[ad_1]
Newcastle beat Arsenal on Sunday. And in some ways, the outcome didn’t matter.
It had no impact on the overall form of the Premier League desk. It had no impact on Newcastle’s Premier League standing, nor on Arsenal’s European qualification. The Magpies are protected. The Gunners, with the highest 4 out of attain, are all in on the Europa League as their path to subsequent season’s Champions League.
However there have been a couple of notable tendencies stemming from Newcastle’s 2-1 victory. And there was one notable realization: Arsenal, with 5 matches remaining, is simply two factors forward of Burnley. (Simply two factors! Burnley!)
And with journeys to Manchester United and Leicester nonetheless on the docket, plus a conflict with the Clarets on the Emirates, the Gunners are in actual hazard of ending behind a membership that entered the marketing campaign a relegation favourite.
In fact, ending behind Burnley wouldn’t actually matter both. So long as Southampton doesn’t win the FA Cup, seventh place will earn Arsenal a Europa League qualifying spot. And that shall be irrelevant if the Gunners accomplish precedence No. 1, profitable this 12 months’s Europa League.
However there’d be a sure ignominy that will accompany ending behind Burnley, one of many least proficient and most cheap groups within the Premier League. It’d be par for the course of an embarrassing Arsenal season.
Sunday’s match was Arsenal’s fifth within the Premier League away from residence in 2018. It was additionally Arsenal’s fifth defeat away from residence within the league. 4 of the 5 have come at Newcastle, Bournemouth, Swansea and Brighton.
It was additionally Newcastle’s fourth win on the trot. And it was emblematic of two golf equipment nonetheless on completely different ranges, however nearer in high quality than they need to be, and stepping into reverse – converging – instructions.
Arsenal took an early lead by way of Alexandre Lacazette. However DeAndre Yedlin equipped a exact cross for Ayoze Perez, who beat the declining Petr Cech on the goalkeeper’s close to publish.
Matt Ritchie gained the match halfway by way of the second half. It was Newcastle’s first residence win over the Gunners since 2005.
It was Arsenal’s eleventh defeat of the season. It has misplaced contact with the highest 4, and really practically with Chelsea in sixth place. Its inadequacy has virtually turn into boring. However a league end behind Burnley could be fairly the alarming approach to prime off a dangerous season.
– – – – – – –
Henry Bushnell covers international soccer, and infrequently different ball video games, for Yahoo Sports activities. Have a tip? Query? Remark? E-mail him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com or comply with him on Twitter @HenryBushnell.
Extra soccer from Yahoo Sports activities:
• 9 issues to know concerning the Champions League semifinal matchups
• Barcelona’s Champions League collapse was years within the making
• A fan’s oral historical past of the USMNT’s nightmare in Trinidad
• Why PSG is reportedly in Monetary Truthful Play bother
[ad_2]
supply
