After a fairly dismal couple of weeks in which they let slip a healthy lead at the Premier League summit, there was huge pressure on Arsenal to bounce back today.
Eberechi Eze fired in an early shot in anger when he whistled a left-footed effort just wide of the target from the edge of the area, and that proved to be a warning Newcastle didn’t heed.
A short corner drew jeers from the Arsenal fans who have become accustomed to set-piece goals this season, but those fans were soon silenced when the well-worked routine ended with Eze sweeping into the top left corner after being teed up by Kai Havertz.
Clear sightings of goal were few and far between in the first half for Newcastle, but a strike from distance almost yielded a leveller from the right boot of Sandro Tonali, as his wicked drive from 30 yards took a late swerve and almost wrong-footed David Raya, who made a smart one-handed save to preserve the Gunners’ lead.
Any injury to Kai Havertz ahead of the crucial final month of the season, which continues with a UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, was a blotch on the half for Mikel Arteta, who will just have been happy to see his side get into the break ahead after losing control of the game after Eze’s opener.
Losing Eze to injury within 10 minutes of the restart only added to Arteta’s woes, and as his side continued to struggle to get a foothold in the game, there was growing concern that they could yet surrender the lead.
Arsenal reached a crossroads 20 minutes from time, where their one-goal cushion was such that there was a sense of nervousness inside the Emirates.
Substitute Gabriel Martinelli did his level best to ease those lingering nerves when he hammered goalwards from the edge of the area, but the huge frame of Sven Botman blocked his effort before it had a chance to test Nick Pope.
Those nerves were almost justified 10 minutes from time when Nick Woltemade dinked the ball over the Arsenal defence and found the unmarked Yoane Wissa, who volleyed over the bar.
Dan Burn came close to a late leveller when he headed straight at Raya at the far post, in what proved to be their final big chance of the game.
Another unconvincing Arsenal display again left more questions than answers as far as their title credentials go, although they have opened up a three-point cushion at the summit with victory here.
A fourth successive defeat is rather inconsequential for Newcastle, whose season is heading for a mid-table finish.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
