When Mikel Arteta glances at the opposite dugout Thursday, he will be reminded of the theory that there is no substitute for experience. Roy Hodgson marked 45 years in management last week. He had won two league titles in Sweden before Arteta was born.
The meeting of the Premier League’s oldest and youngest managers can seem a simple case of experience against youth. Hodgson’s Crystal Palace have the oldest average age in the division this season, Arteta’s Arsenal the second youngest. And yet there are complications. Arsenal have been rescued by rookies of late. Their previous problems were partly attributable to an ill-fated experiment with the aged.
Willian is shaping up as the season's worst signing, a player who had the most deceptive of debuts. When he registered two assists and was involved in all three goals at Fulham in September, it was tempting to wonder if he would be Arteta's alchemist. Four months on, he has still not scored. His only shots on target in the Premier League have come against clubs who were in last season's Championship. An effervescent presence for Chelsea seems to have lost his energy; take away his running power and there appears little left. A three-year contract on colossal wages is shaping up to be a costly mistake, just as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang embarked on his most barren spell in front of goal after signing his lucrative deal until 2023. Meanwhile, Arsenal have lost the last four league games David Luiz has started; at least their commitments to him end next summer. But they mortgaged their future in a bid to clinch Champions League football and slumped to 15th.
Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle was a microcosm of their season. Willian started and was utterly ineffectual, taking a place that could have been occupied by a more promising player. The introduction of Emile Smith Rowe was transformative. His surprise selection against Chelsea led to a run of four straight victories, Arsenal’s best of the campaign.
The 20-year-old has been directly involved in a goal every 73 minutes this season. He has brought movement and vibrancy to what seemed a static, pre-programmed side, starting from a central position to make looping runs around the defence. If Arteta’s tactics, either without a No 10 or with Alexandre Lacazette miscast as one, served to highlight his decision to exile Mesut Ozil, Smith Rowe has emerged as a more dynamic alternative, jolting Arsenal into life. The ‘Croydon De Bruyne’ hails from Palace territory; his excellence has raised the question if others of Arsenal’s next generation, such as Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock, should have been promoted ahead of senior figures who were struggling.
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Arsenal v Newcastle ratings
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ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno - 8: Was spectator in first half as Newcastle did not have shot on target. First strike fizzed straight at him by Carroll after 54 minutes. A brilliant stop in injury-time to deny Carroll and picked himself up quickly to stop the big striker scoring from rebound. EPA -
Cedric Soares - 7: Stupid booking for needless foul on Almiron but Portuguese full-back was generally solid for the Gunners defensively and pushing forward. Reuters -
Pablo Mari - 7: Barely tested in opening period as Newcastle offered no attacking threat, although Carroll became much more of a danger in second half and the Portuguese defender would have been relieved to see the big striker miss two good chances. -
David Luiz - 7: Quick free-kick over top of Newcastle defence put Aubameyang through in first half and a couple of other fine passes out from the back over to Tierney. Headed late chance straight at Dubravka. Comfortably the best Brazilian on the pitch. EPA -
Kieran Tierney - 8: A constant threat down the left. Great run and cut back to Nelson was wasted by the winger in first half. Wild and woeful shot from distance just after break that flew high into the empty stands. Man of the match. AFP -
Mohamed Elneny - 7: Good ball through Newcastle’s tight backline after 15 minutes but Pepe’s touch let him down. Another lovely ball on the hour threaded into Aubameyang’s path but the striker couldn’t finish. Egyptian looked a cool customer and impressed for the Gunners. Reuters -
Joe Willock - 7: Helped Arsenal dominate possession in first half alongside Elneny. Should have opened scoring from Pepe cross after 65 minutes but weak header down saved by Dubravka. Getty -
Nicolas Pepe - 6: A frustrating watch as usual. Touch often let him down and passing was mixed bag. Good exchange of passes with Aubamayang but tried to take on Hayden rather than shoot and chance was lost. Pulled poor strike well wide five minutes after break. Good cross set up chance for Willock. Reuters -
Willian - 4: Wasted early free-kick in decent position by drilling weak effort into wall, blazed miles over bar following Dubravka save from Aubamayang. Disappointing, to say the least, from the Brazilian. AFP -
Reiss Nelson - 6: Called into starting line-up after injury to Gabriel Martinelli and looked lively in flashes although final product often let him down. EPA -
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 6: Put through by Luiz in first half but his finish with outside of boot well saved by Dubravka. Missed another opportunity in second half when clipped past the Slovakian goalkeeper. Sealed victory from close range with much-needed goal. Reuters -
SUBS: Emile Smith Rowe – (On for Nelson 56’) 8: Buzzed around form moment he was brought on. Shown red card for challenge on Longstaff that was rightly rescinded when referee checked challenge on side screen. Lovely control and finish in second-half of extra time to win the game. AP -
Bukayo Sako – (On for Willian 66’) 6: Blazed left-footed strike over bar after being teed-up by Tierney and hit another straight at Dubravka in extra-time. Reuters -
Granit Xhaka – (On for Willock 66’) 7: Tremendous left-foot volley on edge of box that was tipped over by Dubravka in extra-time. AFP -
Alexandre Lacazette – (On for Pepe 105’) N/A. Won header that set up winner for Smith Rowe and blasted shot over from tight angle near end. Getty -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 8: First game back from injury and Straight back into groove. Forced into first serious action after 25 minutes when he blocked powerful Aubamayang strike. Good stop from Willock header in second half. Tipped over Xhaka blockbusting volley at start of extra-time. No chance with goals. Reuters -
Emiel Krafth - 6: Swedish right-back stuck to task up against marauding Tierney runs before being withdrawn in second half. EPA -
Jamaal Lascelles - 6: Back from his Covid-19 enforced absence, captain was booked in first 10 minutes for cleaning out Nelson. Will have been glad to be back on the pitch but looked rusty. Taken off at half-time. EPA -
Ciaran Clark - 7: In-form centre-half had been excellent again at the Emirates, composed on the ground and won vital headers in the box. Vital interception to clear Sakho cross in extra-time. But, after all that, it was his miss-control on edge of box that led to Arsenal’s winner. Reuters -
Paul Dummett - 7: Only his second appearance of season but solid enough at left-back and when he moved into middle after break when Lascelles went off. Newcastle will need to keep him fit. PA -
Isaac Hayden - 8: Brilliant, perfectly-timed challenge to take ball off toes of Pepe when winger was baring down on goal just after half hour. Newcastle’s Mr Reliable. AFP -
Sean Longstaff - 5: Part of Newcastle's central-midfield due that failed to get grip on possession at any point of first half. Improved in second 45 but still lacking any influence going forward. Reuters -
Jeff Hendrick - 5: Completely anonymous first half from former Burnley midfielder and little better after break. Tried an outrageous flick at near post from Ritchie corner in last 10 minutes but the attempt was well wide of target. Poor. Getty -
Miguel Almiron - 6: Good attacking charge down Arsenal’s right-hand side in first few minutes and the only Newcastle player who looked to run at Arsenal but little opportunity to do so. Getty -
Joelinton - 4: Too slow with his decision-making on few occasions the Brazilian found himself in dangerous attacking positions, hold-up play non-existent as ball just bounced off him. Incredible that he continues to start games despite offering nothing. AFP -
Andy Carroll - 6: Spent more time defending in Newcastle penalty area than attacking Arsenal’s in opening 45 minutes. A real handful up-front after break and had two glorious chances to open scoring. Somehow put the first wide that was flagged offside – but replays showed would have counted. Denied by brilliant Leno save in injury-time. Unlike Joelinton, at least got himself into goalscoring positions but will rue those missed opportunities. AFP -
SUBS: Matt Ritchie – (On for Lascelles 46’) 6: Poor crossing at times which is a waste when you have aerial threat of Carroll. Great tracking back and block on Pepe in extra-time. Reuters -
Jacob Murphy – (On for Krafth 68’) 6: Wideman tried to push forward and a couple of decent crosses but little threat. Reuters -
DeAndre Yedlin – (On for Almiron 80’) 6: Slotted straight in at full-back. Getty -
Elliot Anderson – (On for Joelinton 80’) 6: Debut for the 18-year-old Geordie who never really made an impact. AFP -
Dwight Gayle – (On for Carroll 105’) N/A. Must be wondering why he did not start the match instead of the consistently woeful Jeolinton. Reuters
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The constant rays of hope have been Kieran Tierney, a relative veteran of 23, and Bukayo Saka, whose capacity to impress in a range of positions would render him invaluable, even if he were not just 19. The teenager has two goals and an assist in his last three league games, all from Willian’s supposed position on the right. He, Tierney and Smith Rowe have helped restore the 29-year-old Lacazette to form.
While the supposedly tried and trusted have otherwise looked tired and untrustworthy, the untested have passed their exams. Arsenal’s awful autumn means this has become a season of transition. Hindsight suggests they would have been better off treating it as such from the start, saving the money they have wasted on Willian for the future and using the space in the side to promote prospects. The Smith Rowe-led revival indicates they would have had more points, too. Sometimes, contrary to the cliché, inexperience can be an asset.
