Arsenal ground out their first domestic win in five games as they beat Newcastle 1-0 to return to the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side started in fine fashion and found the breakthrough via a rocket from the boot of Eberechi Eze, who blasted into the top-left corner following a well-worked corner.
He was set up by Kai Havertz but both were off the pitch by the hour mark due to injury, giving Mikel Arteta another headache in the medical department on a day where fans celebrated the return of Bukayo Saka from a month on the treatment table.
Arsenal were forced to endure a nervy finale after with Newcastle, who were fortunate not to go down to 10-men after a clumsy challenge from Nick Pope, fluffing two late chances, Yoane Wissa and Dan Burn the culprits.
But the Gunners were able to survive on this occasion, returning to the league’s pinnacle after seeing their 200-day stint at the top ended by Manchester City in midweek.
Follow all the action from the Emirates Stadium in our live blog below:
Bruno: We need help
Newcastle’s captain, who made a first start since February on Saturday evening, was asked by BBC Sport if the club needs reinforcements this summer.
To which he replied: “I hope so, I cannot comment too much, I am just a player, but we have to improve a lot of things in the club. I think we need help.”
Arsenal’s ‘change in energy’
“We had a huge reset and I sensed a change in energy in the dressing room,” Arteta told BBC Sport. “We enjoyed what we had to do and now we play the Champions League against Atletico Madrid in the semi-final which is incredible.”
Arteta injury update
After Havertz and Eze hobbled off with issues, Arteta said: “Both of them had to come off, I think it was small niggles. We don’t know the extent of that. Probably tomorrow we will know more.”
Five straight defeats but Howe reckons Toon turned corner
“I thought we saw defensive resilience, we didn’t have the look of a team who was going to concede today. To lose in the manner we did is disappointing,” he told the BBC.
“It was out best performance for a while but we have to get out of the habit of losing games. We had a lot of ball (but) we’re in that moment where we’re finding ways to lose games.”
Asked if every game until the end of the season is a final for him and his staff amid speculation he may leave in the summer, Howe added: “We’re working as hard as we can to get results that justify the club we are at.”
A semblance of freedom again
Both on the pitch and in the stands, anxiety at the first whistle had eased, perhaps taking a liking to the growing perception that they are now the underdogs in this title race. The worst had happened – now it was their job to stage a fightback.
Read Will Castle’s report from the Emirates here.
Up next
Arsenal now turn their attention to the Champions League semi-final first leg away to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening before a home Premier League game versus Fulham next Saturday.
Newcastle, meanwhile, host Brighton on Saturday.
Howe reacts
“We feel today was a big step forward in terms of our performance. It was much better from a defensive performance,” the Newcastle head coach told BBC Sport.
“To lose in the way we did was disappointing. We had a few chances and that was pleasing. We were much better with the ball and we are going to be with Bruno’s return. We are frustrated to lose the game and the disappointing run continues which is something we want to stop.
“Performances always give you hope if they are heading in the right direction. Our confidence and belief has been missing but I think today will have turned the corner. Easy to say but now we need to deliver.”
Arteta reacts
“We got the result we wanted and we are very happy,” the Arsenal manager told Sky. “They made five subs and it felt like they made ten subs… The margins are very short.
“We had so much discipline, courage and great habits defensively, but there are moments with the ball when we have to do much better. We want to be more dominant.”
Odegaard on corners
“Our quality is we can score in many different ways. Credit to the work we did on the training ground. The stadium was a bit annoyed we took it short but it paid off in the end and a great finish by Ebs in the end.”
