Match Report: Giroud and Cazorla Fire as Arsenal Gun Down Magpies
Arsène Wenger must have become all too familiar with the volatile attitude of some fans during his eighteen year reign at the club. One week you could experience an unwarranted set of emotions from impassioned fans and next, the same set of fans will be jubilantly chanting your name. His response to being questioned as to whether he felt like he was living in a 'permanent tribunal' prompted quite a phlegmatic reply: “My job is to win football matches, and make people happy”.
And it was certainly a job well done on this occasion, with Arsenal producing a dominant display with added emphasis on their trademark quick, interchanging play in the final third and classy finishing. Braces by Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla secured a comfortable 4-1 win over a monotonous Newcastle side. It was the Frenchmen who was at the heart of most of the orchestrated attacks conducted by Wenger. Giroud was bolstered by the support of dynamic and energetic wing forwards Alexis Sánchez and Danny Welbeck on either side, with the guileful Cazorla in close support.
Right from the start, Arsenal dictated the play, pressing high and passing the ball with quick tempo, portraying a team full of confidence following a morale-boasting Champions League win in midweek (albeit an inconsequential one). Their early endeavours were to be rewarded inside 15 minutes after Sánchez's perfectly lofted ball into the box was powerful nodded home as Giroud rose the highest amongst Newcastle's defence. The Magpies had already been issued a warning minutes earlier as Per Mertesacker's near post header from a corner rattled the bar. It was a solid first 20 minutes for an Arsenal side who had the lion's share of the ball (68%).
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew said after the game: “A lot of credit has to go to Arsenal. They came out flying and we were hanging on during that purple patch". Despite Arsenal's early dominance, though, Newcastle started to find their feet and asked a few questions themselves of the opposition defence. Their best chance of the match came midway through the first half, as a free-kick whipped in by Jack Colback was met by Mike Williamson, who forced Wojciech Szczesny into his his first and then shortly after his second save of the match as Papiss Cissé nearly prodded in the follow up.
Signs of the crowd starting to get a bit edgy were beginning to show. Arsenal dominating matches without putting the game to bed has not been a foreign occurrence. With that, the home crowd felt as though a second goal in this game would be crucial and it would only take 9 minutes after the restart for them to extend the lead. Alexis picked up the ball on the left side of the pitch, driving at the heart of the Newcastle defence, going on to feed Cazorla, the Spaniard keeping his balance after dodging a tackle but still managing to clip it inside the far post to make it 2-0.
Arsenal have lacked the firepower recently to really assert themselves in home matches. The signing of Welbeck may have had a positive impact on proceedings this season but his conversion rate of 7.5% ranks pretty poorly amongst the top strikers, although he may have been aggrieved after he had a goal disallowed rather harshly following a foul in the first half. Giroud on the other hand has provided a much needed clinical edge, converting 2 of his 3 shots, the second in lavish style as he poked the ball into the net from a tight angle with the outside of his foot, putting his conversion rate at 22.2% for the season and with that registering his 6th goal in 5 matches against the Magpies, his favourite Premier League opponent. The assist was handed to Héctor Bellerín, who played the ball in with pace from the right, the 19-year-old, alongside Alexis, proved to be a constant threat for Paul Dummett, evidenced in 38% of Arsenal's play coming down their right flank.
At 3-0, Newcastle sought damage limitation found respite through a free-kick again delivered in by Colback and this time glanced into the net by Ayoze Pérez; his 4th goal in his last 8 matches. A mere ray of hope emerged, and both coaches referred back to the Anderlecht match at this point, with Wenger explaining that he had hoped the "ghost of Anderlecht wasn't still present", but there was no question that there was an air of slight concern around the Emirates after the goal went in. Those worries were soon to be dismissed, though, as Cazorla's through ball found Welbeck in the box, who went over going under Dummett's challenge. Lee Mason pointed to the spot and Cazorla stepped up to cheekily panenka chip the ball into the net, wracking up a brace which will certainly fittingly commemorate his 30th birthday.
A convincing win for Arsenal in the end, whose attentions will turn towards the Champions League draw. When asked if the draw will be kind to Arsenal, Wenger humorously replied "Maybe I will go to church over the weekend”. For Pardew and Newcastle, they'll be hoping this defeat won't be too detrimental towards their progression and may be wise to look towards their remarkable win over leaders Chelsea last week for further signs of inspiration, as there weren't many here.
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