Arsenal beat Newcastle 3-2 in the second preseason game of the summer, making it two wins from two in Singapore. The match was a definite step up in speed and intensity compared to the A.C. Milan game, but not necessarily in all the rights ways. Newcastle did Newcastle things from the opening whistle — challenging with their studs, catching players up high with flailing arms, etc. — not really what you’re looking for in a preseason contest. I really despise what that club has become under new ownership
and with Eddie Howe at the helm.
- Max Dowman has to be the first bullet point if you’re talking about this match. He just has to be. He did nice things with his touches against A.C. Milan, but his substitute performance today was a significant step up from that — he looks ready for the senior squad. With his first touch of the game, he beat Joelinton in the middle of the pitch, who promptly hacked him down for his troubles. Welcome to playing Newcastle, Max. Minutes later, he burst through the middle, drove into the box, and forced a save from Nick Pope. A bit later, he beat his man on the touchline, carried it into the area (again), and won a penalty from Joelinton pushing him over from behind. Dowman is composed on the ball and carries it up the pitch with tremendous pace. I’m going to have to try very hard not to get ahead of myself talking about Dowman because after all, he’s still only 15-years-old. But he looks like the real deal.
- The second note is an unfortunate one: Riccardo Calafiori left the match early in the second half with an injury. It wasn’t clear what the issue was or how he picked it up — it may have been his knee, which was an issue last season. He felt something, sat down in the middle of the field, had the trainer come on, and got up to walk straight off (under his own power, at least). He was playing well, too. He turned up on the edge of the box at one point in the first half, made a lovely turn on the ball, and created some chaos that led to a good shooting chance for Leandro Trossard (the shot was blocked out for a corner). Hopefully it’s just precautionary with Ricky California.
- Arsenal conceded 6 minutes into the match off a sweeping Newcastle counterattack that looked distressingly like a lot of the goals the club give up to the Magpies. The midfield provided no resistance and the defense, Mikel Merino in particular, got caught ball-watching. Anthony Elanga did get lucky on the shot — he badly miskicked it, wrong-footing David Raya.
- The Arsenal keeper didn’t have a great match. He had two or three uncharacteristically loose touches and maybe should have done better on the second Newcastle goal. He may have seen the shot late and it might have taken a deflection.
- Martin Zubimendi is a fantastic footballer. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and he picks the right pass. So many Arsenal goals are going to start with him this season.
- Kai Havertz looks really good. This may seem an odd observation, but his stride looks smoother. I guess that makes sense if he was carrying a hamstring issue that was building up over time until it popped last season. It was his deft flick that set up Mikel Merino for Arsenal’s first goal and his whipped cross that forced the own goal for the second.
- Martin Ødegaard controlled the game when he came on in the second half. He’s a central player (pun unintended but not unwelcome) and Arsenal need to have him playing at a high level. He started last season really well before getting injured on international duty, and it looks like he’s well on his way to another strong start to a campaign.
The Gunners are next in action on Thursday, July 31st against Tottenham from Hong Kong. I don’t love that we’re playing a North London Derby in the preseason, just like I wasn’t a fan of playing Newcastle. But what do I know? Arsenal have a tough slate to open the Premier League season. The intensity level of these matches against rivals should get everyone up to speed and ready to hit the ground running.
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