Unai Emery could never have imagined finding himself in this position when he took over 11 months ago.
Emery has steered Arsenal into third place, above bitter rivals Tottenham and now with a huge chance of getting a place in next season’s Champions League.
No-one should underestimate the size of the job that Emery walked into, a club almost in transition and following on from a managerial legend in Arsene Wenger.
But somehow Emery has fashioned a team which last night made it ten straight home wins in the Premier League which was something that even Wenger’s Invincibles could not manage in their record breaking title winning season.
(Image: REUTERS)
The hard work of course only starts now because they have got seven games left, five of which are away from home, but they have already equalled last season’s final points tally of 63.
Emery often looks as if he is a long way from finding his best starting XI, sometimes you do not quite what you are going to get but at home they have become an ultra reliable winning machine which just churns out results.
It was hardly a classic as it is difficult when only one team is vaguely interested in winning the game because, once again, Rafa Benitez set up with the only intention of keeping the score down.
Newcastle never once came close to scoring let alone threaten Arsenal’s goal and yet still the travelling Toon Army hero worship Benitez as the saviour of their club which on nights like these is difficult to understand.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: Getty Images)
Their only salvation was that Arsenal made hard work of killing off Newcastle because once Aaron Ramsey scored on the half hour you thought the floodgates would open. But they did not.
Instead, Arsenal had to wait until the 83rd minute for Alexandre Lacazette’s goal to put the game to bed, give them the points and leave the home fans chanting: “Tottenham Hotspur – we’re coming for you.”
Emery has restored some local pride, got Arsenal playing again and, even more impressively, has got players like Mesut Ozil playing with style and flair.
Arsenal stroked the ball about in midfield, Ramsey provides the cutting edge from midfield and they will miss him when he leaves this summer. It is still unthinkable that he is going on a free transfer when so often he is their go-to man.
They still look vulnerable in defence whenever Shkodran Mustafi plays because the Germany centre half makes mistakes, is clumsy and careless with his passing and perhaps provided more of a threat than Newcastle’s team bar Salomon Rondon who worked hard all night.
Arsenal could have gone ahead early on when Ramsey had the ball in the net but referee Anthony Taylor – who was fussy all night – disallowed it for Greek defender Sokratis pulled Florian Lejeune’s shirt. It looked harsh.
But Ramsey was not to be denied a second time. Matteo Guendouzi started the move, Ramsey’s flick played in Lacazette and then Ramsey stormed forward before scoring with a precision side foot finish into the far corner.
Newcastle left wing back Matt Ritchie headed the ball off the line from Lacazette’s shot in first half time while visiting keeper Martin Dubravka made some smart saves before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came on to inject some extra pace into attack.
It worked as Arsenal got a second thanks to the link-up between Lacazette and Aubameyang. Guendouzi prodded it forward, Aubameyang played it on and Lacazette then provided a delightful chip over Dubravka and into an empty net.
