Arsenal booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday night with a 2-0 win over Newcastle United, although they needed more time to get there.
In two lukewarm hours, Arsenal were never quite at their best fluid, and Newcastle stoically defended themselves to keep them out. Emile Smith Rowe gave them a late breakthrough, however, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s tap-in eight minutes later secured the victory.
This extended the Magpies’ winless run to seven games, while for Arsenal it was a fourth consecutive triumph.
Bernd Leno (GK) – 6/10 – Barely had his gloves dirty before taking action to turn Carroll down late.
Kieran Tierney (LB) – 7/10 – Ran Krafth was torn apart with his explosive accelerations and repeatedly found his teammates with crosses.
Pablo Mari (CB) – 6/10 – Getting out of defense well, looking comfortable on the ball. I didn’t have a lot of defensive work to do.
David Luiz (CB) – 6/10 – Much like Mari, the Brazilian was impressed with his distribution but he also seemed a little agitated by Carroll’s presence.
Cédric Soares (RB) – 5/10 – Had good ideas but sometimes lacked execution, both in his passage and his crossing.
Joe Willock (CDM) – 6/10 – Full of industry but lacking in quality when he died. A close-range header knocked the post over by Dubravka.
Mohamed Elneny (CDM) – 7/10 – Back on the side, the Egyptian impressed, picking up sharp passes from the midfield’s base.
Reiss Nelson (LW) – 5/10 – Drafted in the eleventh hour due to Martinelli’s injury, he took threatening positions but was not ruthless enough when the odds presented themselves. Replaced at the start of the second half.
Willian (CAM) – 6/10 – I wish I had contributed more; looked visibly disappointed as he was taken out in the middle of the second half. That said, its parts deliveries have taken their toll.
Nicolas Pepe (RW) – 6/10 – Looked shiny and dangerous but lacked a final product.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 5/10 – He freed himself a few times, but was relatively wasteful, sending one effort wide and having another saved. That was until, in extra time, he hit home closely to seal Arsenal’s progress into the next round.
Emile Smith Rowe – 8/10 – After receiving a red card which was canceled, his finish in extra time broke the deadlock. Picked up the pace when leaving the bench.
Bukayo Saka – 6/10
Granite Xhaka – 6/10
Alexandre Lacazette – N / A
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – N / A
Martin Dubravka (GK) – 7/10 – Produced three fine saves in his first appearance of the season, thwarting Aubameyang and Willock in normal times, then acrobatically saving Xhaka in overtime.
Paul Dummett (LB) – 6/10 – Decent but not spectacular; did the basics well but offered little else.
Jamaal Lascelles (CB) – 5/10 – I booked after missing Reiss Nelson and was substituted at half time. An erratic performance.
Ciaran Clark (CB) – 7/10 – He looked confident and assertive in the performance of his defensive duties.
Emil Krafth (RB) – 5/10 – I couldn’t live with Tierney’s pace on the left flank. Had a tough night.
Joelinton (LM) – 4/10 – He seemed miles away from the pace in what was a very poor performance.
Sean Longstaff (CM) – 6/10 – Stepped up when he needed it, but the game passed him as Newcastle pursued a more direct approach.
Isaac Hayden (CM) – 7/10 – Pepe refused with an outstretched foot as the Ivorian sharpened in goal, then scored in a third fullback. It looked solid there.
Jeff Hendrick (CM) – 6/10 – Kept the ball in motion but couldn’t open a breakthrough.
Miguel Almiron (RM) – 7/10 – He dug into the ground and showed some real quality lightning.
Andy Carroll (ST) – 7/10 – Put in a real change, both as a defender in his own box and as a focal point in that of the opposition. Hunted down the lost causes and put his body in danger. However, he rejected two glorious opportunities.
Matt Ritchie – 6/10
Jacob Murphy – 6/10
DeAndre Yedlin – 5/10
Elliot Anderson – 7/10
Dwight Gayle – N / A
