Toon Didn’t Deserve to Lose

By Charly
August 15 2005

Newcastle started the season with a 2 – 0 defeat against Arsenal as visitors, but they deserved a better result. Magpies made it very hard for Arsenal’s skilled players to get through the defense, and a draw would have been a fair result. The team left a good impression looking to the future.

Most people expected a result like this one against Arsenal, in Highbury, and in the first match of the season, but not so many expected that it would be unfair. Arsenal had to battle a lot to win, and needed a bit of help from the referee, Mr. Steve Bennett, who with two dubious decisions, in which he sent off Jermaine Jenas and awarded the Gunners a penalty, rounded up a very controversial performance.

Graeme Souness chose a defensive approach for the match, fielding a 4-5-1 system. But it was the team’s attitude that was impressive, fighting for every ball and being both concentrated and tough they managed to stop Arsenal’s attack for most of the match. Henry was unable to show his best because Boumsong was efficient when marking him, as well as the rest of the defense who never lost their positions and cleared the ball often. When they didn’t, Shay Given proved he was having a good day. Parker & Co. managed to keep the danger away as Gilberto and Fabregas controlled the ball in midfield, but would have trouble to find any of their teammates in attack.

But Newcastle really lacked presence up front. Shearer was helpless, he was left alone most of the times and hardly ever received a decent ball. Not even Dyer, who played as right winger, nor Bowyer, who from the left midfield tried to partner up with Shearer, were successful in trying to feed Shearer with some crosses or partnering up with him, they also got lost and lonely in their wings. Bowyer was more involved in defending, and Dyer had to do it too after Jenas was sent off. Arsenal only really suffered in Shearer’s disallowed goal.

The midfield looked very safe, with and without Jenas. Partly, this was because of the large number of midfielders involved in defending and closing down. If there was one of them who looked better than the others, it was Parker, but they all rounded up a good defensive performance as a team, together with the defense, as they made spaces be smaller and stayed close to each other. Parker was the last man in the midfield, and apart from tackling, he covered up and double-marked quite well.

If there is something to say about Arsenal, is that they tried to deploy their typical game, 4-4-2, the same style that got them to be either second or first in the Premiership for the past seven seasons. It is also true this was their first important match of the season, so maybe the players are not fully fit or have not touched the ball enough to be able to play as good as we have seen them do it.

After Henry’s penalty, Toon were left with no other choice that to try and get the equalizer, which led to nervousness, distractions and the loss of safety in defense. That way, van Persie got the second goal after a good counterattack and hopes were lost.

But the fans can’t be mad at the team, they certainly did a good job and left the impression that the future is promising, that good things will come. More balance between defense and attack is needed, and that’s why a forward, maybe Owen, will be signed shortly. Shearer needs a partner up there, and a midfielder can be sacrificed, since Parker and Emre seem to be able to handle more space without jeopardizing the safety and defense shown in this match. The two star signings will surely blossom as they are given a more important and difficult role, and Shearer will be much more efficient with a partner up there.