Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Kai Havertz doubles the Gunners’ lead | Only Sports And Health

This is torrid from Newcastle, but you have to give credit to Arsenal. They’re giving their opponents absolutely no time to think.

What could Eddie Howe possibly do to save this?

It’s a long, long, long way back from this point.

That’s superb. Newcastle are trapped in a hurricane here.

Jorginho spotted Gabriel Martinelli’s dart from left to right and found him with a beautiful lofted ball over the top of the backline.

The angle was tight for the winger but he kept the danger alive on the byline and cut back, hoping for a run.

Kai Havertz did arrive and slotted home with a poacher’s finish.

Arsenal have wasted no time since scoring the opener.

They’re already applying pressure across the width of the field and winning the ball back. Newcastle just cannot escape their half.

If they’re not careful, this could be a cricket score.

The hosts have been devastatingly ruthless.

There’s the deserved breakthrough! I think it’s an own goal.

Shambolic at the back from Newcastle but Arsenal won’t care one jot. Yet again this season, they’ve scored from a corner kick.

The delivery found Gabriel at the near post after his dart from left to right and a strong header was palmed out by Loris Karius.

Tino Livramento and Sven Botman were unable to sort their feet out a couple of yards off the line, and the final touch came off the latter.

A real mess from the visitors.

Almost 70 per cent possession for Arsenal so far.

Declan Rice has taken up a more advanced role than he did in midweek, leaving Jorginho to sit and act as the metronome.

The slight change has worked a treat so far. Newcastle have been second-best and unable to lay a glove on their opponents.

Loris Karius has been forced into action again.

This time, Declan Rice cracked a powerful strike at goal at the near post, with the goalkeeper smothering well with his body.

Arsenal are turning the screw here.

There’s Loris Karius’ first Premier League save in almost six years!

It was comfortable enough for him, too.

Declan Rice snatched the ball back up after a turnover in midfield and played into Bukayo Saka, whose shot was deflected.

The effort dropped to the near post, where Karius kept hold.

BOOKING! Martin Odegaard has been shown the game’s first yellow.

He chopped down Miguel Almiron with a late challenge after Newcastle moved the ball down the far side with a clever flick.

No complaints from the playmaker there.

The opening five minutes or so belong to Arsenal.

They’ve been direct and have looked to stay on the front foot. Newcastle are holding firm so far but they’re being tested.

Kai Havertz is the man currently causing trouble down the middle.

Arsenal have absolutely flown out of the blocks.

They won a corner within the first 15 seconds and after the set piece was cleared, they recycled possession out wide.

A second corner in quick succession almost came to William Saliba, before Bukayo Saka bent an effort into the stand.

This is a relentless start from the hosts.

Here we go, then! Arsenal have got us started.

This game feels absolutely huge for Arsenal.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports…

We are going to have big support and big energy. We are excited to play in the game and we have had a good run in the Premier League and we want to continue that. It always is a good atmosphere in the Premier League, two very competitive teams and it will be an intense match.

He’s a bigger man than me!

Bukayo Saka has refused to complain about rough treatment from defenders and even believes hard tackles are a compliment.

The tricky winger, before the start of today’s round of matches, was the third-most fouled player in the Premier League (87 fouls).

Arsenal lodged a complaint to the PGMOL but Saka is unfazed.

You can get his full thoughts by clicking the link below.

Bournemouth threw the kitchen sink at Manchester City in the final stages at Vitality Stadium but couldn’t find an equaliser.

That means Arsenal are four points behind City heading into this one.

The gap between them and Liverpool is now five points.

Anything less than a win would really dent the hosts’ title charge.

If the reverse fixture between these two sides is anything to go by, tonight’s showdown could well be explosive.

Back in November, Arsenal lost at St James’ Park in deeply controversial circumstances, with the fallout extending for some time.

Kai Havertz clattered into Sean Longstaff, leading to appeals for a red card, and Bruno Guimaraes later left his elbow in on Jorginho’s head.

The winner topped the lot, however. Anthony Gordon poked home, sparking wild scenes, despite the ball appearing to go out of play.

The piece below will be perfect for you if you want to relive the drama!

This is actually Loris Karius’ first Premier League outing in six years!

The last time he played in the top-flight was for Liverpool back in May 2018, just days before his Champions League final horror show.

Martin Dubravka is ill and Nick Pope is injured.

Incidentally, Karius’ last appearance for Newcastle came in the Carabao Cup final, almost a year ago. Good luck, lad.

Newcastle have made three switches from the side that started their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in the top-flight last weekend.

Martin Dubravka misses out through illness, meaning Loris Karius is in.

Tino Livramento and Alexander Isak have also been recalled, with Dan Burn and Harvey Barnes both dropping to the bench.

Isak’s presence will be particularly important tonight.

Mikel Arteta has made one change from Arsenal’s midweek defeat.

Jorginho has come in for Leandro Trossard, who’s on the bench.

Also among the substitutes is Gabriel Jesus, who has missed the last four matches through injury. That’s a welcome return for Arsenal.

Can they bounce back from that setback in Portugal?

Starting XI: Karius, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Livramento, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Miley, Almiron, Gordon, Isak

Substitutes: Gillespie, Lascelles, Ritchie, Barnes, Krafth, Hall, Murphy, Willock, Burn

Starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz

Substitutes: Ramsdale, Cedric, Elneny, Vieira, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Nketiah, Jesus

Just five minutes to go until both XIs drop. Stay right here!

Eddie Howe, speaking during his pre-match press conference…

We will need to replicate close to our best performance to get something from the game. Last season’s performance at the Emirates was a really battling defensive performance. Arsenal are statistically one of the best teams in the league and they are rightly where they are in the table so it’ll be a huge challenge for us.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s game, Mikel Arteta vowed Arsenal will give their all to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.

‘I think we are in a really good position,’ Arteta told reporters during his pre-match press conference. ‘We are where we want to be.

‘The most important thing is that we continue to perform at the level we are doing and we have the squad available.

‘If we have those two things, we are going to give it a real go.’

Eddie Howe will certainly be a happier man these days.

Newcastle are now unbeaten in five across all competitions and are targeting a strong end to an unpredictable, rollercoaster season.

They suffered a string of crippling injuries to key players and collapsed out of the top four race. However, their FA Cup dream remains intact.

Lifting that and clinching European football again for the next campaign would represent a very decent effort from them.

Let’s all just take a moment to breathe.

This is a rare moment of peace before the whistle peeps and both these sides go toe-to-toe, urged on by a crackling atmosphere.

Arsenal will be determined to respond in style to their limp Champions League last-16 defeat at Porto, where they conceded at the death.

As for Newcastle, well, they can move into seventh spot with a victory and keep their dream of securing European football again alive.

The Premier League just keeps on rolling! What a day this has been.

We’ve had shocks and goals galore – and another Man United defeat.

But don’t worry. We’re not done yet, with one more game still to come.

And it promises to be a cracker, with title-chasing Arsenal taking on Eddie Howe’s up-and-down Newcastle at the Emirates.

Stay tuned right here for the build-up and team news.