Arsenal vs Newcastle: Instant Reaction

Thoughts mostly at full time.

I had some family things that made it so I couldn’t catch the second half live but thankfully I did get to listen to the commentary on the Arsenal app. I am watching the second half as I write this but I wanted to get this out still for people.

Headline: Too good

One of the recurring themes of the group chat for this match was just that the performance in the first half was just too good for Newcastle.

Not just too good for Newcastle but I don’t think it is hyperbolic to say that it might have been one of the best all-around halves of soccer I have seen. I have seen teams get blown out and score more goals, I have seen good defensive performances but the stifling defense, nasty press, combined with some of the final third play all at the same time?

Pretty rare.

The stats were something that you think it was one of those lopsided cup games rather than a team that is in the same division and had aspirations of returning to the Champions League.

Here is a sampling of the stats from the half

Shots: 11 to 1

xG: 1,4 to 0.0

Touches in the box: 34 to 1

Final third passes: 145 to 12

Passes allowed per defensive action: 5.4 to 25.4