Lacazette lucky to stay on the pitch. And the beat goes on….

Morning all.

Lacazette, Monreal and even both of Elneny and Xhaka being named on the team sheet surprised me. Mustafi, our 100% fit experienced centre back being selected was again a big risk imo. This should have been a game for the youngsters I thought, keeping the experienced key players fit for Atlético Madrid. I’m not stupid to think the entire under 23 squad should have turned out at St James Park, just a few more than Joe Willock. I know players can suffer injury in training but why take risks for a match which means little. After all, it’s not like we aren’t used to losing away from home this season. Thankfully though, injuries didn’t occur although we might not get so lucky next Sunday against West Ham.

There were a few odd decisions made by Anthony Taylor too, certainly  in the first half. The first was not sending off Kennedy after a high, studs up tackle on the shin of Lacazette. There looked to be little intent on going for the ball and to be honest, he was lucky not to have suffered a game ending injury. Instead though, he was the player on the end of an Aubameyang Cross and with a super finish, earned us the lead. His chance was far from easy but he certainly made it look so. Another odd one was not giving a penalty after a handball in the area. The contact made was enough to warrant a corner instead of a goal kick so surely he should have pointed to the spot. There were others, but those were key.

Newcastle made it 1-1 when a long ball over the top to Gayle caught Mustafi out. Gayle to Yedlin out on the right who into played the into the box for Perez to slot past Cech. Silly goal to give away.

Arsenal had numerous chances before the break, Chambers with a couple, Lacazette decided to pass instead of sticking his laces through the ball and Newcastle caused us a few moments of concern too but 1-1 it remained.

I thought Arsenal might come out of the blocks and get at Newcastle in the second half, after all they had something like a thirteen year record to protect but in all honesty, we did what we have so often done this season. Gifted the opposition another goal and lost away from home.

Arsene Wenger said after the game that he was baffled by the result, the opportunities we failed to capitalise on and he said the only way to improve is by not making the same mistakes we keep on making by which I took to be in defence. He also suggested that our Europa campaign was taking its toll on the players legs which in itself was amusing considering half of them didn’t play last Thursday.

I know he’s got to say something to the media but to be honest, we’ve heard most of it before. The reason we’re as poor as we are is staring him in the face every time he looks in the mirror. I know he had a mixed team out yesterday which is what we expected as the focus now is on Atlético Madrid but it matters not who plays really because the system remains the same. The approach remains the same and invariably, the end result is the same, certainly away from home.

Nothing will change no matter how many times he tells us otherwise. After all, he’s had the five or six years to do that and it’s not changed yet regardless of the players he has had at his disposal.

Finally, we’ll done to Man City who yesterday became Premier League Champions. Utd losing at home to bottom of the league West Brom meant Peps side couldn’t be caught.

Have a good Monday guys, summers on its way…