The last time Newcastle United won a match or even kept a clean sheet in the Premier League, Steve Bruce was their manager and Mike Ashley their owner. Brentford were a Championship club, Tottenham had yet to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo, let alone Antonio Conte.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi played for Juventus and Barcelona respectively. And Newcastle, whose victory was their fifth in eight games, were near the top of the form table.
The six-month anniversary of that triumph at Fulham fell last Tuesday. Now they are the lone team in the Premier and Football Leagues without a win. More than a third of the season has gone and the club branded the world’s richest after their Saudi-led takeover could find themselves staring at an ignominious return to the Championship.
“We need to start winning,” said manager Eddie Howe, in an understatement. Only one side has ever stayed up after making such a long winless start. This week seems to assume colossal proportions: Norwich and Burnley visit St James’ Park before Newcastle face Leicester, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.
“We are aware how important these games are but it is a danger to look too far ahead,” added Howe. “I was aware of the fixture list in December but the world looks very different with one win.”
Perhaps Tuesday’s visitors are proof of that. Win and Norwich will have taken the most points in November. It could make Dean Smith a candidate for manager of the month, even though he has been sacked — by Aston Villa — in November. Newcastle, however, have had neither a new-manager bounce nor a new-owner bounce.
It has hardly been an ideal start. “Covid hit me hard physically,” said Howe, who felt luckless when coronavirus confined him to a hotel room for what should have been his debut as manager, against Brentford. “A really unique experience,” he explained. “I had no control because I was so detached from the game. I could hear a delayed noise when we scored and from so far away hearing that, you think: 'What would it actually be like if I was in the stadium?'”
Arsenal 2 Newcastle 0: player ratings
-
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 8: Brilliant save from in-form goalkeeper to tip Shelvey shot into crossbar in first half. AFP -
Takehiro Tomiyasu - 7: Missed target with left- and right-footed shots in opening half. Lovely pass to supply Martinelli for Gunners’ second. EPA -
Ben White - 7: Coped easily with what little attacking threat Joelinton and Wilson offered up front for Magpies. AFP -
Gabriel - 7: Involved in real scrap with Wilson right from opening minutes but generally came out on top against the Newcastle striker. Getty -
Nuno Tavares - 6: Kept his place at left-back despite Kieran Tierney’s presence on bench. Guilty of three wild shots way off target in first half when teammates were far better placed. Nice ball to Saka for first goal. Reuters -
Thomas Partey - 7: Smart passing from base of midfield although needed to move the ball a bit quicker at times. Had shot deflected over bar in second half. PA -
Albert Sambi Lokonga - 7: Lovely ball over defence after 15 minutes to pick out Saka but teammate couldn’t finish. Helped Gunners dominate possession. AFP -
Emile Smith Rowe - 7: Saw header saved by Dubravka late in first half that should have resulted in Aubameyang scoring rebound … only to result in one of misses of the season. Didn't hit the highs of some matches this season that resulted in England call-up but still a good show from midfielder. EPA -
Martin Odegaard - 7: First start in more than a month and saw his free-kick saved comfortably by Dubravka 20 minutes in. Sprayed some nice balls around as Gunners controlled game from start to finish. AFP -
Bukayo Saka - 9: Poor finish wide with game’s first real chance after being picked out by Lokonga. Great run and cross to tee-up chance for Smith Rowe before break. Opened scoring with excellent finish into corner from tight angle. Newcastle would have been relieved when he went off injured. AFP -
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 4: Barely touched the ball until just before break when he missed absolute sitter hitting outside of post from close range after Dubravka saved from Smith Rowe. Missed another chance in second half before being booked then substituted. Not his day. AFP -
SUBS: Gabriel Martinelli – (On for Saka 64’) 8: Brilliant first-time volley to make it 2-0 with just his second touch of game and denied a second by timely Lascelles challenge. Getty -
Alexandre Lacazette – (On for Aubameyang 77’) N/A. Fired one shot into side netting. AP -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka – 7: Slovakian, back in starting line-up, saved well from Odegaard free-kick and Smith Rowe header in first half. Commanded area when called up and had no chance with two excellent Arsenal goals. Reuters -
Emil Krafth - 5: Involved in nasty first-half collision with own goalkeeper when Dubravka came out to punch away cross but Swede was able to continue. Stupid booking for barging over Tavares and lost track of Saka for opening goal. EPA -
Jamaal Lascelles - 6: Newcastle captain had looked rock-solid until beaten by Saka’s pace late in first half. Booked in second half and will miss next game. Important challenge to prevent Martinelli grabbing a second late on. AP -
Fabian Schar - 7: Flicked header over bar from corner just before half-hour mark and made some well-timed tackles at the back in decent performance by Swiss defender. EPA -
Matt Ritchie - 5: Caught out by Lokonga ball to Saka after quarter-of-an-hour. Booked just before half-time for fouling England player and will also miss next game. Usual whole-hearted 90 minutes but suspect defensively and looked like what he is: a winger playing at left-back. PA -
Ryan Fraser - 5: Given starting berth by Eddie Howe and while he certainly put in a shift defensively was unable to make any impact on attacking front. Getty -
Joe Willock - 5: Midfielder, up against his former club, gave away needless foul on edge of area after 20 minutes – with Dubravka saving resulting free-kick from Odegaard. Hit one shot straight at Ramsdale after break but still long way off form he showed at end of last season that earned his permanent move to Tyneside. PA -
Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Thought he’d opened scoring only for Ramsdale to tip his curling effort onto bar, then struck another low shot straight at keeper minutes later. Had third attempt saved by Ramsdale after break and was only Newcastle player who looked like scoring. AFP -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Employed out on the left flank at the Emirates little opportunity to run at Gunners defence. Had shot saved by Ramsdale three minutes from time but cut a frustrated figure for most of the game and new manager Eddie Howe will need more from the French attacker if Newcastle are to avoid the drop. Getty -
Joelinton - 4: A goal and decent performance last time out against Brentford but Brazilian contributed very little here and it was no surprise when taken off in second half. AFP -
Callum Wilson - 5: No sniff of goal until put through by Shelvey ball over top in second half and went down in box claiming a penalty – but would have been very harsh call. PA -
SUBS: Miguel Almiron – (On for Ritchie 68’) 6: At least tried to provide Newcastle with some much-needed energy going forward. PA -
Jacob Murphy – (On for Joelinton 68’) 6: Good ball across six-yard box that was crying out for a finish that never arrived. Reuters -
Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden applauds the fans after the final whistle during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday November 27, 2021.
A first clean sheet might not bring such a roar but would be equally welcome for a team who have conceded the most goals in the league. “We have to improve the defending side of our game,” said Howe, whose 44th birthday yesterday was spent on the training ground attempting to engineer it.
It is rendered harder by the suspensions that rule out his captain Jamaal Lascelles and wingback Matt Ritchie. Howe nevertheless argued he has seen positive signs, whether in having 23 shots in the 3-3 draw with Brentford and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka’s fine display in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.
“I have been boosted by the players, their reception to us and I know if we stay united and together we can achieve great things together,” said Howe. Yet Newcastle’s malaise is such that reinforcements are required to take them anywhere close to greatness. Howe has the funds to buy, but Newcastle will have a diminishing allure if they are cast adrift at the foot of the table.
“I think we have half an eye on January,” said Howe. “But it would be foolish of me to make rash promises. You have to attract the players, the players have to want to come, they have to be the right players and they have to improve your squad. That is why January is an incredibly difficult window, especially when your league position is difficult.”
Newcastle’s is 20th. It could be 19th tonight and 18th on Saturday. Or they could enter 2022 perhaps 12 points from safety.
