After securing a 2-0 win against Newcastle United, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has demanded a “much better” performance from his team to keep their Premier League title hopes alive. While the Gunners moved back within one point of league leaders Manchester City after Alexandre Lacazette and Gabriel Martinelli scored, Arteta said that there are still areas of improvement that need to be addressed.
During the match, Arsenal had a shaky start and were lucky to avoid conceding a penalty in the opening minutes, while Newcastle hit the post inside two minutes. However, Martin Odegaard’s 20-yard strike just before the 15-minute mark changed the game, and Arsenal were able to settle into a nice rhythm. Despite some lively chances from both sides, Arsenal led at half-time. In the second half, Arsenal were able to score a second goal and keep a clean sheet.
For Arteta, the win was important for keeping Arsenal’s title hopes alive, but he was clear in his post-match interview that there were areas that needed improvement. He said that they need to be sharper, more focused, and more consistent moving forward. Arteta also explained that his team still has a lot of work to do if they want to challenge for the title, especially with Manchester City being so consistent.
Despite his concerns, Arteta was pleased with the fighting spirit shown by his team. As he stated, in the Premier League, it’s not always possible to just rely on passes and beautiful football. Sometimes, teams have to fight to win matches, and Arsenal proved they have that ability. Arteta praised the team’s ability to understand the type of game that was needed to take all three points at St. James’ Park.
In summary, the win against Newcastle United was crucial for Arsenal‘s title aspirations. Arsenal have shown that they are capable of winning games when things aren’t going their way. However, Arteta knows that they will need to produce much better performances if they are to challenge Manchester City consistently. As the title race intensifies, Arsenal will need to have a much sharper and more focused approach in the upcoming games if they want to stay in the running for the Premier League title this season.
