Newcastle 2 Arsenal 0 – Match ratings and comments on all the Newcastle United players | OneFootball

We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Newcastle 2 Arsenal 0.

I don’t know what all the fuss was about.

There were a few Geordie nerves around before this game, including some at Hat-Trick House, but Newcastle qualified for the League Cup final with a degree of ease.

I couldn’t be happier.

I don’t like Arsenal and their whining manager, entitled fans and cheating players. We outworked them, outthought them and outplayed them, and swept into the final in some style. Arsenal came to win – they fielded their best available XI, but they never looked like doing so.

Every player in black and white can be satisfied with their contribution – it was a magnificent team performance.

Tactically, things were spot on; I was baffled to see Eddie picking a back three/five, but it worked a treat. The three centre halves were exceptional in both defence and on the press, and Arsenal looked lost for parts of the game. Newcastle were cool, composed and comfortable in every department.

The crowd made things even less comfortable for our opponents. The Geordies were in fine voice throughout and most of the Arsenal team couldn’t get off the pitch quick enough at the end.

That’s three times we’ve played the Gunners this season, three times we’ve beaten them, and three times we’ve kept a clean sheet. Neither Arteta nor anyone else associated with his miserable club will give us any credit, so let me say that when we play like this, we are a match for anyone. If we do it in the final, we have a good chance of ending our trophy drought.

PS A little credit to the ref for refusing to fall for Havertz’ play-acting. The gormless whistler bought a lot of Arsenal’s blatant diving but even he could see their number 29 is a pathetic, snidey, shameful conman. Someone told me he’s on £275,000 a week. If that’s true, he has the world’s greatest agent.

Martin Dubravka – 8

A couple of smart saves, otherwise our keeper was largely untroubled.

He looked a bit more confident on crosses than of late, too. Arsenal’s fabled set-piece brilliance was completely nullified.

Kieran Trippier – 8

I was surprised to see him in the team but it turned out to be a wise choice. It was as if he’d never been away.

Trossard barely got any change out of him and he was a calm presence in a match where nerves must have affected some of the team.

Credit to his fitness levels too. He lasted the full game – a good effort for a 34-year-old who has had limited game time.

Fabian Schar – 8

Much improved from Fab.

Defensively solid, tactically perfect, and no slouch with the ball at his feet.

Capped his performance by whipping the ball off Declan Rice’s toes deep in Arsenal’s territory to provide the assist for our second goal.

Sven Botman-  9

An outstanding display from our Dutch destroyer, who has looked good from the moment he returned from injury.

He worked tirelessly with and without the ball, barely gave Arsenal a sniff.

Our friends in the London media prattle on about how good Gabriel and Saliba are. Well tonight, Sven Botman was head and shoulders above the pair of them.

Dan Burn – 8

Another good display from BDB.

Not only did he snuff out most of what Arsenal tried to do at our end, he galloped up the pitch to join the press when it was safe to do so.

He is a much better footballer than many people think.

Lewis Hall – 7

Not quite at the levels of a month or two ago but by no means poor.

He just seems to have lost a little of the confidence – especially on the ball – he was demonstrating earlier in the season.

Maybe I’m being harsh; he saw off Martinelli, then he saw off Nwaneri, Arsenal’s alleged wonderkid.

Sandro Tonali – 8

A back five meant that our two midfielders were up against three Arsenal players in the middle of the park, so Sandro’s game was more about hard work and discipline than flair and creativity.

But, as ever, he covered a lot of ground and never looked uncomfortable.

Bruno Guimaraes – 8

Bruno has frustrated me in a couple of recent games, dwelling on the ball for too long, and conceding possession.

Tonight he was much better, and more than held his own against Ødegaard, Rice and Partey, 100% effort from start to finish.

Jacob Murphy – 8

An increasingly important member of the team, especially with Miggy off the books.

Had obviously been tasked with making up a three in midfield when we were out of possession, and did that very well.

Arsenal’s other wonderkid – Lewis-Skelly – looked impotent as a result.

Scored a good goal to settle Geordie nerves. It was a much more difficult finish than it may have looked to the untrained eye.

Alexander Isak – 9

Ran the Arsenal defence ragged.

When he is in this sort of form, he is just about unplayable – ask Gabriel and Saliba.

I thought he’d scored a beauty in the first 10 minutes of the game, but after a VAR check during which I had time to grow a beard and learn Spanish, he was denied for a marginal offside.

And apparently, he won’t get the assist for Murphy’s goal, which seems unfair. But no matter – he was excellent throughout.

Anthony Gordon – 9

When Saliba wasn’t trying to work out what to do with Isak, he was having to cope with Gordon’s constant runs at him.

AG barely gave him and Timber a moment’s peace.

Scored a well-deserved goal and nearly had another a few minutes earlier with a first-time effort after dispossessing Saliba.

Joe Willock – 6

The game was done by the time Willock got onto the park and the job then was to keep things steady. That he did.

It sounds like Joelinton will be out for a few weeks, so this could be the other Joe’s time to shine.

Emil Krafth – 6.5

Our most underrated player, in this fan’s opinion.

He didn’t seem fazed at all when replacing Botman and didn’t put a foot wrong.

He was only on the pitch for 15 minutes but that was enough time for him to have a couple of good touches. A decent cameo.

Sean Longstaff – N/A (Not on long enough to rate)

Not much of a chance to get into the game but he fitted in seamlessly.

Callum Wilson – N/A (Not on long enough to rate)

Looked pleased to be back and I was pleased to see him back.

Let’s hope he stays fit – we need to manage Isak’s game time going into the thick end of the season.

Lewis Miley – N/A (Not on long enough to rate)

Came on. Ran around for three minutes. Did a seven-minute lap of honour. A good night’s work.

Newcastle 2 Arsenal 0 (4-0 on aggregate) – Wednesday 5 February 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Murphy 19, Gordon 52

Arsenal:

(In brackets the half-time stats)

Possession was Newcastle 32% (31%) Arsenal 68% (69%)

Total shots were Newcastle 10 (6) Arsenal 11 (6)

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 (1) Arsenal 3 (1)

Corners were Newcastle 1 (1) Arsenal 13 (4)

Touches in the box Newcastle 10 (8) Arsenal 39 (18)

Newcastle United team v Arsenal:

Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Botman (Krafth 80), Hall, Tonali (Longstaff 87), Bruno (Miley 90+1), Murphy (Willock 80), Isak (Wilson 87), Gordon

Unused subs:

Pope, Targett, Osula, Livarmento

(Newcastle 2 Arsenal 0 (4-0 on aggregate) – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Newcastle United on their way to Wembley! The photo that perfectly captures the moment – See HERE)

(Eddie Howe schools Mikel Arteta as usual! Newcastle 2 Arsenal 0 (4-0 on aggregate) and Wembley – Read HERE)

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Saturday 8 February – Birmingham v Newcastle (5.45pm) BBC1 and BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Saturday 15 February – Man City v Newcastle (3pm)

Sunday 23 February – Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 26 February – Liverpool v Newcastle (8.15pm) TNT Sports

(Weekend of Saturday 1 March –  NUFC will play in FA Cup fifth round if getting past Birmingham)

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 16 March – Newcastle v ???  in the Carabao Cup final! (Time TBC)