Three things we learned from Arsenal win as set-piece record is set | OneFootball

Four games to go for Arsenal in sprint for the Premier League title

Apparently not. Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 but it was tense, at times panicky, and utterly exhausting, as so much of this season has been for the Gunners.

Eberechi Eze's wonderful strike from outside the area put Arsenal in front within ten minutes and from there they never really pushed for a second with any authority.

It was, though, job done. That is all that matters for now, until Manchester City resume league action and the goal difference debate perhaps becomes more pressing.

For Arsenal, it is one down, four to go.

Arsenal make it hard for themselves

The fixture list has been kind for Arsenal, in that they can move six points clear of Man City before Pep Guardiola's side travel to Everton a week on Monday.

The Gunners have ticked off half of that job, but this turned into a desperate finale.

Arsenal's strength this season has been their defence and it can become a safety blanket to rely too much on.

In stoppage-time, of which there were seven minutes, Arsenal did almost everything to make it as hard as possible for themselves.

Viktor Gyokeres had the entire left wing to himself on the break and numbers flooding forward in support. All he could manage was a terrible pass to gift possession back. Shortly after, Martin Odegaard flicked the ball to Newcastle in midfield as Gyokeres looked the other way.

Viktor Gyokeres had a poor cameo after replacing Kai Havertz in Arsenal’s win over Newcastle

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In the final minute, Declan Rice had the energy to drive into the corner but instead of staying there, cut inside and whipped a cross out of play.

Arsenal largely had Piero Hincapie to thank for the fact they got through that conclusion. He was an absolute rock in the closing stages.

It did not cost them here, but Arsenal need to show more composure in the final four matches.

Set-piece record set as weakness found

Nicolas Jover evidently made the most of a midweek without a fixture to do his homework on Newcastle.

There were groans from the Arsenal fans after six minutes when Noni Madueke took the first corner of the match short and it came to nothing.

It was evidently a tactic. Madueke did exactly the same thing from the next corner and it was worked to Eze on the edge of the area, who dragged a left-footed strike wide.

For Arsenal's third corner, there were even louder groans when Martin Odegaard showed for the ball and Madueke played it short.

Winning goal: Eberechi Eze

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Those quickly faded, though, as Odegaard played a clever pass to Havertz, he laid it off for Eze. Having had a sighter, the effort this time was whipped superbly into the top corner.

In their first 33 Premier League matches this season, Arsenal took a total of six short corners. Inside ten minutes against Newcastle, they did so three times.

The plan worked and it was the Gunners' 17th goal from corners in the Premier League this season, setting a new record.

Arsenal left to sweat on injury concerns

The return of Bukayo Saka to the squad meant Arteta had effectively a full-strength attack available again.

Fast forward 53 minutes and Arsenal had taken one step forwards and two steps back on the injury front, raising major concerns for the final weeks of the season.

Kai Havertz is not a clinical striker but he is a crucial one to this Arsenal side. His link-up play and pressing game transform the attack.

He looked devastated when he went down off the ball and had to be replaced with just over half an hour played here.

Fresh blow: Kai Havertz limped off after just 33 minutes

PA

As if to highlight his importance, Gyokeres did not even vaguely compete or look like holding the ball up when Arsenal went long three times before half-time after he came on.

Eight minutes after the restart and Arsenal were forced into another change, this time Eze the man replaced. That he sat on the bench rather than go down the tunnel was a positive sign, as was the fact he was on the pitch at full-time.

He is the player most capable of match-winning, off-the-cuff moments in the Arsenal attack. As with Havertz, the Gunners must now desperately hope for good news.

Arteta indicated after the match that neither issue with a serious one, but there is still an obvious concern. Particularly with Havertz, who has suffered a succession of injury problems.

Arsenal have not been able to play Havertz, Eze, Odegaard and Saka together all season - that run could well continue.