaryan (+1), whose driving run ends with a terrific pass between three Newcastle defenders to Aubameyang. His cross to Nelson is slightly behind and while the ball finds its way back to Mkhitaryan, the chance is gone by that point. | ||||
| 38:11 | Xhaka/Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Arsenal lose the ball when Xhaka (-0.5) and Nelson (-0.5) can’t connect. They share the -1 because I can’t tell which between the pass from Xhaka and the run from Nelson is worse. | ||||
| 39:08 | Chambers | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Chambers (-1) gets the minus one, but Arsenal’s continued attempts to play out from the back aren’t doing him any favors. Here, the ball is played to him from a goal kick and he tries to find Mkhitaryan, but he’s not accurate enough and Newcastle steal. | ||||
| 39:30 | Monreal | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Monreal (+1) reads the pass and cuts inside of his man to intercept. | ||||
| 40:18 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Guendouzi (+1) cuts off the passing lane and wins the ball back for Arsenal. | ||||
| 43:28 | Nelson/Xhaka | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Two 50/50s go opposite ways. Nelson (-1) turns into pressure and loses the ball, but Xhaka (+1) closes quickly and wins it back. | ||||
| 44:32 | Maitland-Niles | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1) throws the ball right to Newcastle for the second time on the day. | ||||
| 45:31 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Arsenal pick up the tempo for only the second or third time on the day, and look to have created an opening down the left. Mkhitaryan (-2) then passes the ball straight out of bounds. | ||||
| Second Half | ||||
| Time | Primary Player | Attack/Defense | Formation | Score |
| 45:30 | Monreal | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Newcastle kickoff and work the ball down the left. Maitland-Niles (-1) gets caught too far up the field and the ball played over the top of him is a good one, allowing Almiron to get on the end of it and serve. Monreal (+2) steps in front of Joelinton to win the ball and send it out for a corner. He wins the ensuing corner kick too. | ||||
| 46:18 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Almiron receives the throw in down in the left corner and tries to wriggle free of Maitland-Niles (+1) to get a cross off. Maitland-Niles stays with him and blocks the ball near the touchline. Mkhitaryan sends the ball back infield, and after a series of 50/50 balls, Xhaka (-1) looks to come away with it. His touch is too heavy on the edge of the Arsenal box, and Newcastle steal it back. | ||||
| 47:04 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| The home side retrive Aubameyang’s wayward cross and carry into midfield. Guendouzi (-1) is surprised by Almiron’s pace on the ball and his last ditch slide on halfway misses both ball and man. Almiron’s final ball is a poor one and Arsenal are able to recover possession. | ||||
| 47:29 | Maitland-Niles | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Weak from Maitland-Niles (-1), who tries to play a simple ball down the right wing that was never on and it’s intercepted. | ||||
| 48:38 | Chambers | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Another simple pass is wide of the mark, this time from Chambers (-1) in midfield. | ||||
| 48:49 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Mkhitaryan (+1/-1) picks up the ball on the edge of Arsenal’s defensive third and races through midfield, skinning Shelvey in the process. His final ball for Nelson is too heavy and the ball rolls out for a goal kick. | ||||
| 50:17 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Newcastle enjoy brief period of possession that ends when Ritchie sells Guendouzi (-1) on a check back to the ball before taking off behind. The ball is played through to him, but his cross is cut out by the covering Chambers | ||||
| 50:52 | Leno | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| A poor Newcastle cross almost turns into a good one, but Leno (+1) is quick off his line and slides in to collect just before Manquillo gets there on the back side. | ||||
| 51:07 | Xhaka | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (+2) and Nelson combine on the left before Xhaka plays a 30 yard pass into a darting Aubameyang (+1). His shot is blocked out for a corner. | ||||
| 51:57 | Xhaka | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Nelson (+1) hits a fantastic corner to the near post that Xhaka (+1) gets a head to, flicking it both narrowling wide and just out of the reach of Willock at the back post. | ||||
| 53:42 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Arsenal play the ball nicely from defense to midfield, but Willock (-1) takes a heavy touch and the ball rolls out of bounds. | ||||
| 54:22 | Guendouzi | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Schar plays a ball into midfield to Joelinton, but Guendouzi (+2/-1) goes into the challenge strong, winning the ball and knocking Joelinton over in the process. Impressive from him. Less impressive was dribbling the ball out of bounces 20 seconds later. | ||||
| 55:41 | Monreal/Nelson | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Monreal’s (-0.5) ball into Nelson (-0.5) is intercepted; again sharing the -1. Joelinton cuts the counter attack inside but Guendouzi (+1) is there is put a tackle in. Xhaka (+1) too after the ball bounces away from Willock. | ||||
| 56:07 | Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Newcastle press high, but their press has little to do with Nelson’s (-1) poor pass inside. | ||||
| 56:20 | Leno | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Arsenal trying to play out from the back to their own detriment here. Leno (-1) recognizes his center backs are a poor option, but tries to loop the ball into Xhaka down the middle. He can only head the ball on to midfield where Newcastle pick up possession. | ||||
| 57:21 | Maitland-Niles | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (+1/+1) makes up 15 yards on Willems to get to the ball first on the right after a soft pass from Dummett. Lascelles inexplicably races to cover the playside and leaves Aubameyang (+2) free at the back post. Maitland-Niles finds him, and after a perfect prep touch Aubameyang toes the ball into the net. 1-0 to the Arsenal. | ||||
| 58:57 | Monreal | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Pinpoint pass from Monreal (+1) into Willock, who receives on the turn and is fouled. | ||||
| 59:31 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Willock (-1) receives the ball from Xhaka on the corner of the box, then drives to the endline before letting a shot go from a poor angle. It goes miles wide and high. | ||||
| 60:29 | Guendouzi | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Guendouzi (-1) is too slow on the ball and his pass into midfield is blocked up into the air. Newcastle look to counter but Sokratis (+1) tackles and sends the ball to Mkhitaryan, who is fouled on his attempted pass. Free kick. | ||||
| 61:54 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Mkhitaryan (-2) passes straight out of bounds for the second time in the game. | ||||
| 62:49 | Leno | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| A long cross into the Arsenal box is punched clear by Leno (+1). Would have rather he caught it, but his punch goes right to Nelson to start the break. He passes to Willock (-1), who’s driving run is cut out by a sliding challenge 30 yards from goal. | ||||
| 63:29 | Ceballos | Substitution | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Dani Ceballos enters for Willock. | ||||
| 64:12 | Ceballos | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos’ (-1) first touch isn’t a good one. His attempted Cruyff pass is well off the mark and easily intercepted. Newcastle race the other way, eventually swinging the ball to their left, but Maitland-Niles (+1) swoops in to make a tackle and knock the ball out off Willems for an Arsenal goal kick. | ||||
| 64:56 | Chambers | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Again Arsenal put Chambers (-1) in a tough spot. Leno passes the goal kick to him, then he smashes it upfield and out of bounds. | ||||
| 66:20 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Arsenal clear the ball to midfield, with the ball dropping to Ceballos (-1). He takes three touches when there’s only enough time for two, and loses the ball. | ||||
| 66:32 | Monreal | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Newcastle drive the ball up the right flank. Nelson does a good job tracking back and nearly forces Manquillo to run the ball out of bounds. Monreal (-2) is so convinced he stops playing to look behind at the linesman, then realizes too late that play is continuing. Allan Saint-Maximin beats him down the wing and sends in a dangerous cross. Maitland-Niles knocks out for a corner. | ||||
| 67:06 | Chambers | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| A well-worked corner from Newcastle allows Almiron to shake free of Guendouzi (-1), but Chambers (+1) is there to make the block and send the ball out for another corner. Xhaka (+1) heads clear. | ||||
| 68:07 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos (-1) again with the loose pass, this time on the edge of his own box. Ritchie nearly intercepts, but in the end only knocks the ball back to Leno. | ||||
| 69:15 | Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| A simple pass inside from Nelson (-1) in inaccurate and Newcastle mount a counter attack that’s broken up by Xhaka (+1). He’s fouled; Arsenal ball. Nelson’s final contribution of the day. | ||||
| 70:05 | Pépé | Substitution | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Nicolas Pépé comes in for Reiss Nelson. | ||||
| 71:10 | Xhaka | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Xhaka (-1/+1) loses possession on the left, but tracks back well to knock the ball off the Newcastle player. Referees incorrectly award a Newcastle throw. | ||||
| 73:05 | Pépé | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Maitland-Niles throws into Pépé (-1), but they’re not on the same page and Pépé’s return pass goes directly out of bounds. | ||||
| 73:59 | Guendouzi | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Odd from Guendouzi (-1), who lets the ball bounce in front of him instead of taking it out of the air. Saint-Maximin has no such qualms and steals for Newcastle. | ||||
| 74:10 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Pépé isn’t known for his defending, but he’s got to do better than the half-assing he does here. Guendouzi (-1) is shaded too far over and Xhaka is forced to pick between two Newcastle players on the edge of the box. He rightly chooses Almiron, leaving Ritchie to slice through and receive the ball. Chambers (+1) recognizes and steps to force an off-balance cross that goes right to Leno. | ||||
| 75:23 | Aubameyang | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Aubameyang (-1) not on the same page as Ceballos and passes where he was instead of where he’s going. | ||||
| 75:52 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos (+1) threads the ball through to Mkhitaryan inside the Newcastle box, but his cross is blocked. | ||||
| 76:56 | Maitland-Niles | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1/-1) almost turns a simple pass back into calamity, getting under the ball and scooping it back to Leno (+1) under pressure. Leno does well to head clear, but Saint-Maximin comes again, beating the over-charging Maitland-Niles down the left before slipping. | ||||
| 77:16 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos (-1) leads Mkhitaryan too far, and the pass is intercepted. | ||||
| 78:57 | Chambers | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Newcastle play the ball down the left channel, but Chambers (+1) reads and gets there first, heading the ball into the air then strongly hielding out for an Arsenal throw. | ||||
| 79:19 | Pépé | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Aubameyang’s pass into Pépé catches him off guard, leading to the ball rolling beyond his reach and Newcastle picking up possession. | ||||
| 79:35 | Mkhitaryan | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos gets a bit of fortune, his pass deflected into the path of Mkhitaryan at midfield. There’s no luck in Mkhitaryan’s (+2) pass though, slicing between four Newcastle defenders to get to Aubameyang (-1), who takes a poor touch and allows Schar to recover and block. Better control and it’s probably 2-0. | ||||
| 82:05 | Leno | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Manquillo’s cross is taken out of the air by Leno (+1). | ||||
| 82:49 | Monreal | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Monreal (-1) attempts to dribble up the left side and is cut off. He stops, asking for a foul that doesn’t come. Mkhitaryan (-1) is also too slow to react, and the ball is played past him through, allowing Newcastle to counter. | ||||
| 82:52 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1) and Guendouzi (-1) are 2v1 against Saint-Maximin, but both allow him to dribble inside and get a shot off. Leno (+1) saves easily enough, but only because the shot was poor. | ||||
| 83:46 | Martinelli | Substitution | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| The final change for Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli in for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. | ||||
| 84:01 | Martinelli | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Martinelli (-1) wastes no time in passing the ball straight to Newcastle. Guendouzi (+1) does well to tackle and break up the play. | ||||
| 84:43 | Pépé | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Maitland-Niles throws the ball to Aubameyang (+1), whose neat flick splits two defenders, but Pépé (-1) isn’t ready for the ball and it bounces off his knee out of bounds. | ||||
| 84:52 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Saint-Maximin tries to go at Maitland-Niles (+1), who stands up and steals the ball in the corner, and clears to midfield. | ||||
| 86:56 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| A foul committed just inside the half line sees a free kick sent into the box, won in the air by Guendouzi (+2). The ball bounces to Saint-Maximin, but Guendouzi is there to win the ball again, this time with his foot. The ball bounces to Pépé who does a good job holding off the defender before he’s fouled. | ||||
| 87:46 | Martinelli | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Martinelli (+1) and Ceballos (+1) combine down the left, ending with Ceballos sending Martinelli into the box. Good movement initially from the Martinelli, then good speed/skill to get around Schar and send the ball back to the penalty spot. Lascelles is there to block and send the ball up to midfield. | ||||
| 88:06 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1) goes soft into a tackle and Joelinton is having none of it, winning the ball off him and playing Saint-Maximin down the left. Maitland-Niles works hard to recover, almost winning the ball, but slips and it rolls to Joelinton. Chambers (-1) and Xhaka (-1) back off too far, so Sokratis comes from across the field to briefly apply pressure, before sagging back. Monreal and Guendouzi hurry Joelinton into shooting over the bar. | ||||
| 89:28 | Aubameyang | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Xhaka fizzes a ball into Aubameyang’s (-1) feet at midfield, but his attempted layoff goes right to Newcastle. | ||||
| 89:30 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Newcastle throwing bodies forward now. Guendouzi has shaded too far inside and allows the ball to make it out to the wing where Maitland-Niles (+1) is alone 2v1, but recovers in time to provide the required help and force the ball backwards to Willems. His cross is won by Sokratis (+1), and bounces to Guendouzi, whose clearance leaves a lot to be desired, but the ensuing pass back in by Newcastle is whistled for offside. | ||||
| 90:50 | Xhaka | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Arsenal well and truly trying to kill the game now. Xhaka (+1) carries the ball into the corner, then falls over at the first sign of contact to earn the foul. | ||||
| 92:53 | Chambers | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Dubravka sends the ball into the box from the center circle, where Chambers (-1) steps to win but misses. The ball is flicked on into the six and Newcastle have a terrific chance, but Sokratis (+1) does just enough to get in the way and the ball rolls harmlessly to Leno. Martinelli (-1) had switched off. | ||||
| 93:13 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Less than a minute left. Ceballos (+1) gets on the ball inside his half and plays a beautiful ball down the left channel into Aubameyang (+1). He smartly cuts back before heading back to the corner to waste a few more seconds. Arsenal pass the ball around before knocking it out for a goal kick. The referee blows for full time. | ||||
So…?
Arsenal were just okay in this one. I didn’t think they were bad enough to warrant the “We’re going down” Twitter brigade, but it was mildly concerning Arsenal failed to create much of anything in the way of scoring chances.
First game caveats, weather, and a relatively weak starting 11 certainly apply. But 0.88 expected goals against a team many picked to get relegated is rough. Especially when half the xG came on the goal itself, which was more Newcastle error than Arsenal creation.
The tempo was the biggest issue. Between the Posts‘ tactical analysis shows how and why:
Arsenal failed to work the ball through the middle with any consistency, instead opting to play back and around to move the ball from side to side. This allowed Newcastle’s back three time to shift, and with no one willing to attack the back line on the dribble, Arsenal spent large portions of the game passing negative.
Unai Emery’s introduction of Ceballos and Pépé’s should have added to that dynamic, but neither looked particularly comfortable in their first Premier League action.
| Attack | + | – | +/- | Defense | + | – | +/- | Total | Minutes | Score90 | ||||
| Dani Ceballos | 3 | 4 | -1 | Dani Ceballos | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 26 | -3.85% | ||||
| Nicolas Pépé | 0 | 3 | -3 | Nicolas Pépé | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 19 | -15.79% | ||||
| Gabriel Martinelli | 1 | 1 | 0 | Gabriel Martinelli | 0 | 1 | -1 | -1 | 6 | -16.67% |
The Score90 scores to the right can be ignored due to sample size, but there were some iffy sequences for each of them.
Dani Ceballos could have gotten a -2 for this:
He also did this, something probably only Xhaka has in his toolbox in the current Arsenal midfield.
I’m willing to bet his jitters were of the first game variety, rather than anything to worry about long term.
Nicolas Pépé also looked on a different wavelength than his Arsenal teammates:
The guy’s been at Arsenal for less than two weeks, doesn’t speak the language, and makes his debut in the pissing down rain.
He also did this, which is a nothing play, but made by a guy who cost €80 million so forgive me while I get excited:
Who was good? Who struggled?
Time for the chart:
My opinion on Granit Xhaka is well known, but I thought he was Arsenal’s best player in this one. By far.
He had three separate +2 passes. Pick a favorite:
Mine was the first one.
He created two scoring chances, and a third that would have been if Aubameyang hadn’t let the ball roll under his foot. He was Man of the Match for me.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan put up a -5 overall, and gave the ball away 15 times in the first half. He also did this:
…and this:
A better touch from Aubameyang on the second one and we’re raving about Mkhitaryan’s pass too. And maybe that’s what we remember about his game, instead of the 15 turnovers.
Pépé’s signing probably signaled the end of his consistent starting-11 nods at Arsenal, but there’s a place for a player than can do the above at the club.
Matteo Guendouzi‘s score was also low, spotlighting the limitations of a rating system that rewards progressive play and ignores simple passes. This is a good ball by him:
It goes unscored because it didn’t amount to anything.
He made a lot of contributions that would have been scored +0.5. He also got dinged a number of times defensively for failing to shift into position quickly enough. On rewatch, I was probably a bit harsh. He was good to the naked eye.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles made the WhoScored Team of the Week, but we had him just +1 on the day.
Make no mistake, Arsenal won because Maitland-Niles stepped in front of a pass at midfield, raced down the wing, and played a perfect ball to Aubameyang.
He was a bit inconsistent though. Twice he threw the ball in directly to Newcastle defenders. He also tried to force passes into midfield that weren’t on a handful of times, and got out of position for a two balls over the top that led to marginal Newcastle scoring chances.
He was okay. I don’t think he was the best right back in the Premier League over the weekend.
Finally, Calum Chambers had a good game defensively. He’s still limited offensively:
Playing the way Arsenal want to play, it’s going to be difficult for him to hold onto his starting spot long term with David Luiz breathing down his neck.
Aubameyang Scored…
He did, but for the second game in a row he did little else. Here’s his touch chart:
Only 44 touches, seven of which were after the 90th minute in the corner when Arsenal were just trying to kill the game off. To put into perspective, Bernd Leno had 45.
He’s heavily dependent on service from teammates, but on a handful of passes that did make it into him his touch let him down and the ball rolled away.
What does it mean for Burnley?
Not much, I don’t think.
Arsenal kept a clean shot on the road in the opening game of the season, matching their season total from 2019-20. Newcastle were rather toothless in attack however, so let’s wait a few weeks before we declare the defense sorted.
Chambers probably did enough to hold onto his starting spot, if for no other reason than the message it would send to the rest of the team to drop him after a good performance.
Joe Willock probably isn’t a #10. In the absence of Ozil, I’d like to see Ceballos get a crack there from the opening whistle.
Mkhitaryan should probably be relegated to late-game appearances when we need a goal.
Taking three points on opening day with a depleted lineup sets the team up for success, and allows the feel good atmosphere from the close of the transfer window to continue another week at least. Based on how last season ended, that psychological boost is likely greater than for other top six teams.