Matt Ritchie fired Newcastle past the 40-point mark as they came from behind to beat Arsenal and claim a fourth-successive Premier League win.
FULL TIME Newcastle United 2-1 Arsenal
Matt Ritchie nets the winner as the Magpies come from behind to win a fourth successive @premierleague game!
Reaction to come at https://t.co/iDkcawZlBb. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/xTI29QS13V
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 15, 2018
The Scotland international’s third goal of the season added the Gunners scalp to the one he collected from Manchester United in February after Ayoze Perez had cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette’s opener.
A 2-1 victory – which ended the Europa League semi-finalists’ seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions – took the Magpies to 41 points and more importantly, 13 clear of the relegation zone to the delight of the majority of a 52,210 crowd.
Tweet of the match
Stay strong Arsenal fans. Still feel you’re capable of finishing above Burnley.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 15, 2018
“Stay strong Arsenal fans. Still feel you’re capable of finishing above Burnley,” – Match of the Day host and former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker fired over a sarcastic tweet as his former rivals sit sixth in the table and just two points above the Clarets.
Star man – Mohamed Elneny
Pass Master
34′ – Magnificent pass by Jonjo Shelvey on his weaker left foot. He looks up and spots the run of Dwight Gayle before picking him out perfectly but the move comes to nothing. 1-1. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 15, 2018
2′ – The Magpies force the game’s first corner as Shelvey’s driven free-kick is taken off the head of Jamaal Lascelles. 0-0. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 15, 2018
Jonjo Shelvey’s rich vein of form continued as he displayed a range of passing which helped to keep Newcastle in a game which might otherwise have run away from them. He delivered a series of long balls off both feet which allowed lone striker Dwight Gayle to stretch the Gunners’ back four and relieved pressure on his own team.
Joe’s woes
Introducing the 56th teenager to make a @premierleague appearance for us…
More than any other team in the competition’s history #WeAreTheArsenal ? pic.twitter.com/lzxGsb39rL
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 15, 2018
Teenager Joe Willock was handed his big chance when Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger named him in his team for the first time in the Premier League. The 18-year-old midfielder might have marked his debut with a first-half goal, but fluffed his lines with just goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to beat when he miskicked from Lacazette’s inviting pass.
Player ratings
Better from us – @Aubameyang7 heads @CalumChambers95‘s delivery across the box but @LacazetteAlex can’t reach it#NUFCvAFC ⚫️⚪️ 1-1 ? (57) pic.twitter.com/7gRMMcHTnp
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 15, 2018
Newcastle: Martin Dubravka 7, DeAndre Yedlin 6, Jamaal Lascelles 7, Florian Lejeune 6, Paul Dummett 6, Jonjo Shelvey 7, Mohamed Diame 7, Matt Ritchie 7, Kenedy 7, Ayoze Perez 7, Dwight Gayle 7. Subs: Islam Slimani 7 (for Gayle, 63), Joselu (for Perez, 79) 6, Jacob Murphy (for Ritchie, 85) 6.
Arsenal: Petr Cech 6, Calum Chambers 7, Shkodran Mustafi 6, Rob Holding 6, Nacho Monreal 7, Granit Xhaka 7, Mohamed Elneny 8, Joe Willock 6, Alex Iwobi 7, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7, Alexandre Lacazette 7. Subs: Danny Welbeck (for Willock, 68) 6, Ainsley Maitland-Niles (for Chambers, 78) 6, Eddie Nketiah (for Iwobi, 86) 6.
Who’s up next?
A reminder that Man City will be crowned #PL champions if West Brom win at Old Trafford today ⬇️#MUNWBA pic.twitter.com/w4WpA9gRzO
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 15, 2018
Everton v Newcastle, Premier League, Monday, April 23
Arsenal v West Ham, Premier League, Sunday, April 22
