Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Aubameyang, who hadn’t scored within the league since Dec. 16, broke the impasse within the fiftieth minute earlier than Bukaya Saka added a second with model within the 61st.
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lastly ended his scoring drought within the Premier League with two second-half targets in 3-0 win in opposition to Newcastle on Monday because the Gunners attempt to claw their approach out of midtable.
Aubameyang, who hadn’t scored within the league since Dec. 16, broke the impasse within the fiftieth minute earlier than Bukaya Saka added a second with model within the 61st. An unmarked Aubameyang received his second purpose within the 77th.
It was a fifth consecutive clear sheet in all competitions for Arsenal and a fourth win in 5 league matches.
“We’re all coming together as a group,” attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe said. “We’ve had some meetings off the pitch. The whole group is so much stronger and it showed on the pitch.”
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta echoed that sentiment.
“The spirit is better,” he mentioned. “We have to keep up that run.”
But the Gunners solely moved up a spot to tenth with 27 factors, as they attempt to flip round their season after a woeful begin.
Newcastle remained in fifteenth place, solely seven factors from the relegation zone.
“There’s no denying that confidence is low,” supervisor Steve Bruce mentioned. “ We have to keep plugging away at it.”
Aubameyang, who had simply three league targets this season coming into the sport, appeared like he would proceed his poor run of kind after lacking a string of possibilities within the first half.
But a superbly weighted lengthy ball from midfielder Thomas Partey discovered the struggling ahead on the left, leaving him one-on-one with defender Emil Krafth.
The Arsenal captain minimize inside and struck the ball previous goalkeeper Karl Darlow, beating him on the close to publish. Aubameyang did his trademark entrance flip in celebration.
Then, it was the time for Arsenal’s children to shine. The 20-year-old Smith Rowe took the ball down the left earlier than chopping in and establishing an unmarked Saka, 19, who drifted in to close the penalty spot earlier than ending with a easy tap-in.
The two gamers have come up by the academy collectively and their linkup play is paying dividends for Arsenal as Arteta is beginning to depend on them and different children within the squad.
“We’ve all played together from a young age,” Smith Rowe mentioned. “It’s a dream for us.”
But he is additionally studying from a veteran participant: Alexandre Lacazette.
“He gives me so much confidence,” Smith Rowe said. “As we link up and play together, he talks to me.”
Arteta was definitely impressed by his younger gamers.
“They put a smile on my face,” he mentioned. “They are creating rather well. The performances they’re placing in are extraordinary.”
Arteta was additionally completely satisfied to have Partey again for his first begin since Dec. 6 in opposition to Tottenham after recovering from a thigh damage, saying he hopes the participant may help Arsenal with the transition extra from protection to assault.
“He has this presence, this aura, which makes him a special player for us,” Arteta said. “Hopefully, we can keep him fit.”
Aubameyang’s second got here when Cedric Soares took the ball to the byline earlier than trying up and discovering his unmarked captain, who sidefooted dwelling. A video assessment confirmed the ball was stored in play by Soares.
Aubameyang did not have an opportunity to attain a hat trick, as he was substituted two minutes later with a abdomen situation.
One of the few Newcastle counterattacks got here within the twenty fourth, when winger Miguel Almiron beat Partey’s sliding deal with to intercept the ball and break unmarked down the precise. The Paraguayan minimize in and exchanged passes with Andy Carroll earlier than firing the ball over the bar.
The guests made eight modifications after a 1-0 loss to Sheffield United, with Bruce fielding a extra attacking lineup as Newcastle tries to keep away from the relegation zone. The supervisor is below growing strain, however he harassed that he is the person to see them by this powerful patch.
“I’m never going to shy away from it,” Bruce mentioned.
But the Magpies are nonetheless lacking one in every of their primary attacking threats, winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who has been sidelined for the previous seven weeks with a extreme case of COVID-19. He solely lately began coaching once more.
“The one person who could give us a bit of creativity and the sparkle in the team is Allan of course,” Bruce mentioned. “He’s huge to us. He’s back in light training. We have to be careful with him and see how is he.”