Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle: Saliba struggles badly | OneFootball

Arsenal were dumped out of the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage after losing 4-0 on aggregate to Newcastle United.

The Gunners already had a challenging task ahead of them before a ball was kicked tonight. In the first leg back at the start of January, the Magpies recorded a 2-0 goal advantage at the Emirates Stadium.

Eddie Howe’s side replicated the scoreline from the first half of the tie to seal their spot in the final at Wembley.

It was an enthralling start to the game with Arsenal in desperate need of an early goal. However, it was the hosts who thought they had made their lead unassailable inside the first five minutes. Alexander Isak’s thunderous finish soared past David Raya into the top corner but was ruled out after a VAR review.

Just before the twenty-minute mark a passage of play saw one team ruthlessly take their chance while the other squandered a golden opportunity.

Martin Odegaard had a clear sight of goal after Dan Burn clattered into Gabriel Martinelli. However, the Arsenal midfielder miscued the effort on his weaker right foot and it spun wide after clipping the post. Seconds later the hosts also hit the woodwork but on this occasion, the miss didn’t make a difference.

Isak burst clear before crashing against Raya’s right post with the Spaniard beaten. The ball fortuitously fell to Jacob Murphy who slid home the opener.

Arsenal looked nervy from the first minute and couldn’t shake off their anxiousness during the interval. William Saliba epitomised the visitors’ flustered and disconcerted display as he was dispossessed by Anthony Gordon. The Englishman tried his luck from 35 yards out with the goal gaping but it curled just wide of the mark.

The forward wouldn’t be denied for long as he was gifted a chance from much closer proximity almost immediately.

Raya’s inexplicably decided to try and find Declan Rice on the edge of the box but he was ferociously closed down by Fabian Schar. The Swiss international’s intervention found Gordon who turned and expertly picked out the bottom corner to punish Raya’s error.

Newcastle regressed deep into their own half after the second goal to keep another clean sheet against the Gunners. Mikel Arteta’s side’s failure to break down the Geordie resistance over two legs will understandably ask questions of the Arsenal manager.

Here are the player ratings after the North London club exited their second cup competition in the space of a fortnight.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Newcastle

David Raya – 2

Raya made a costly error early in the second half which gifted Newcastle their second on the night. Despite the stopper having a clear view of Schar’s pressure on Rice, he still chose to play the risky pass. He couldn’t spare his blushes as Gordon casually rolled a shot into the bottom corner.

The Spaniard was helpless to both of Isak’s fiercely struck efforts, with one going in and the other hitting the post. He was stranded for Murphy’s rebounded attempt. The former Brentford stopper would’ve been relieved to see Gordon’s effort from range fly wide after Saliba was dispossessed.

Jurrien Timber – 4

It was a lethargic showing from Timber who couldn’t prevent Gordon from continuously picking up possession. The versatile defender also failed to contribute offensively with his side desperately needing more options.

William Saliba – 1

It was a rare off-day for the 23-year-old who was unsettled from the first whistle. For the first time in an Arsenal shirt, the defender looked utterly out of his depth.

He was weak in the challenge against Isak leading up to the opening goal. The Frenchman tussled with the forward who managed to flick the ball into Gordon. His opponent continued to trouble him all evening and he couldn’t overcome the Swede, particularly in aerial challenges. Saliba also picked up a yellow card after blatantly pulling Gordon’s shirt.

The Frenchman didn’t improve on his poor first-half performance and was caught in possession by Gordon early in the second period. Fortunately for Saliba, the winger couldn’t convert from 35 yards despite a large portion of the goal being open.

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Gabriel – 3

Left Murphy unmarked at the back post for the opening goal. Gabriel looked slightly more assured than his central defensive partner, who really struggled to deal with the pace and explosiveness of Gordon and Isak.

Myles Lewis-Skelly – 4

Galloped up and down the left flank with energy but couldn’t deliver the desired service. His positioning ended up resembling a winger in the second period with Arsenal understandably uninterested in prioritising their defensive structure. The 18-year-old should have grabbed a consolation in the dying embers but somehow headed over from a few yards out.

Thomas Partey – 5

The central pivot of Partey and Rice were overran by the Newcastle midfield. The Ghanaian was lucky to escape a caution after scything down Guimaraes in the second period.

Declan Rice – 4

The midfielder looked a yard off the action tonight and was constantly chasing shadows at St James’ Park.

Rice was the unfortunate recipient of the ill-judged pass from Raya which allowed the advanced Fabian Schar to intercept. The ball fell to Gordon who made no mistake with the finish. Lost his composure in the closing stages with a few forceful mistimed lunges.

Leandro Trossard – 5

Manufactured the Odegaard chance with a clever flick into Martinelli’s path that resulted in the former firing wide. Trossard was largely ineffective aside from the moment of invention and was replaced by Raheem Sterling on the hour mark.

Martin Odegaard – 4

Odegaard will consider himself partly responsible for the direction the contest went in tonight. The Arsenal skipper missed a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock just shy of the 20th minute.

The Norwegian raced onto a loose ball from twelve yards out but he didn’t connect with the required contact. His right footed effort spun away from the target and skimmed the outside of the post.

The midfielder tried to atone for his miss with a few attempts from outside the box but they trickled wide without troubling Martin Dubravka. Mikel Arteta decided to take his captain off on the hour mark as he failed to unpick the resolute Magpies defence.

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Gabriel Martinelli – 5

His evening was ended prematurely due to being forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Martinelli only lasted 36 minutes and couldn’t penetrate the Newcastle backline in his limited time on the pitch.

Kai Havertz – 4

The German picked up a yellow card in the first period for a needless challenge on Guimaraes before being involved in an altercation with Kieran Trippier.

Midway through the second period, he looked to have broken clear of the opposition defence following a pinpoint kick from Raya but he ended up pitifully tripping over his own legs. That fall summed up Havertz’s evening who also had an appeal for a penalty waved away by the referee.

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Substitutes

Ethan Nwaneri – 5

The teenager was introduced into the fold earlier than expected after Martinelli’s first-half exit. Nwaneri picked up advanced positions on the right flank and was characteristically direct.

Took the responsibility of being the creative outfit after Odegaard’s departure but found it hard to break down the Geordie resistance.

Mikel Merino – 4

Merino was largely uninvolved in his thirty-minute cameo and barely touched the ball. Disappointing showing from Merino.

Raheem Sterling – 4

Sterling had half an hour to try and reduce the deficit but his attempts were fruitless.

The Chelsea loanee was awarded a yellow card from referee Simon Hooper for dissent as he let his frustrations get the better of him. Sterling surprisingly picked up more central positions but was nullified by Dan Burn and Sven Botman.

Jorginho – N/A

The Italian entered the fray alongside his fellow countryman Calafiori and collected the captain’s armband. Jorginho couldn’t make a difference and his passes were far too conservative.

Riccardo Calafiori – N/A

The defender came on with a quarter of an hour to go but didn’t make an impact.

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