Newcastle United’s improved run of form was brought to an immediate halt as they flattered to deceive against mid table opposition.
The way that Steve Bruce set his side out, you would be forgiven for thinking he was planning for the invincibles of 2004 and not a side that sat 11th in the Premier League.
The game against Arsenal represented a chance for the magpies to not only secure their top flight status but to really demonstrate how far that they have come since the 3-0 hammering at Brighton.
Mohamed Elneny hadn’t previously netted in the Premier League and of course it had to be Newcastle to be the generous party and leave him unmarked and unchallenged on the edge of the box. His strike was decent enough but Martin Dubravka may have been disappointed not to keep it out after he had got his hand to it.
Unfortunately, conceding inside the first four minutes was merely a sign of things to come as we decided to sit back, be passive and let Arsenal completely dictate the tempo of the game.
Not only was this one of the poorest Arsenal sides to have ever graced the Premier League but it was also an Arsenal side that had made eight changes and with there mindset fully on the second leg of their Europa League semi final.
Our inability to even slightly threaten the Gunners should show fans just how far away we are and just how much a change of manager is essential come the end of the season.
United had just 38% of the ball against Mikel Arteta’s second string, had a pathetic five shots on goal in comparison to Arsenal’s 19. These stats back up what was enforced on the eyes, Newcastle were utterly embarrassing and failed to lay a glove on their opposition yet again.
This has happened far too often this season and it is a footballing travesty that our shower of a side is nine points ahead of the bottom three. We have been very fortunate and going forward cannot expect the same things to happen again.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck in the 66th minute with one of the easiest goals he is likely to get. There was no pressure on the Gabon international and very little on the cross, a goal that summed up the lacklustre performance.
Fabian Schar’s controversial red card on his return to injury added to United’s misery, a truly horrendous day at the office.