Premier League 2018-19, Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

#1 Arsenal capitalise on Spurs’ slip

Emery has led Arsenal to

third

spot

At the turn of the year, Arsenal had a herculean task on their hands trying to wipe out the deficit on Spurs in third position. However, a couple of days into April, the Gunners have accomplished the task and sit a couple of points ahead of their eternal rivals.

At the weekend, Spurs contrived to lose again which kept their points tally over the previous five league games restricted to a grand total of one. Unsurprisingly, they are now in real danger of missing out on the top four, despite having spent the majority of the season in the said spots.

Thus, with their North London rivals slipping, the onus was on Arsenal to make Spurs’ blip count and they did so handsomely. The Gunners were far from their effervescent best yet had enough in the tank to see off a lackadaisical Newcastle United and catapult itself into the top three. And in clutch situations, it is the result that matters more than the performance.

The win against Newcastle coupled with the favourable run-in Arsenal boast of makes the battle for those slots theirs to lose now.

As for Spurs, if they do end up outside the top four, they can only look at themselves in the mirror and wonder where it unravelled so spectacularly and so promptly.