Photo credit: Sports Vision
In the Premier League, the battle between the top of the table and the third place is in full swing. Newcastle has a strong momentum recently, while Arsenal followed the tactics of the last round and continued to face the match with the same team. Newcastle's formation remained unchanged, with only striker Wilson replacing Wood in the starting lineup.
(Starting lineups for both teams)
Shortly after the start, the game turned into a battle between offense and defense. Newcastle abandoned their attacking intent and switched to an intensive defense. The original 433 formation was pulled back on both wings, and the midfield was increased to five men, defending their own half of the field to stop Arsenal from attacking.
Arsenal relied heavily on quick attacks down both flanks and Ødegaard's explosive passing and shooting. Newcastle's defense not only blocked the middle, but also the sides.Joelinton and Almirón played almost side by side with the wingbacks, along with the midfielders, allowing Arsenal's Saka and Martinelli to face the tight defense of three Newcastle players as soon as they took a touch on the ball, creating a zonal encirclement and a deep defense, making Saka and Martinelli's speed advantage Difficult to play.
Newcastle's three midfielders had a good understanding of each other, and the timing of their left and right movements was precise, making it difficult for Arsenal to move from side to side. Joelinton and Almirón's counterattacks were fast, and Wilson was quick to stay in front of the ball, Arsenal's defense was overly cautious, Zinchenko passed the ball through the middle of the field, ThomasPartey dropped back, and Xhaka moved forward to form an attacking midfield with Ødegaard, but Xhaka didn't press forward enough and was often surrounded by two Newcastle defenders. Forming an attacking midfield, but Xhaka didn't press forward enough and Ødegaard was often surrounded by two Newcastle defenders and struggled to make good passes.
Photo credit: Sports Vision
Arsenal striker Nketiah was poor and the diagonal run to pull the defense tactic from the previous round was ineffective. With no forward support on the wings and the fullbacks stacked up behind, Arsenal played a style of play where the two fullbacks take the ball and push it forward before distributing it to the attacking midfield and then distributing it to the wings to accelerate the play, but Newcastle tunnels into the midfield, jamming the center to distribute the ball and inhibit the speed of the wings.
Photo credit: Sports Vision
The two teams were at a standstill, Newcastle defended solidly, occasionally pressed forward and pressed high up the pitch, the foul scale was moderate, Arsenal was stirred into a frenzy. Arsenal relied on Saka to attack for a long time, but Newcastle continued to defend in three, Joelinton even ran back to hook Saka, Saka was constantly fouled and even injured.
Newcastle's defense was excellent, perfect tacit understanding, small fouls, and deliberate delay in the second half, Arsenal could not fully press the attack, Ødegaard, Xhaka and others in the middle of the attack weakened, and Newcastle's final replacement of impactful Saint-Maximin only clamped down on Arsenal. Arsenal tried to continue the way they played against Brighton in the last round, but the result was not good.
In the end, Newcastle came away with a point at Arsenal's home ground, with only 4 of Arsenal's 17 shots on goal, shots that were unthreatening, and a successful defense by Newcastle.
Arsenal's winless run has widened the gap with Manchester City to eight points, but City have yet to start this round, and once City win, the gap will narrow to five points, and the battle for the Premier League title this season will remain exciting.
