Mikel Arteta reflects on Arsenal winning 3-2 against Newcastle United | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta watched on as his Arsenal side won 3-2 on Sunday.

Sandro Tonali creating the opening goal with great movement and an excellent assist for Anthony Elanga to score within six minutes.

However, two goals for Arsenal just a couple of minutes apart saw the Gunners 2-1 up at the break. The first of those Merino finishing off a good flowing move, the second one though was a poor own goal from United’s Alex Murphy.

James Murphy looked to have earned Newcastle a draw with a second half equaliser, a fine left foot bottom corner finish from outside the box.

However, with six minutes to go Odegaard got the winner from the penalty spot.

A harsh penalty awarded after the faintest of touches from Joelinton saw the Arsenal player dive to the ground.

Mikel Arteta press conference after the 3-2 win over Newcastle United, quotes via official Arsenal site:

“I think the demands that Newcastle put on you, especially in midfield, with the kind of plays and profiles that he had, I think Zubimendi coped with it with intensity, with the physicality.

“He’s so smart, he’s one step ahead constantly, he can read situations, he can execute at higher speed, whether he has space or not, and that’s not a common thing to have in a player, especially when you’re a midfield player.”

Mikel Arteta on the physicality of this match:

“I think it’s not a friendly.

“I think Newcastle are a test and I think you have to take this as an opportunity as well to raise the competitive level and there are things that physically obviously we want to achieve but there are things in terms of how we compete, how we understand the position and that willingness to win regardless of what we are playing for and I love the mentality of the team in that sense.”

Mikel Arteta on the signing of Viktor Gyokeres:

“We do have plans, we do have a lot of options and we are increasing the quality of the squad and the depth of the squad with all the signings that we’ve done.

“We are super happy to have Viktor with us, it’s been a long journey to get him over here. He’s been incredible, he was very clear from the beginning where he wanted to play and how passionate I felt from him from day one when we first spoke. You can see the boys, you can see the environment as well, very excited with his arrival.

“We were very clear on the talent that we identified in the window.

“But actually to deliver it is something very, very different and I think the club has done incredibly well, Andrea and his team, they’ve been absolutely fantastic. So I mean so early in the window, we already have the reinforcements that we wanted.”

Final score:

Arsenal 3 Newcastle 2

Newcastle:

Elanga 6, Murphy 59

Arsenal:

Merino 33, OG Alex Murphy 35, Odegaard 84 pen

Newcastle team v Arsenal:

Pope (Ruddy 73), Trippier (Krafth 46), Alex Murphy (Targett 46), Burn (Schar 46), Lascelles (Botman 46 (Ashby 70)), Tonali (Livramento 46) Bruno (Miley 46), Osula (Neave 73), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 46), Willock (Joelinton 46), Gordon (Barnes 46)

Unused Subs:

Vlachodimos,.Harrison, Munda, Hernes, Park

Newcastle United pre-season friendly schedule 2025/26

(Saturday 12 July – Newcastle 4 Carlisle 0 (Behind closed doors))

Saturday 19 July – Celtic 4 Newcastle 0

Sunday 27 July – Arsenal 3 Newcastle 2

Wednesday 30 July – Team K-League all stars v Newcastle

Sunday 3 August- Spurs v Newcastle