It may have ended 0-0 at the Emirates, but the fact that Arsenal v Newcastle, a match that could have been a contender for the last game on Match of the Day in recent years, was given top billing is a great sign for the evolution of the Premier League. Leicester City may have shocked the entire world in 2016 when they won the league, but it never felt like a permanent disruption of the self-appointed ‘big-six’.
The established and predictable order of the top six of England’s top flight has been decided by the clubs that spend the most for almost a decade, barring the odd overachievement. But in Arsenal and Newcastle, these are two clubs ready to upset the order for the next decade.
The Gunners may well be established in the ‘big six’, but they haven’t been serious title challengers for almost two decades. Even when Leicester won the league and the rest of the elite were in disarray, the Gunners somehow finished third. However, with this young squad and a manager with a long-term vision that has changed the fortunes of the club, Arsenal can challenge for the title not just this term, but over the next five years.
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Then we have Newcastle. The league’s overachievers this term under Eddie Howe may be boxing well above their weight this season as European qualification beckons just a year after their Saudi Arabian takeover. They are ahead of schedule, for sure, but this is just a sign of the future. The richest club in the world will not only challenge for the Champions League places over the next decade, but top spot itself given the investment available to them.
So the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs will soon have a whole new challenge on their hands. This meeting at the Emirates was a sign of things to come and the pair were evenly matched throughout the 90 minutes.
Bukayo Saka raced around Dan Burn but Nick Pope stopped him with his foot in the opening moments as the Englishman was on top form in the opening moments. Arsenal were quick to start, Granit Xhaka put one wide and the Emirates crowd were right up for it as Newcastle struggled to gain a foothold.
Gabriel then headed one wide from a free-kick while the referee handed out cards like confetti. But Newcastle are able to stay in games this season even when they look second best, which isn’t often. They regrouped and then began to press forward, as Joelinton headed over from a corner late in the first half as the Toon bared their teeth.
Howe would have been happy with how the match played out, as his side kept on managing to keep Arsenal at bay. Eddie Nketiah had a big chance stopped by the legs of Pope as the Gunners piled the pressure on late on, but in the end it was a clean sheet for both defences.
Both sides will take the point and it keeps them on steady ground to finish in the top four this term. Newcastle United have still only lost once in the league so far this term, a remarkable achievement, while Arsenal remain top of the table - but their lead could be cut to five points should Manchester City beat Chelsea on Thursday.
Both teams look set to disrupt the usual order of the Premier League over the next decade. 2023 is just the start.
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