Arsenal once again failed to improve their shoddy away-form as they slumped to a disappointing 2:1 defeat to Newcastle United yesterday.
The North London giants performed well below par and their hopes of challenging Chelsea for the fifth spot in the table are all but shattered. In fact, the Gunners could run the risk of being taken over by seventh-placed Burnley, should they fail to resurrect their form.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, maintain their impressive run of form in the second half of the campaign. The Magpies are now well safe from the relegation scrap with a healthy tally of 41 points.
Here are three key talking points from the match-
Arsenal’s defence is in complete disarray at the moment
The defence has been one of the most prominent problems for Arsenal in the past few seasons.
This season, in particular, their defensive issues have grown and that was clearly reflected in their performance against Newcastle. Even though Wenger made a lot of changes, most of their regular defenders did start against Newcastle but with the likes of Nacho Monreal, Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi failing to assert their dominance, Arsenal have a lot to worry about when it comes to the defensive department.
With the Gunners set to face the mighty Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semis in just a couple of weeks time, it’s imperative for Arsene Wenger to work on his team’s nervy backline ahead of the big clash. Mustafi, in particular, definitely needs to improve along with Petr Cech, who has rapidly declined this season.
Newcastle United very strong on the wings
One aspect that has significantly improved under Rafa Benitez, especially in the second half of the season, is Newcastle’s ability to operate from the wings.
Following the arrival of Kenedy, the Magpies have been significantly strengthened in the wider positions, which was reflected in their performance against Arsenal yesterday. While both DeAndre Yedlin and Paul Dummett registered impressive displays to keep the opposition at bay throughout the course of the game, the likes of Kenedy and Matt Ritchie provided a lot of creativity and flair in the attacking department.
It would be interesting to see what measures Newcastle take in order to keep Kenedy at the club this summer when his loan deal expires.
Jonjo Shelvey might be in a for a big-money move this summer
Jonjo Shelvey was one of the best players on the pitch, if not the best.
The former Liverpool starlet, who has played a critical role in Newcastle’s success in recent memory, was simply a rock in midfield, alongside the experienced Diame. His accurate long passes were ideal for Newcastle, who largely played on the break, looking to exploit Arsenal’s shoddy defence.
In recent weeks, Jonjo Shelvey has been very impressive in midfield and no wonder Rafa rates him so highly. And considering his remarkable performances for Newcastle, of late, we wouldn’t be surprised if Shelvey generates a lot of traction in the upcoming summer transfer window.