Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal: Gunners close gap to Manchester City after fine win including Martin Odegaard stunner

Arsenal kept their slim hopes of lifting a first Premier League crown in nearly 20 years alive as they beat Newcastle 2-0 at St James’ Park.

Mikel Arteta’s side rode their luck at times, as their hosts twice hit the woodwork, but Martin Odegaard’s early strike set them on their way to an impressive victory.

The Magpies made an electric start, with Jacob Murphy rattling the woodwork after 71 seconds, before the home crowd were left incensed when a penalty, originally awarded for handball against Jakub Kiwior, was overturned after a VAR intervention.

Things went from bad to worse four minutes later when Odegaard fired the visitors in front, before the ex-Real Madrid man came close to a second when his effort was tipped around the post after Gabriel Martinelli’s original effort had been saved.

Newcastle struggled to muster too many efforts on goal, although Aaron Ramsdale did save from Murphy before the break, while at the other end Odegaard was denied by Pope again in injury time.

The Magpies should have equalised after half-time, only for Alexander Isak to head against the post and Ramsdale to save Fabian Schar’s header.

That early momentum soon disappeared though, and Arsenal doubled their lead with less than 20 minutes left when Schar stabbed into his own net from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross.

TALKING POINT – Title race still on?

After a patchy period, during which they have been accused of ‘bottling’ the title, Arsenal have kept their aspirations of winning the Premier League alive with one of their wins of the season.

Newcastle have been dominant at home this season, but The Gunners dished out their second defeat of the campaign at St James’ Park with a clinical display.

This result leaves them one point behind City, having played one game more, but it will send a message to the Etihad Stadium that they have not gone anywhere, especially as they kept a first clean sheet in nine attempts.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

The mercurial midfielder has been Arsenal’s talisman this season, and his 15th goal of the season set them on their way to a vital win.

He was once again a lynchpin at the heart of the side, picking passes at will and taking his goal superbly.

Indeed, had it not been for Nick Pope, he could well have added one or two more, but it mattered not as he put in another superb display, gliding around the field and making The Gunners tick.

PLAYER RATINGS

NEWCASTLE: Pope 7; Trippier 6, Schar 6, Botman 6, Burn 6; Joelinton 5, Guimaraes 6, Willock 7; Murphy 7, Isak 6, Wilson 6. Subs: Almiron 6, Saint-Maximin n/a, Gordon n/a, Anderson n/a, Target n/a

ARSENAL: Ramsdale 8; White 7, Kiwior 7, Gabriel 7, Zinchenko 6; Odegaard 9, Jorginho 8, Xhaka 8; Saka 7, Jesus 7, Martinell 7. Subs: Tierney, Trossard n/a, Partey n/a, Nketiah n/a, Nelson n/a

KEY MOMENTS

2’ OFF THE POST! What a start that could have been! 71 seconds are on the clock as Jacob Murphy shifts the ball on to his left foot in the area and clatters a low shot against the woodwork

10’ NO PENALTY! Referee Chris Kavanagh awards Newcastle a penalty after Bruno’s shot hits Kiwior’s arm, but after VAR intervention, replays show it hit the defender’s thigh first and then ricocheted on to his arm, so it’s overturned

14’ GOAL! NEWCASTLE 0-1 ARSENAL (Martin Odegaard). What a finish that is! The Norwegian is left in space 25 yards out and he strikes a low, left-footed effort through a forest of legs and into the bottom corner. Pope can’t get down to it. Arsenal lead!

48’ OFF THE POST AGAIN! Newcastle hit the woodwork after 71 seconds of the first half, and they do it after three of the second as Isak meets Murphy’s delightful clipped-cross, but nods straight on to the near post

50’ WHAT A SAVE! That is SENSATIONAL from Ramsdale. He dives to his right and somehow gets an arm on Schar’s point-blank range header, managing to beat the ball away. Stunning

52’ MARTINELLI HITS THE BAR! Both goals are living a charmed life! Martinelli works his way into space in the area and clips the ball towards the far top corner, but it hits the bar and drifts to safety

72’ GOAL! NEWCASTLE 0-2 ARSENAL (Schar own goal). Arsenal double their lead! Martinelli fires in a low cross from the left-hand side of the area, and all Schar can do is stab it into his own net. Game over?!

KEY STATS

• Newcastle have now beaten Arsenal just once in their last 11 attempts
• The Gunners have seen two players score 15+ goals in a Premier League season for the first time; Odegaard and Martinelli